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The Buddha ‘intervenes’ at Litfest



Even though, sadly, Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie was ‘banned’ by a hyper-sensitive Rajasthan government at the Jaipur Literature Festival last week, the incident did a lot of good for Islam and Buddhism. Their good points and essence for the development of human mind and general welfare of humanity were highlighted. Authors discussed Islam in the context of the Rushdie ‘ban’ and felt that it was only narrow-mindedness that stood between Rushdie and the festival and not because of any threat to any one.

There was also a session in which Buddhism was its highlight. Speakers had divergent views on the session’s topic, India’s Rediscovery of Buddhist Heritage. The speaker who stole the show was John Keay, renowned British author and journalist. In his conversation with historian Nayanjot Lahiri, he pointed out that it was the political correctness of Buddhism and the role played by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the early 19th century that helped the revival process of the religion in the country. The discovery of the Mahabohi site by General Alexander Cunningham, the first head of the ASI, was the point that signalled the revival of Buddhism. Until then no one could connect the name of the Buddha to religion, in India as well as in its neighbourhood. The discovery of Buddhist sites in Taxila, Gwalior, Khajuraho and Mahaboddhi could lead to new hope and aspiration among the people to revive the Buddha’s teachings and its relevance to the society.

It was only after Cunningham’s untiring efforts that the people discovered a god in the Buddha and started worshiping him. Until then he was taken more as a historical figure than as an iconic religious figure. The extraordinary discoveries of Cunningham changed all this and the people had a dramatic change in their views on the Buddha. This not only helped the revival of Buddhism but also gave a great impetus to the development of the culture and civilisation of the country by restoring India’s historical identity, chiefly the Buddhist Stupas and the monasteries.

Buddhism owes a great deal to Cunningham because he was instrumental for outstanding work in excavation, classification and the protection of the country’s brilliant architectural heritage. And then, in the next century, it was Jawaharlal Nehru as India’s Prime Minister who took keen interest in India’s Buddhist symbols and heritage. Buddhism thus got an accidental as well as planned fillip.

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Posted by P P Wangchuk on Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 6:16 pm 
Filed under Spirituality · Tagged , , , , , , , ,

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  • Loonerspacecraft

    Great article, so many favorites on here!! I think you got that bit about Annie Clark wrong though–she’s from Houston, and Marry Me was released in 2007

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  • Peter Hunt

    I would like to ask just a couple of questions. Reading the story spun out by the victim’s friends-they saw a white person emerge from nowhere, came to face one of the 9members in the group- this poor victim, asked the time and shot him. Why did he not pick others?Why there was no abuses hurled at the victim, which happens in a racist situation. Sounds too neat to me. Wait until the Jury panel hears the arguments, and examine the evident. I suspect a prior incidence before.

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  • satnam johal

    apart from the issues raised by Mr De sarkar, one thing that is neglected here is the part played by the Indian foreign office or the complete lack of it in the first few days. The family of Anuj had to write an open letter to the Foreign Minister for help . the foreign office of India and its cosulate staff in U.K. has let down not only their duty but also all the NRI’s. It has shown again that rather than look after their own citizen’s, they are too busy looking after themselves. Shame on them.

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    Peter Hunt Reply:
    January 2nd, 2012 at 11:28 pm

    The Indian Consulate I guess was closed as the Indian establishments enjoy public holidays of both countries! Lucky people! Strangely, the students’ Indian friends-they were a close knit team were of no help in terms of communication etc.. Not sure what help was asked for as it was a murder and the process of law has to be observed.

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  • Anonymous

    One thought that INDIANS HAVE BECOME A CITIZEN OF AN INDEPENDENT NATION, AND SLAVERY HAS BEEN ABOLISHED, not if you read the above GARBAGE dished out by a complete dick head who is paid by HT to write such puerile trash.Take his lines
    “And, in fairness, it should be noted that more Britons are murdered and/or raped in India than the other way round”
    Really , perhaps he would like to furnish some statistics.
    DOES THE DICKANKAR , know about a certain STEPHEN LAWRENCE.
    Bloggers just type the name in google as see what it throws up.
    I have lived in Britain , for far too long and being a surgeon interact and know far far far more than this DICKHANKER.
    The fact of the matter is , there is a DARK UNDERBELLY OF BRITAIN.
    People see London and think rest of UK is like that . No it aint . The whole of NORTH , part of wales , THERE IS A HUGE UNDERCLASS. Their life is worse than a beggar in INDIA. AND THERE IS MASSIVE RACISM IN EVERY FACET OF BRITISH SOCIETY, and more the economic downturn , more pronounced it becomes , flamed by the tory party.
    In india you may be killed or robbed , BUT COLOUR OF SKIN PLAYS NO ROLE
    IN BRITAIN COLOUR OF SKIN PLAYS A BIG BIG ROLE , DECIDING THE ODDS WHEN COMING ACROSS A WHITE TRASH.
    As for Peter Hunt’s inspector Morse like analysis , let me say having killed one the Psycho fled , why Anup Bidhwa was victim BECAUSE HE WAS DARKEST presumably , the same question Peter Hunt may like to ask WHY STEPHEN LAWRENCE WAS MURDERED WHILE WAITING FOR A BUS IN ELTHAM AND NOT HIS FRIEND, DYWANNE BROOKS STANDING BESIDE HIM

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