Description
The book “Buddha and Karl Marx” is a written form of the speech delivered by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar at the closing session of the Fourth Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in the State Gallery Hall in Kathmandu on 20th November, 1956. The speech is considered as the final international speech of Ambedkar before his death. Gautam Buddha, known worldwide with the doctrine of “Ahimsa” and Karl Marx, father of modern socialism and “communalism” were born in the gap of 2381 years. The heading “Buddha and Karl Marx” suggests either a comparison or a contrast between two such personalities divided by such a lengthy span of time and with different fields of thoughts is sure to sound odd. However, their ideologies though different, have similarities regarding the vision they had for a just and sound society. A speech on Buddhist and Marxist philosophies in the birthplace of Buddha, by a scholar born in the land where Buddha achieved his enlightenment, had given his first sermon, and achieved the Mahaparinirvana was indeed an awe inspiring on its own. On top of that, Mr. Ambedkar’s speech on two great philosophers of all time at a Hindu country, in the presence of a Hindu king was an astounding event and is a riveting piece of work to read.
