The Neo-Buddhist Architecture: A Site of Identity Formation

Naresh Suna

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i05.58553

The Neo-Buddhist Architecture: A Site of Identity Formation

Author(s)	Dr. Naresh Suna
Country	India
Abstract	Abstract. The Neo-Buddhist architectural movement in contemporary India is deeply intertwined with the socio-political awakening of Dalits following Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s historic conversion to Navayana Buddhism in 1956. This paper examines how Ambedkar’s adoption of Buddhism led to the emergence of a new visual and spatial identity for Dalits, serving as both a form of cultural emancipation and a political assertion. The transformation is evident in the emergence of architectural landmarks that incorporate Buddhist imagery, symbols, and design principles, reclaiming dignity and rewriting Dalit identity through a neo-Buddhist lens. Central to this exploration is the architecture of Gautam Buddha University, Mayabati’s Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal, and Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur—sites emblematic of this cultural and spiritual resurgence. The university and memorials embody Ambedkar’s reinterpretation of Buddhist values, blending ancient Buddhist architectural motifs such as stupas, Ashokan Chakras, and symbolic fauna (elephants) with modern monumental forms. Deeksha Bhoomi, designed by Sheo Dan Mal, reflects a conscious invocation of the famous Sanchi stupa’s form, while innovatively using modern construction techniques to foster an inclusive, hollow space symbolizing openness and transformation. Similarly, Mayabati’s Dalit Prerna Sthal spatializes Dalit resistance and empowerment through monumental stone elephants and concrete landscaped zones, creating a narrative of social transformation and pride. This paper argues that these architectural sites not only represent collective aspiration and identity but operate as powerful counter-narratives against caste marginalization, using Buddhist symbolism to articulate Dalit liberation and socio-political agency. Through multidisciplinary analysis drawing on architectural studies, Dalit visual culture, and neo-Buddhist philosophy, this paper contributes to understanding how architecture becomes a site of identity formation, memory, and resistance within Dalit communities inspired by Ambedkar’s neo-Buddhist vision.
Keywords	Navayana Budhhism, Neo-Buddhist Architecture, Social Emancipation, Buddhist Symbolism, Resistance.
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 5, September-October 2025
Published On	2025-10-21
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i05.58553

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The Neo-Buddhist Architecture: A Site of Identity Formation

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