1954: December – Leaves for Rangoon for Third World Buddhist Conference.
Dr. B R Ambedkar studied Buddhism all his life, and around 1950s, Ambedkar turned his attention fully to Buddhism and travelled to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) to attend a convention of Buddhist scholars and monks. While dedicating a new Buddhist vihara near Pune, Ambedkar announced that he was writing a book on Buddhism, and that as soon as it was finished, he planned to make a formal conversion back to Buddhism. Ambedkar twice visited Burma in 1954; the second time in order to attend the third conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in Rangoon.
Periyar, BR Ambedkar, Annai Maniammai and the Buddhist scholar GP Malalasekera at the World Buddhist Conference in Rangoon, Burma, in 1956.
The Third World Buddhist Conference was held in Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma (now Myanmar), from December 11-18, 1954. The conference was organized by the World Fellowship of Buddhists, a non-sectarian organization that aims to promote the welfare and interests of Buddhism and Buddhists worldwide.
The conference was attended by Buddhist leaders and scholars from various countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Japan, and the United States. The theme of the conference was “The Buddhist Way to World Peace”, and discussions were held on topics such as the role of Buddhism in promoting peace and understanding among nations, the relevance of Buddhist teachings in modern times, and the preservation and promotion of Buddhist culture and heritage.
The conference was an important event in the history of Buddhism, as it brought together Buddhist leaders and scholars from different parts of the world to share their views and experiences. It helped to promote the spirit of unity and cooperation among Buddhists worldwide, and highlighted the importance of Buddhist teachings in promoting peace and harmony in the world.
The World Fellowship of Buddhists continues to organize conferences and events to promote the welfare and interests of Buddhism and Buddhists worldwide, and to foster greater understanding and cooperation among Buddhist communities around the world.