２００２年８月１６日

Buddhists Plea to the UN

31st July 2002

To,
Madam Mary Robinson
Her Excellency The High Commissioner For Human Rights United Nations
Geneva
Switzerland

Subject : Request to direct the Government of India to handover the Management of Mahabodhi Mahavihar at BuddhaGaya to Buddhists

Respected Madam,

With great respect to the office of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights , may I invite your kind attention towards the continued illegal occupation of the most sacred and holiest place of the Buddhists and the Entire World, the Mahabodhi Mahavihar at Buddha Gaya in the Bihar State of India by high caste Hindu Brahmins.

This is the place where the Siddharth Gautama, the Prince, attained the Supreme Enlightenment and became the Buddha. This vihara was erected by Emperor Ashoka 250 BC as a monument in the memory of Lord Buddha. This is confirmed by Chinese Monk Fa-Hain who visited Buddha Gaya in 409 AD and Huen Thsang in 637 AD. One of the great Archaeologist Sir Alexander Cunnigham also visited Buddha Gaya. It is beyond doubts that it is the sacred and holiest place of Buddhists where Buddha attained Enlightenment. Dr.Buchanan Hamilton a very well known archaeologist visited Buddha Gaya vihar and he found that the vihara was in a hopeless condition. Buddhism vanished from India due to onslaught by Hindu Brahmins. The Vihara had been visited by thousands and thousands of Buddhists from China, Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka and other parts of the world

nd several inscriptions had been found during excavation in Buddha Gaya to prove that throughout the ages, it was truly the Buddha Vihara . Sir Edwin Arnold, the world famous author of the book " The Light of Asia", visited 1885 and appealed to British Government to handover the Mahavihar to the Buddhists. He also appealed to the Buddhist Countries to show intrest in the matter of management of the Mahavihar.

Ven. Anagarik Dharmapala , was one of the greatest Buddhist Monk from Sri Lanka who took up the cause of handing over of Mahabodhi Mahavihar to Buddhists, visited Buddha Gaya in January 1891 along with Col. Oleot. He again came back in July 1891 along with four monks. Hindu Brahmin Priests (Mahants) assaulted all of them and the statue of Buddha was thrown away. The case went to Dist. Judge who said " The temple was continuously and regularly been used as Buddhist place of worship by Buddhist pilgrims. No form of Hindu worship had been carried on inside the Mahabodhi temple and there is nothing to show that any such worship (Hindu worship) has been carried on for many centuries". Justice Mc- Pherson of Calcutta High Court said " It is mentioned that the Mahabodhi Temple which is very ancient and very sacred to the Buddhists, was a Buddhists Temple. Although it has been in the possession of Hindu Mahants, it has never been converted into a Hindu Temple in the sense that Hindu idols have been enshrined or orthodox Hindu worship carried on there and that Buddhists pilgrims have had free access and liberty to worship in it".

The proceedings of the case were published in all newspapers and the Buddha Gaya`s question became a live topic throughout India, Burma and other countries. Thus a strong public opinion was created in favour of the Buddhists Claim.

In 1949, the Government of Bihar passed the Buddha Gaya Temple Act transferring the temple to a committee of Management consisting of four Buddhists and four Hindus with a Hindu District Magistrate of Gaya as the Chairman which ultimate means mangement of Mahavihar.

Since the enactment of Temple Act in 1949, the Management has been in the hands of majority Hindu Brahmins who have nothing to do with the teaching of Buddha. Hindu Brahmins falsely claim that Buddha is an incarnation of a Hindu God Vishnu in order to destroy the holiest site of Buddhists. Hindu Brahmin Priests have been playing tricks to show to the world that Lord Buddha was a Hindu God and nothing else. It is established and accepted fact that Buddhism is the different independent religion which has nothing to do with the philosophy of God or incarnation of God.

Some of the most important problems created by Hindu Brahmin priests are:

1) Some of the original statues of Lord Buddha have been defiled and stolen from the Mahabodhi Mahavihara.

2) Accounts of donations and gifts received have not been maintained properly.

3) Elections for the management committee were held only after raising objections and launching agitations throughout India .

4) Idols of some of the Hindu Gods have been smuggled inside the Mahavihar including Shivlinga to dilute and defame Buddhism.

