Nagaloka is situated on 15 acres of land on the outskirts of Nagpur, the town in which Dr. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956 together with 500,000 followers.

Nagaloka’s vision is to create a casteless society based on the Buddhist values of liberty, equality and fraternity as envisioned by Dr. Ambedkar, through walking in the footsteps of the Buddha.

Dr. Ambedkar (1891-1956), born a so-called untouchable,  is a revered figure for millions because of his struggle to eradicate untouchability and caste. Although he brought about many significant social and legal changes in India, and played the leading role in drafting the new constitution, it was Buddhism more than these that he felt would help bring about the most effective changes in Indian society. Unfortunately he died on December 6, 1956, just six weeks after his conversion.

There are estimated to be 40 million Buddhists in India today, but more than 200 million Scheduled Castes (previously cruelly treated and designated untouchables) are to some extent open to Dr. Ambedkar’s message of theDhamma, as well as many from other backgrounds. There is very little effective teaching available to them, most being extremely poor, and having been largelyignored by the Buddhist world.

Nagaloka has three main functions at present:

The Nagarjuna Training Institute (NTI)

at Nagaloka, was established to train young people from all over India in basicBuddhist teachings and practices, as well as social work.  Since 2002, over 600 students from 22 states have attended the one year residential course. The training has a profound effect on the lives of the students.

• The students come from some of the most deprived and oppressed situations, often with a feeling of no hope whatsoever. After a year of Dhamma practice most feel transformed, with a new vision of life, and the Dhamma tools to develop it.
• The new confidence in the Dhamma they develop gives them energy to share what they have learnt with many others in their villages and towns.
• Many have started social projects in their villages and towns.
• The all- India network of ex-students is the basis for organising local activities, retreats and lecture tours, making a significant contribution to the revival of Buddhism in India.

A Place of Interaction between Buddhist in India and Abroad

Most Indian Buddhists are too poor to travel abroad to meet other Buddhists, and so cannot learn from them. At the same time most foreign Buddhists know nothing of the remarkable attempts by the new Buddhists to transform their individual and social lives through the practice of the Dhamma, and so lose out on a very rich source of inspiration. Many people from throughout the Buddhist world visitNagaloka every year, besides which several international conferences have been held there. Many leading Buddhists have visited from Taiwan and elsewhere, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sulak Sivaraksa and Ven Thicht Nhat Hanh.

A Place for Pilgrimage

Central to the vision of Nagaloka is creating faith in the Buddha, without which there is no progress in the Dharma. Therefore at the centre of the campus a Buddha statue has been installed, donated by the people of Taiwan, and made by Wen Kwei Chan. This statue was made according to Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of the Buddha walking, and in the mudra of giving confidence and courage. This represents the Buddha’s compassion and helps us to remember that he spenteight months a year of his life walking the roads of north India, continually going out to help people. This statue is an inspiration to people from all over India, as well as those from abroad who visit.

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