This volume investigates the socio-political significance of the Neo-Buddhist movement in India initiated by B. R. Ambedkar. The editors, Johannes Beltz and Surendra Jondhale, curate a collection of essays from prominent scholars to examine how Ambedkar utilized Buddhism as a framework for social reform and the dismantling of caste-based hierarchies. By analyzing the historical context and the practical application of these religious shifts, the text argues that Ambedkar's conversion was a calculated political and social strategy rather than a purely theological transition.

Experts recognize this volume as a foundational academic resource for understanding the modern history of Buddhism in India. Readers frequently note the scholarly density of the prose and the rigorous historical approach taken by the contributors.