5) All sorts of Hindu Rituals and Rites are being followed inside Mahabodhi Mahavihar to defame and bring impurity in Buddhism.

6) Criminal elements in the society are encouraged by the Brahmin priests who misappropriate donations and gifts offered by visitors.

Thus it is seen that sacredness of Buddha Gaya has been threatened. The entire world has been expressing their concern on happenings in Buddha Gaya from time to time.

We have started Mahabodhi Mahavihar all India Action Committee in 1992 and since then we have been protesting peacefully at Buddha Gaya and requesting both Government of India and Government of Bihar to bring amendment in the Buddha Gaya Temple Act 1949 and handover the management of the Mahavihar to the Buddhists .

Your honour, it is surprising that the holiest of the holy place of Buddhists in the entire world is in the hands of non-Buddhists. This is the uniqueness Churches are under Christians, Masjids are under Muslims and Hindu Temples under the controls of Hindu Brahmins, why is it that the holiest of the holy place of Buddhism is not under the control of Buddhists?

Government of India and Government of Bihar have been giving assurances that something will be done to handover the control of the Mahavihar to the Buddhists . In this connection we have met several Central and State Ministers and authorities but nothing concrete has been done. So far our movement has been totally peaceful and democratic and Government authorities have ignored our claim totally.

In this connection we have sent a letter dated 23rd January 2002 addressed to His Excellency The Secretary General of United Nations Mr.Kofi Annan and requested him to use his good offices and cause justice to the Buddhists around the World by handing over entire control of the Management of Mahabodhi Mahavihar to the Buddhists .

We all the Buddhist of India and All over the World are pleased at the announcement that UNESCO has declared the Buddha Gaya as World Heritage site. We therefore congratulate to the UN and express thanks to UNESCO for this historical decision, which will be having monumental effect in propagating ideals of Justice , Peace and Compassion in the entire world.

We therefore request the UN to activate the convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO) adopted on 16th November 1972 and entered into force on 17th Dec. 1974. It was ratified by 159 countries including India. The convention provides that the heritage committee shall supervise the protection of items recognised by the convention as those of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art, science and aesthetics. We also request the United Nations to direct India to obey the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) on the rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities and handover entire managemant of Mahabodhi Mahaviha ng suitable amendment to the Bodh Gaya Temple Act 1949 (Bihar Act of 17th of 1949) - (as modified up to 8th Feb.1955) and help prevent confrontation between the Buddhist and Hindu Brahmins over the issue of Mahabodhi Mahavihar.

With profound regards.

Yours truly,

(Bhadant Arya Nagarjuna Shurei Sasai)
National President
All India BuddhaGaya Mahabodhi Mahavihar Action Committee,
Indora Buddha Vihar Nagpur,India. 440004
Ph. 0091-712-642575
e-mail: shuraisasai@rediffmail.com
mahabodhivihar@hotmail.com
mahabodhi1@rediffmail.com

２００２年６月５日
BuddhaGaya Mahabodhi Vihar Liberation
All India Action Committee
National President.. Ven. Bhadant Arya Nagarjun Shurei Sasai
National General Secretary : Bhadant Anand President of Bihar : Bhante Prajnasheel
Postal Address: Po. Box 54 BuddhaGaya Dist. Gaya-824231 Bihar(India)
Branch Office: Anand Buddha Vihar, Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, Police Line, Gaya- 823001 (Bihar)
Phone: 0631 - 228493 Mobile : 9835071234 / 9835233799 www.mahabodhistruggle.org
E.Mail : mahabodhivihar@hotmai1.com / bhanteprajna@sify.com /mahabodhi 1 @rediffmail.com
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 05 June 2002

To,
Rev. Gempo Fuji san
Myosenji Temple, Kobe
Japan
Dear Reverand, all the Dharma Brothers, and Sisters
Namo Buddhaya! Jai Bhim!

