Buddha relics trigger controversy in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Aug 10: A sacred relic caskets believed to contain fragments of bones of Lord Buddha, has triggered a controversy over its preservation in a place other than the site from where it was unearthed in 1986.

Archeologists have stumbled upon an unique stupa during excavation of Lalitgiri Buddhist site, dating back to 2nd century AD from where three hemispherical stones caskets were recovered.

On further close examination by the then Superintending Archeologist of Bhubaneswar ASI circle G C Chouley, it was found that three more caskets within in one caskets made of steatite soap, silver and gold respectively.

The caskets, were similar to that of Chinese puzzle box but what has brought much cheer to the archaeologist and historians that the golden containers had fragments of bones, supposed to be the sacred relics of Buddha.

The caskets, being considered as very important discovery from historical and archaeological point of view,were brought to the ASI office in Bhubaneswar and kept inside an almirah and finally in a strong room for over two long decades,depriving the people to have a glimpse of the sacred relics.

It was only recently that the issue snowballed into a major controversy when the Union Culture Secretary Badal Das during his visit to Bhubaneswar,announced that the relics would be shifted to Ratnagiri Buddhist site for public display inside the museum built there by the ASI.

The decision caused much resentment among the residents of Lalitgiri who have been all along demanding that the sacred relics be displayed at the place from where it was unearthed.

Two leading organisations-Buddhayan and Odisha International Centre(OIC), backed by the residents of Laligiri, are up in arms against the decision and threatened to resort to agitational path opposing its display in Ratnagiri Buddhist site museum.

Buddhayana President Pradipta Kumar Bhuyan and OIC President Paresh Nayak told a news conference here that hundreds of residents of Lalitgiri and intellectuals would stage a demonstration before the Raj Bhawan here on August 18 next in support of their demands. They said a delegation would meet Orissa Governor Rameswar Thakur and apprised him the discontentment brewing up among the people of Lalitgiri on the display of relics at Ratnagiri .The delegatation would also urge him to intervene into the matter.

Mr Bhuyan and Mr.Nayak said the decision to display the relics at Ratnagiri has come as big shock to the people of Lalitgiri as they felt that the sacred relics must be displayed at a place from where it was discovered.

In a memorandum to Union Culture Minister Ambnika Soni, they said the sacred relics has been viewed as symbol of pride and privilege and the right to relics is a right to culture and heritage of the local people.

They said the decision to display relics in Ratnagiri Buddhist site museum was arbitrary, illegal and highly prejudicial and bound to hurt the regional sentiments and spirits of the local people. It has also incited fierce socio cultural outrage, the memorandum pointed out.

When contacted ASI Bhubaneswar Circle Superintending Archeologist P K Trivedy said so far he has not received any written communication from the Director General ASI on the display of the relics at the Ratnagiri Museum.

Mr Trivedy made it clear that unless he received a written order from the office the sacred relics would not be shifted to any place.

UNI