On 14th October 1956, the day of Vijaya Dashami a function was organized at Nagpur, for initiation to Buddhism. It had been decided to organise this ceremony at Sarnath, but the leaders from Mumbai and Vidharbha insisted on having it in their respective areas. Wamanrao Godbole of Nagpur undertook a signature campaign to hold the ceremony in Nagpur. Since the largest number of Buddhists belonged to the Nag race, Nagpur was accorded the status of hosting this historic event.This mass initiation in to Buddhism took place in large 14-acre plot. Kushinara, the head monk from Pali administered the oath to Dr. Babasaheb & Maisaheb. Senior monk Chandramani initiated them into the Buddhist Dharma. Devipriya Walisingha of the Mahabodhi Society garlanded him and present him a statue of Buddha. In this way Dr. Babasaheb fulfilled the promise he made at the Yevala Conference stating, 'Even if I was born a Hindu, I will not die a Hindu'.
