Battle for Buddha Gaya

By Chandani Kirinde

Chances of Buddha Gaya in the Indian state of Bihar, venerated by millions of Buddhists worldwide as the place where Gautama Buddha attained Buddhahood, being included in this year's world heritage sites appeared slim with the relevant authorities failing to submit a proposal.

Time was running out with the Indian government showing disinterest, and an ongoing court battle between the Indian Maha Bodhi Society and the Sri Lanka Maha Bodhi Society over who should administer the Buddha Gaya sacred city.

At the turn of the 19th century, Anagarika Dharmapala formed the Maha Bodhi Society and waged a single-handed crusade to obtain for the Buddhists, the right of management of the sacred site.

India after independence appointed a management committee for Buddha Gaya that includes Buddhist representation.

The chances of Buddha Gaya being included in this year's world heritage sites is slim as authorities there have failed to submit a proposal to include the site to the UN organization on time. 

Although the deadline passed several months ago, UNESCO was willing to entertain the proposal if papers were sent speedily.

The Chennai-based Hindu reported that UNESCO was eager to consider Buddha Gaya as a world heritage site if the authorities send in the papers in the next few days, but said that an ownership dispute between the Bihar government and the Maha Bodhi Society was causing a delay.

Mahinda Abeywardena, UNESCO Secretary General in Colombo, said officially the initiative should come from India. Sri Lankan authorities could only ask India to take an active interest and canvass the issue.

Officials of the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) and the Buddha Sasana Ministry when asked about the dispute said they were unaware of it and had no knowledge of the issue.

The Sunday Times learns that the crisis over the election of a new administrator deepened after a Sri Lankan monk in Buddha Gaya was transferred to another Indian temple.

The election, which was to be held late last year was disrupted after a dispute took place between supporters of the Indian Maha Bodhi Society and the Sri Lanka Maha Boadhi Society and was postponed indefinitely.

The monk was transferred by the Indian Maha Bodhi Society to another Buddhist temple in the area but the priest had refused to leave and gone to Courts over the issue. He said he would not go till the election was completed.

The court ruling is expected this week.

This issue seems to be the main impediment Indian authorities are quoting for the delay in making the proposal to UNESCO.

An Indian High Commission official said that they had no information on the matter.

However, The Hindu in an editorial this week said that UNESCO had stated that "insufficient information" was impeding the process of honouring Buddha Gaya.

Criticising Indian authorities' attitude towards its national treasures, the newspaper said "the Indian administration has been lackadaisical; about its own history even while it stood in judgment and made loud noises when the Bhamiyan Buddha's were destroyed in Afghanistan".

The paper added that India was under-represented in UNESCO's list of world heritage sites while smaller countries had many more.

Among the criteria for inclusion of properties in the world heritage list are archeological sites which are of "outstanding universal value" .

Nominations to be included in this list asks governments for specific information on management namely the authorities or authority with legal responsibility for managing a property or the individual who is responsible for day-to-day control of the property and the budget relating to its upkeep.

Among the sites included in the UNESCO list are the Buddhist monuments at Sanchi and Borobudur temple in Indonesia. 

The Sri Lankan sites on the list include Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya cities, Sinharajah forest reserve, sacred city of Kandy, Galle old town and the Dhambulla golden temple.