I am fine and good health, hoping all the best by the grace of the Buddha, Dharma and
Sangha. May be you received my greeting letter on the occasion of Happy New Year. I am
sending letter very late to contact you, due to my work and distrub of committee. I was mostly
on tour in Sikkim and other states from December 2001. Recently I just come back from Himalaya
tour for one month. I always remember you, your love about Dr. Ambedkar Library, Nagaland
House and Mahabodhi Temple Liberation. I really proud of you and kind co-operation for me.
This year new committee Secretary and others try to disturb on the holy occasion of
Buddha Jayanti 2546th on 26 May 2002, but our opposition was strong, before one week they
changed their plan and handover ground for Buddha Jayanti Religious meeting. Morning we
make colourful Peace procession around the BuddhaGaya and chanting the Pali sutra under the
Bodhi Tree in the leadership of Ven. Bhadant Shurei Sasai Arya Nagarjuna.
Mumbai(Bombay) based four big Buddhist officers participated with their family. Offer
the lunch to all the Monks and public by Unity of young Buddhist Association and NagptF
Railway coolie Association. Doctors team also from Bodhisatva Nagarjuna Memorial Institute,
Nagpur given services for two days. Buddha Jayanti Celebration was very success.
Same day afternoon at Gaya was opening ceremony of small office for me named Anand
Buddha Vihar, and Buddha statue. Now my special office for BuddhaGaya Mahabodhi Vihar
Liberation and missionary work in Dr. Ambedkar Nagar and around the Gaya District started.
Next month I have plan to plantation on the mountain of Brahmayoni very close my office. I
make small room and have to plan built a Buddha Vihar like you. I will visit our Buddhist
countries for moral support for our movement. Thanks with great regards.
Yours in the Dharma
Bhikshu PrajnaSheel (Bhante PragyaSila)


２００２，３，２４　in Bodh Gaya

2002年1月26日 3:06

Namo Buddhaya! Jai Bhim!
Thank you very much to reply to me.I also transfer to many Buddhists and Ambedkar followers.
May be tomarrow will Ven. Arya Nagarjun Shurei Sasai my Guruji will talk after reaching Gaya, our National General Secretary Ven. Ananda Mahathera discussed about two hours on this Issue with all the high officers of District Administration. 4 Monks now also waiting to President of our Sangha and Head of BuddhaGaya Mahabodhi Maha Vihar Liberation Action Committee.Today is tenth day of hunger strike, I am giving courage to them, Chairman D.M.Gaya also in our control but Secretary and his fellow is not agree to accept our demand.After arrival of my teacher he will suggest for final desision, Dalai Lama postpon his KalChakra for one year.
look belloing news for Dhamma

Buddhist congregation turning into a slug fest
The Rediff News 24th January 2002
Bodh Gaya - The holy city of Bodh Gaya has been reduced to a battleground with opposing factions hijacking the 10-day Kalchakra puja, which started on January 21, to settle their own scores.

About 100,000 Tibetan Buddhists have assembled at Bodh Gaya for the puja, the biggest such congregation in Bodh Gaya in the last 17 years.

Among the warring factions, on one side are the Tibetan Buddhists and the temple management committee while neo-Buddhists (read Ambedkarites) are on the other.

Four Indian Buddhist monks have been on fast unto death since January 16 and have even threatened to commit suicide if their demands, which include the liberation of the Mahabodhi temple, are not met.

They also seek immediate halt to the highhandedness of the temple management committee and its secretary Kalicharan Yadav, a nominee of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav.

They lambasted Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama for opposing the liberation movement and accused him of being an agent of the Hindu fundamentalists.

While outgoing secretary of the temple management committee Bhante Pragyasheel questions the very claim of the Dalai Lama to be the spiritual leader of the Buddhists, general secretary of the All India Monks Association Bhante Anand pointed out that the Tibetan leader never spoke out against the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues by the Taliban militia.

However, those in the know are of the view that the neo-Buddhists are raking up the liberation issue as they are unhappy with the state government's appointment of Kalicharan Yadav as secretary of the temple management committee in place of Bhante Pragyasheel.

Bhante Anand went so far as to say that the Kalchakra puja had nothing to do with Buddhism.

He accused the Dalai Lama and Tibetans of defiling the sanctity of the Mahabodhi temple by entering the sanctum sanctorum wearing shoes and slippers.

Continuing his tirade, he objected to the lighting of oil lamps in the temple complex, which he said has led to blackening of the walls, as such rituals had nothing to do with Buddhism.

The neo-Buddhists accuse the government of pampering the Tibetans while ignoring the Indian Buddhists. Bhante Anand openly accused the Dalai Lama of being an American agent.

