14th October,1956, the auspiscious and memorable date which fetched a new dawn in the life of Bahujan Samaj to revolutionalize their future by taking them to progress, prosperity and perfection. This was the very day which gave to the degreaded and denegrated and exploited people, divided into innumerable castes, a way of liberation. This was the day of
the historic Buddhist Conversion on which Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar offered 22 pledges to Bahujan Samaj.

The'Twenty Two Pledges 'are the nectar extracted from the revolutionary philosophy of the great thinkers of Bahujan Samaj such as Charwak ,the Buddha ,Samrat Ashok, Saint Ravidas , Saint Tukaram, Krantiba Jyotiba Phule, the Royal Revolutionary Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar. These pledges are imprinted by the brightness of thinking of the above stalwarts .The objectives of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's life and mission have been lucidly reflected in Twenty Two Pledges. In order to understand all these great personalities in a better way one has to read , accept and implement Twenty Two Pledges in day to day life.

For whom are these pledges?

  .....Are the pledges meant only for the Mahar community because they were given on the day of Buddhist conversion?

   ....Anybody can , very easily , accept the fact that the TWENTY TWO PLEDGES are not confined or limited to a perticular community . On the contrary the fact is that these pledges are meant for those people who have been divided into six thousand castes and sub-castes suppressed , oppressed , exploited and deprived and forced into grinding poverty and
misery for thousand of years . The truth is these pledges open up the real path of their progress , prosperity and ultimately emancipation . Everybody knows that there are certain scriptures which , through their ficticious stories and myths and exhortations , strive to inculcate blind belief , ignorance , superstitions and slavery into the Indian psyche. The TWENTY TWO PLEDGES have the potentiality to counter the above social ailments and to lead BAHUJAN SAMAJ to knwoledge , self -reliance, self-respect , scientific attitude and finally to LIBERTION .

The Potential Significance of TWENTY TWO PLEDGES

[01] The TWENTY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES can root out and bury deep the deiscriminatory , castiest and exploitative thought very effectively.
[02]The TWENTY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES have the potentiality to bring to every Indian comfort, illumination and scientific bent of mind.
[03] The TWENTY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES have the power to bring social transformation to establish the immortal values: Equality, Liberty, Justice and Broterhood in the society. [04]The TWENTY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES possess the capacity to make aware every exploited being of his slavish predicament so that he can revoltagainst the exploitative social system.
[05] The TWENTY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES can inculcate in every mind conciousness,
devotion, scientific attitude and courage.
[06]The TWENTY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES can equip Human mind with the reasoning
power to avoid, analyse and critisize scientifically the onslaught of unscientific, ficticious and supersticious thoughts.
[07] The TWENTY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES have the capability to build up a strong, sturdy and potential Indian Nation.
[08]The TWENRY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES possesses the capacity to make aware every Indian as to Why he has become slave and why he has been
thrown into total degradation.
[09]Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar opined and expected that with the help of these TWENTY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES all those who have been caught in slavish predicament should strive to liberate themselves by achieving the power and strength to livethe life of Self-respect and development A Brief Discussion on the Importance of the PLEDGES

01....THE FIRST FIVE PLEDGES ADVOCATE RATIONALISM , ATHIESM AND DENY THE EXISTANCE OF GOD We are miserable , poor and ignorant in this life. We are told that this is because we have committed certain sins in ou past birth and therefore we are destined to be poor and
miserable in the present life. But we will have to realize as early as possible that the concepts of past birth, future birth, destiny and God have been very effective weapons used by our exploiters .It has been , very cunningly imprinted and conditioned on our minds for thousands of years that only God can bring our welfare and therefore we must surrender before destiny. "Be thou as thou art kept by God "goes the saying which has enslaved our minds for thousands of years . by dividing us into castes and sub-castes, they have made us lousy and inactive. Therefore Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar has rejected the concept of DESTINY AND FATE which carries with it the exploitative machinery. The PLEDGES deny the existance of God not to insult them but reject the concept of exploitation inherent in them so that the BAHUJAN SAMAJ gets liberated from the yoke of superstitions mental fear and slavery. THE BUDDHA asks a very pertinent question to BASHETTA , "If God cares for the welfare of the people , why is it that man is a theif, a murderer, a lier, a greedy creature, a hater and a creatureof perverse actions? Therefore says Periyar , "There is not God , not GOd at all , never God  -One who has fabricated God , is a fool. _One who has propagated God is a dishonest fellow. -One who prays God is a savage. PERIYAR RAMASWAMY Vedhuthalai 24-05-1967 While converting ANATHPINDIKA to the DHAMMA THE BUDDHA SAID,"LET US DISCARD THE FALSEHOOD OF WORSHIPPING AND PRAYING GOD . WE SHOULD NOT PUT OURSELVES TO LOSS BY INDULGING OURSELVES IN IMAGINARY AND MYSTEROUS THINKING WHICH DOES NOT BRING US ANY GAINS . LET US DISCARD GOD, ATMA AND SELFISHNESS AND LET US PRACTISE to PERFORM WHOLESOME ACTIONS WHICH WILL BRINGS US GOOD FRUITS."

