The importance of Lumbini

News: Recently, The Prime Minister of India visited Lumbini, Nepal for the first time in the last few decades.

How this Indian PM’s visit to Lumbini, Nepal is important?

The visit reiterated the message of peace; compassion; non-violence; tolerance; dialogue and debate; reconciliation; consensus; and the middle path forged (preached by the Buddha) in Indian society which is facing strife and turmoil and anger and hatred.

In a Political sense, Indian PM’s visit has put to rest the unnecessary debate on whether the Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal which is a sensitive issue for Nepal.

In a strategic sense, the visit was aimed to counter the growing presence of China in Lumbini, which is close to the Indian border. For example, it has built the largest monastery in Lumbini, sponsors international conferences on Buddhism, sponsors massive celebrations on Buddhist festivals, promotes Chinese tourists to Lumbini, and Chinese investments in the region. It means China is exploiting the soft power potential of Buddhism in Nepal.

What is India’s soft potential?

India is home to some of the most sacred sites of Buddhism: Bodh Gaya; Sarnath; Kushinagar; Shravasti; Nalanda; and Rajgir, among several others.

Both Lumbini and the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya are UNESCO World Heritage sites. They are to Buddhists what Mecca is to Muslims or Kashi is to Hindus.

What are the issues from the Indian Side?

India has not utilized its soft power potential in Lumbini. Although, India assisted in building a small museum in Lumbini in the late 1990s. Further, an India Ambassador planted a sampling of the sacred Bodhi tree in the gardens of the Maya Devi temple where Gautama Buddha was born in 2014.

Lumbini is home to beautiful monasteries from several countries. But India does not have a monastery in Lumbini.

There were talks about developing a Buddhist circuit between the major pilgrimage sites in Nepal and India. But, talk has not fully translated into action.

There is the poor state of border infrastructure and immigration and other facilities in the area. The road networks are poor. For example, it is a nightmare to cross the Sunauli-Bhairahawa India-Nepal check post that is designated for tourists.

The relationship between the monasteries of foreign countries in Bodh Gaya and the local communities is fraught.

What should be done?

India can assist the international committee for the development of Lumbini and Nepal in the implementation of the master plan for development of Lumbini, which is pending for decades.

The basic infrastructure like roads network between India and Nepal should be upgraded. For example, Kushinagar Airport (India) as well as Bhairahawa Airport (Nepal) should be constructed timely. Further, the integrated check post could also be built speedily. The measure would boost tourism and the local economy.

On the lines of a master plan to develop Lumbini, India should also adopt a master plan for Bodh Gaya in order to develop it as a sacred place for pilgrimage for both Hindus and Buddhists.

India can set up a high-level coordination committee comprising representatives of State governments, Central governments as well as of foreign monasteries to promote coordination between foreign monasteries.

The Buddhist circuit, namely Lumbini-Bodh Gaya-Sarnath-Kushinagar should be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site with master plans for each segment of the circuit.

India and Nepal can organise an international conference on the development of the Buddhist circuit as a joint initiative.

India can also establish an international museum of Buddhist traditions in Bodh Gaya and invite all Buddhist countries to participate.

Source: The post is based on an article “The importance of Lumbini” published in the “The Hindu” on 16^th May 2022.