Why is Mahabodhi Temple in Gaya, most sacred shrine for Buddhists worldwide, under Brahmanical control?

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*

Remembering #BabasahebAmbedkar on his #MahaparinirvanDiwas (December 6). Interestingly, even those who never respected Dr. Ambedkar's ideas are now shouting #JaiBhim. The forces that lack genuine faith in the #Constitution of India are singing its praises. Yes, the same forces that demolished a 400-year-old mosque in Ayodhya. The same forces who want to excavate every site to claim there was once a temple there but resist returning Buddhist places of worship that were forcibly or violently taken over by the Brahmanical elite.

Take the case of the Mahabodhi Temple in Gaya, the most sacred shrine for Buddhists worldwide. It remains under Brahmanical control, and neither the state nor the central government seems interested in returning it to the Buddhists. In fact, Shivlingas have been installed there. Hundreds of Buddhist sites and statues have been appropriated and converted into Hindu gods and goddesses, yet any discussion on this issue is stifled.

This nation has been manipulated into perpetually debating Hindu-Muslim issues, allowing fanatics on both sides to benefit at the expense of others. Why not confront the history of Buddhism in this country and examine how it was co-opted and eliminated by Brahmanical forces?

Babasaheb Ambedkar sought to revive Buddhism in India. His #Navayana was an ethical and rational reinterpretation of #Buddha's philosophy. Today, it is vital for us to rededicate ourselves to the ideals of the #Constitution, ensuring that all citizens of #India, regardless of their faith, receive equal opportunities and live with dignity and respect.

Unfortunately, our rulers appear preoccupied with conspiracy theories and keeping minorities on edge. Such divisive politics will not lead India to greater heights. Indian leadership could learn from Western countries and even #Russia about managing diversity and building unity. Mistakes have been made, and no one claims Indian #Secularism is perfect. However, secularism in India has often been shaped by Brahmanical elitism, dominating academia, media, and politics.

True secularism would have succeeded if it had addressed caste inequities and social hierarchies that fracture our social fabric. The reluctance to engage with the caste question has been a glaring weakness.

India once held the moral high ground globally, providing a model for majoritarian-dominated societies. Secularism here was not anti-religion; it aimed to keep the state neutral while leaving religion as a personal matter. The state’s role was to be a welfare provider, ensuring social security for all citizens without discrimination.

Now, 75 years later, India seems to be turning into a Brahmanical state, dictating what to eat, think, and believe. The state apparatus increasingly aligns with religious agendas, emboldening those who oppose peace and harmony. This trajectory appears to be heading toward a dangerous "final solution" mentality.

The mainstreaming of Hindutva’s anti-Muslim rhetoric only strengthens radical jihadis in Pakistan and Bangladesh, creating further instability. India cannot afford poor relations with its neighbors, as it undermines regional stability and prosperity.

India’s rich, syncretic cultural heritage—spanning Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, and Christian traditions—should have been a tool for global influence. However, the state’s vilification of Muslims is eroding this legacy, posing a severe threat to India's national interest.

Dr. Ambedkar envisioned an India where #Equality, #Liberty, and #Fraternity are upheld, guided by the Constitution as the nation's moral compass. This vision can only be achieved if the Constitution is implemented impartially, ensuring every citizen—irrespective of #Religion, #Caste, #Gender, or #Region—feels protected and valued.

Let us strive to rebuild #India on the foundation of equal partnership among all its citizens.

---

*Human rights defender

Comments

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Two more "aadhaar-linked" Jharkhand deaths: 17 die of starvation since Sept 2017

Kaleshwar's sons Santosh and Mantosh Counterview Desk A fact-finding team of the Right to Feed Campaign, pointing towards the death of two more persons due to starvation in Jharkhand, has said that this has happened because of the absence of aadhaar, leading to “persistent lack of food at home and unavailability of any means of earning.” It has disputed the state government claims that these deaths are due to reasons other than starvation, adding, the authorities have “done nothing” to reduce the alarming state of food insecurity in the state.

Epic war against caste system is constitutional responsibility of elected government

Edited by well-known Gujarat Dalit rights leader Martin Macwan, the book, “Bhed-Bharat: An Account of Injustice and Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-18)” (available in English and Gujarati*) is a selection of news articles on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-2018) published by Dalit Shakti Prakashan, Ahmedabad. Preface to the book, in which Macwan seeks to answer key questions on why the book is needed today: *** The thought of compiling a book on atrocities on Dalits and thus present an overall Indian picture had occurred to me a long time ago. Absence of such a comprehensive picture is a major reason for a weak social and political consciousness among Dalits as well as non-Dalits. But gradually the idea took a different form. I found that lay readers don’t understand numbers and don’t like to read well-researched articles. The best way to reach out to them was storytelling. As I started writing in Gujarati and sharing the idea of the book with my friends, it occurred to me that while...

What's behind Donald Trump's 'narco-state' accusation against Venezuela

By Manolo De Los Santos The US government has revived its campaign to label Venezuela a "narco-state", accusing its top leadership of drug trafficking and slapping hefty bounties on their heads for capture. This campaign, which only momentarily took a backseat, is a strategic fabrication, not a factual assessment. This accusation, particularly amplified under the Trump Administration, is a calculated smokescreen to justify a long-standing agenda: the overthrow of the Venezuelan government and the seizure of its vast oil and mineral resources. A closer examination of the facts reveals a country that has actively fought drug trafficking on its own terms and a US government with a clear and consistent history of destabilizing independent countries in Latin America.

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

1857 War of Independence... when Hindu-Muslim separatism, hatred wasn't an issue

"The Sepoy Revolt at Meerut", Illustrated London News, 1857 By Shamsul Islam* Large sections of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs unitedly challenged the greatest imperialist power, Britain, during India’s First War of Independence which began on May 10, 1857; the day being Sunday. This extraordinary unity, naturally, unnerved the firangees and made them realize that if their rule was to continue in India, it could happen only when Hindus and Muslims, the largest two religious communities were divided on communal lines.

Ground reality: Israel would a remain Jewish state, attempt to overthrow it will be futile

By NS Venkataraman* Now that truce has been arrived at between Israel and Hamas for a period of four days and with release of a few hostages from both sides, there is hope that truce would be further extended and the intensity of war would become significantly less. This likely “truce period” gives an opportunity for the sworn supporters and bitter opponents of Hamas as well as Israel and the observers around the world to introspect on the happenings and whether this war could have been avoided. There is prolonged debate for the last several decades as to whom the present region that has been provided to Jews after the World War II belong. View of some people is that Jews have been occupants earlier and therefore, the region should belong to Jews only. However, Christians and those belonging to Islam have also lived in this regions for long period. While Christians make no claim, the dispute is between Jews and those who claim themselves to be Palestinians. In any case...

Fate of Yamuna floodplain still hangs in "balance" despite National Green Tribunal rap on Sri Sri event

By Ashok Shrimali* While the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday reportedly pulled up the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for granting permission to hold spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's World Culture Festival on the banks of Yamuna, the chief petitioners against the high-profile event Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan has declared, the “fate of the floodplain still hangs in balance.”

Counterview

Search This Blog