02.THE NINTH PLEDGE ASKS TO BELIEVE IN THE EQUALITY OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS Those people who are benefitted by the caste- ridden social system refuses to believe in the principle of
equalityof buman beings.They do so because they do not want ot destroy caste discrimination and exploitation . This is the reason why the beneficiaries of the social system will not practise and implement equality in their daily life . Therefor . the ninth PLEDGE says that without any pretence we should display through our actions that all human beings are equal.

03. THE TENTH PLEDGE ASKS TO ESTABLISH EQUALITY IN THE INDIAN SOCIETY Now a days it can be observed very commonly that there are a very few groups, communes and organizations
which function with an objective of establishing a society based upon equality. The desire to strive to create equality in the society needs to take root in every mind. But this alone is not sufficient unless it becones an ambitionof the individual mind. The only solution available to do away with casteism, poverty and exploitation is to establish an egalitarian society based upon equality. BEWARE OF THE MISCHIEVOUS AND DANGEROUS PROPAGANDA TO KEEP THE POOR AS POOR AND RICH AS RICH ---Those who have been benefitted by the casteist social system for thousands of years only overtly pretend ot speak about equality . But those people who have been the victims of the social system have remained exploited and miserable, deprived and degraded should come forward and determine to extablish equality. in fact to
establish equality should become the ambition of their life . To achieve this goal they should be prepared to undergo any ordeal pain , and sacrifice . They should take the PLEDGE of struggling non-stop to achieve the goal. 04. THE SEVENTEENTH PLEDGE ASKS TO ABSTAIN FROM LIQUOR DRINKING I.S. LIQUOR ADDICTION Addiction to liquor has not only created havoc in the individual and family life, but it has caused a large- scale downfall in the social life. It is needless to mention that liquor drinking causes not only economic loss gut more importantly it causes very serous physical and mental deterioraion and drformity. We often read in the press media that an intoxicated person killed his wife and robbed his children of education and meaningful life. WE read such news items with sorrowful heart. For some people liquor
consumption may be a fashion or a habit . But liquor drinking becomes slow poisoning for those people whose children are forced into starvation and denial of education. Those house wives who have experienced the horrors of liquor drinking by their husbands can tell you how it is slow poisoning . Therefore , the females should take the lead in the propaganda against liquor drinking. They should strive to liberate their colonies from the liquor shops and liquor drinking. Abstainning from the addiction of liquor brings progress and prosperity and comfort to the individual and his family as well. if every person prohibits entry to liquor in his household, he undoubtedly grooms intelligent , educated and able children in his family.

01. You can print the PLEDGES on the wedding /invitation cards on one of the pages and put a note to go through them, think over them and propagate them .
02. you can print the TWENTY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES ON THE ANNUAL CALENDER AND DISPLAY THEM IN THE HOMES AND ELESWHERE.
03.You can read out TWENTY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES IN the functions such as wedding /Birth anniversaries/ Death anniversaries or on the occasion of lectures/literary functions if held in your colony/village / town/city.
04. You can display these Pledges on the plastic stickers and paste them in your homes / vehicles /rickshaws.
05. You can display the Pledges on Posters and Banners and keep them at the entrance of an important function or at the stage erected for such function.
06. At least once in a week the Pledges could be read collectivelyat the prayer/ vandana meetings orcongregations.
07. You can print on your own leaflets / handouts/ posters and distribute them in your areas.
08. Retired employees/ officers / or those who wish to utilise their leisure time for a better purpose can do so through their talent and knowledge to profess and propogate the TWENTY TWO EMANCIPATORY PLEDGES.

01] I will not accept Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh as Gods and will not worship them.

02. I will not accept Rama and Krishna as Gods and will not worship them.

03.I will not accept Gauri, Ganpati etc,belonging to Hindu canon, as Gods / Godesses and will not worship them.

04. I do not have any faith in divine incarnation.

05. That the Buddha is the incarnation of Vishnu is a mischievous and false propoganda. I do not believe in it.

06.I will not perform Shraddha Paksh or Pind Dana ( Rituals to respect the dead)

07.I will not act contrary to the principles and teachings of Buddhism.

08.I will not get any function performed in which the brahmin is officiating as a Priest.

09. I beleive that all human beings are equal.

10. I will strive to establish equality.

11. I will follow the Eightfold Path prescribed by the Budhha.

12. I will abide by the Ten Parmitas prescribed by the Buddha.

13. I will show loving kindness to all animals and look after them.

14. I will not commit theft.

15. I will not commit adultery.

16.I will not speak lies.

17. I will not indulge in Liquor Drinking.

18. I Will live my life by relating KNOWLEDGE (Pradnya) SHEEL[Purity of action ] and KARUNA[ Compassion ]

19. I renounce Hinduism; which has proved detrimental to progress and prosperity of my predecessors and which has regarded human beings as unequal and despicable; and embrace Buddhism.

20. I have ascertained that Buddhism is Saddhamma [ Pure way of life ]

21. I believe that this [ embracing Buddhism ] is my new birth.

22. I take the PLEDGE that hereafter I shall live / behave as per the teachings of Buddhism. THESE TWENTY TWO PLEADGES SHOULD BE TAKEN AS COMMANDMENTS BY THE AMBEDKARITEMISSIONERIES .