The liberation movement was launched by Bhante Sasai Surai, the Nagpur-based Indian Buddhist of Japanese origin in 1993.

However, he has been a keeping low profile since 1998 after Pragyasheel was appointed secretary of the temple management committee.

Recently, his followers have become active after Prayagsheel was removed from the committee in August last.

Sasai himself has been calling for a re-launch of the liberation movement.


DM orders hospitalisation of fasting monks
ABDUL QADIR
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2002 12:25:01 AM ]

GAYA: Alarmed by the medical report submitted by Gaya civil surgeon Latafat Hussain confirming deterioration in the condition of the monks of Mahabodhi temple on fast unto death at Bodh Gaya, Gaya DM Brajesh Mehrotra pressed the panic buttons and ordered for forced hospitalisation of the monks.
The monks' fast entered the eighth day on Wednesday. They are on an indefinite hunger strike in protest against their removal from the temple service and alleged high-handedness and unbecoming conduct of temple secretary Kalicharan Yadav.

In his report, Hussain is learnt to have recommended immediate hospitalisation of the fasting monks due to a distinct deterioration in their pulse rate and dehydration, and the blood pressure reading of one of the monks also indicated that he is suffering from acute hyper tension.

However, the fasting monks have so far resisted attempts to get them hospitalised. A piquant situation has been created as the monks have locked themselves inside their respective rest rooms, and breaking open the doors is proving to be ticklish due to the presence of the representatives of national and international media, including the electronic media, who are here in a sizable number to cover the ongoing Kalchakra rituals.

Magadh division commissioner Hem Chand Sirohi said that though on late Tuesday night the fasting monks agreed to voluntary hospitalisation provided they were given a few hours' time, in the morning they backed out and refused to be hospitalised. Sirohi admitted that the sacking of the Mahabodhi temple priests was ill-timed. The monks are yet to be hospitalised, thus adding to the anxiety of the officials.

Meanwhile, in a fax message sent to the Bihar government, Bhadant Surai Sasai, the Nagpur-based Buddhist missionary having Japanese origins, has accused former Bihar chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav of taking the neo-Buddhists for a ride and threatened to expose him (Laloo) at the international level.

2002年1月24日 5:43
Dear Dhamma Brothers and Sisters
current message from News paper TIMES OF INDIA, Patna
by
Ven,Bhikshu PrajnaSheel, Patna

DM orders hospitalisation of fasting monks
ABDUL QADIR
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2002 12:25:01 AM ]
GAYA: Alarmed by the medical report submitted by Gaya civil surgeon Latafat Hussain confirming deterioration in the condition of the monks of Mahabodhi temple on fast unto death at Bodh Gaya, Gaya DM Brajesh Mehrotra pressed the panic buttons and ordered for forced hospitalisation of the monks.
The monks' fast entered the eighth day on Wednesday. They are on an indefinite hunger strike in protest against their removal from the temple service and alleged high-handedness and unbecoming conduct of temple secretary Kalicharan Yadav.
In his report, Hussain is learnt to have recommended immediate hospitalisation of the fasting monks due to a distinct deterioration in their pulse rate and dehydration, and the blood pressure reading of one of the monks also indicated that he is suffering from acute hyper tension.
However, the fasting monks have so far resisted attempts to get them hospitalised. A piquant situation has been created as the monks have locked themselves inside their respective rest rooms, and breaking open the doors is proving to be ticklish due to the presence of the representatives of national and international media, including the electronic media, who are here in a sizable number to cover the ongoing Kalchakra rituals.
Magadh division commissioner Hem Chand Sirohi said that though on late Tuesday night the fasting monks agreed to voluntary hospitalisation provided they were given a few hours' time, in the morning they backed out and refused to be hospitalised. Sirohi admitted that the sacking of the Mahabodhi temple priests was ill-timed. The monks are yet to be hospitalised, thus adding to the anxiety of the officials.
Meanwhile, in a fax message sent to the Bihar government, Bhadant Surai Sasai, the Nagpur-based Buddhist missionary having Japanese origins, has accused former Bihar chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav of taking the neo-Buddhists for a ride and threatened to expose him (Laloo) at the international level.