Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a holy pilgrimage site for more than 500 million Buddhists worldwide, is becoming a center of conflict day by day. In March, the fourth Nobel laureate conference was canceled at the last minute. Although the organizers denied it, the Chinese government strongly objected to the meeting having a pro-Dalai Lama agenda. China also suspects that the March 11 and 12 conference was deliberately chosen to coincide with the Tibetan uprising day, March 10.
At that time, the two main components of the then government of Nepal, the Nepali Congress and the Maoist Center left, and recently the government was formed together with the other major communist party of the country, Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist. China’s happiness at this development was short-lived. Decision-making in Nepal is highly centralized, and overrides political theory and ideology in pursuit of the interests and willpower of leaders. KP Oli of UML has formed a new government with the support of Nepali Congress.
Ten months after the fiasco at the gathering of Nobel laureates, controversy returned to Lumbini when the city of Nanhai, along with Kathmandu, was chosen as the venue for a Buddhism roundtable attended by hundreds of monks from mainland China. The Panchen Lama, a figure recognized by the Chinese government but non-grata for the Dalai Lama’s supporters, was expected to attend as a key figure.
In 1995, Gyankain Norbu was elected as the Panchen Lama and was recognized by the Chinese as the replacement for the since-missing Gedhun Chokeyi Nyama. The Panchen Lama is next to the Dalai Lama in the Gelug hierarchy and leads the search team for a new Dalai Lama when a vacancy arises. Norbu’s first international exposure to the Land of the Buddha would be very significant. However, there were protests in the area, and Chinese officials said the reported news was propaganda.
Lumbini, about 250 kilometers west of Kathmandu, was envisioned as a universal secular pilgrimage site in 1967 by Buddhist King Mahendra and United Nations Secretary General U Thant. Japanese architect Kenzo Tange prepared the master plan in 1978. An eight-kilometer radius of the Mayadevi temple – the birthplace of Buddha – was implemented in the first six years Prince Gyanendra Shah was the founding chairman of the Lumbini Development Authority.
Within the project area, land acquisition, population evacuation and existing industries and large constructions were done by the authority as per the plan. However, after 1991, the pace of development slowed down as instability became part of the political system. In 2006, the Maoist Party came to the center of Nepali politics and the country moved towards a republic. The government led by Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda tried to bring Hindus and Buddhists under political control. The head priest of the Pashupatinath temple, traditionally from Karnataka, India, was dismissed by Dahal and appointed a Nepalese priest. However, he backed down after the protest.
He adopted a similar strategy in Lumbini. The Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation, an NGO apparently controlled by the Chinese government, has pledged $3 billion for an all-round development that would build an international airport, roads, cultural zones, Buddhist universities, LDAs or monasteries, bypassing the Kenzo Tange plan. . China’s plan did not succeed after widespread opposition. However, in recent times China has shown renewed interest in Lumbini and the city has seen an influx of Chinese tourists, politicians and government officials.
Lumbini’s Guru Yojana has arrangements for monasteries from different countries. India was the last to show interest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Indian Math on May 16, 2022, on Buddha Jayanti Day. He promised to build a Buddhist circuit connecting the pilgrimage sites of both countries.
South Korea became interested in the development of the site when Ban Ki-moon was the Secretary General of the United Nations. The team that prepared the Lumbini World Peace City Conservation and Development Master Plan was led by South Korean architect Kwak Yong Hun. But Nepali authorities are more interested in big projects coming from commercial and private channels than government agencies.
There is anger within Lamadome that they are trying to turn their holy land into a communist and commercial zone. Once a bipartisan body, the LDA is now filled with politicians affiliated with the ruling party. Maoist leader Lharkyal Lama’s decision to give Rambagh, a holy site near Buddha’s estate, to a private company on a long-term commercial lease was dropped three months ago after all-party protests.
On November 22, a Buddhist temple built by the widely respected Buddhist monk Choki Nyama Rindpoche was inaugurated. He had Gyanendra Shah, founder chairman of Lumbini Development Project as a special guest. “I came to Nepal as a child refugee from Tibet, lived here completely, breathed Nepali air, drank water and enjoyed religious freedom. This monastery is my modest attempt to accept them all. It is an institution for spreading the Buddha’s teachings.”
His message was clear – Hindus and Buddhists have the primary responsibility to preserve the sanctity of Lumbini.
As Lumbini is being turned into a playground for players who do not understand that Lumbini is honored for peace, compassion and sacrifice rather than seeking profit for investment and strategic purposes, that spirit is being weakened.
The writer is the Kathmandu-based editor of The Indian Express
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