Rohith Vemula's mother and brother will be given 'deeksha by Buddhist monks.
The family of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula, whose suicide at Hyderabad Central University in January created a firestorm of protest, would be converting to Buddhism in Mumbai today, Babasaheb Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar said today.
Today is the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar, the Dalit icon and the principal architect of the Indian Constitution.
Mr Vemula's mother and brother will be given "deeksha" by Buddhist monks, Prakash Ambedkar, a former lawmaker, said. The ceremony will be held at noon at Ambedkar Bhavan in Dadar, he said.
"We have organised the deeksha ceremony as the family approached us," he added.
When contacted, Mr Vemula's younger brother Raja Vemula said "it is true that we are going to embrace Buddhism. We are on the way to Mumbai."
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