The mother and brother of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide at the Hyderabad Central University earlier in January, embraced Buddhism today on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti.
Rohith Vemula's brother said his brother also wanted to be a Buddhist, adding that he too tried to take it up.
"Even we also liked Buddhism and its teachings, so we are accepting Buddhism," he told ANI.
Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, earlier said Rohith's mother and his brother are fulfilling his wish as the Hyderabad Central University followed Buddhism in his life.
"We contacted the Buddhist society of India, which is a pioneer in embracing Buddhism and this is an institution which was instituted by Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar in the year 1954-55 for the dhamma diksha ceremony which he arranged in 1956. It is through that same organization that this dhamma diksha is taking place," he said.