Again, it was hard to leave as folk didn't want us to go.
They insisted on dressing is all in Rajasthani turbans!
Two final events today. We are really tired now after 3 weeks of constant programmes.
This morning we drove about 20 miles into the mountains. There was a small Tibetan vihar being built, and we met an old Tibetan monk who was having it built out of his own money. Many supporters came and talks ensued. During AB's excellent talk, some of the male audience started talking loudly to each other and smoking cigarettes! Their engagement was not there. But there were many women present who were engaged with the talk.
I felt worn out in the afternoon, so we returned to base, and I slept for two hours, and had 40 minutes on an electronic massage bed.
That revived me and I felt equal to going out to a last evening event in Alwar. We had an early supper in a slum area. The family were so lovely.
The event went really well, and lots of folk attended. We had the event in the Buddhist slum quarter of Alwar. There are thousands of Dalit Buddhists living there in great dignity in very challenging conditions indeed.
As we wended our way through this old quarter and meeting so many friendly folk, it felt a long way from my easy life in Cambridge. These people's lives are hard, but they are cheerful.
'Dalit' is a respectful term for what used to be called 'the untouchables'. An unpleasant term to denote the outcaste community (many millions of people) in India who are so far outside India's brutal Hindu caste system, that they cannot be physically touched by other Hindu castes. Up until very recently, they had absolutely no rights whatsoever, and did the worst kinds of jobs. Rather like the blacks in the Transatlantic slave trade. Indeed, Martin Luther King once came to India to meet the Dalit community.
Through the leadership of Dr Ambedkar in 1956, they began converting to Buddhism in their millions. Thereby leaving Hinduism and the caste system altogether. Instantly, this gives Dalit more rights to education, job opportunities and a generally better life.
They also become deep practitioners of Buddhism and are a great inspiration to others, including myself.
I have worked in the Dalit community all over India for 22 years now, and my closest friends in the world are Buddhists from this community. Though I am a white Westerner, I'm totally at home here.
The good news for the Alwar Buddhists is they are all being rehoused in modern new flats. I saw the construction and they all move in in September. Then their slums will be demolished.
Folk told me this really was a win/win for everyone.
Finally, tractors in Rajasthan seem to be dominated by the ubiquitous Farmtrac 60, but I have also spotted many examples of the Massey-Furguson 1035 about.
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