NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the historical alliance between India and Nepal as he celebrated Buddha Purnima in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha in Nepal.
“Nepal and India’s deep respect for Buddha connects us, making us one family,” PM Modi said. He also announced the setting up of Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Chair for Buddhist Studies at Lumbini Buddhist University.
“Whenever I come to Nepal, Nepal enriches me with her mighty spiritual blessings,” Prime Minister Modi said. “Without Nepal, Lord Ram is also incomplete. When the temple of Lord Ram is being established, Nepaleases will also be excited and glad,” he said.
“Nepal visit is not for a political visit, whenever I visit Nepal, a spiritual feeling strikes me. Nepal is the world’s largest mountain, a land of several temples and a nation that reserves ancient heritage and culture,” PM Modi said.
Speaking of Lord Buddha, the Prime Minister said, “Buddha showed that there is immense joy in sacrifice (tyag) then gain (prapti).”
PM Modi, along with his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba, on Monday laid the foundation of the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Lumbini Monastic Zone to mark Buddha Purnima.
Thailand, Canada, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Singapore, France, Germany, Japan, Vietnam, Austria, China, South Korea and the United States are represented in the Monastic Zone.
The Centre is a result of PM Modi led government’s effort to set up an Indian centre at the Monastic Zone. As a result of constant follow-up and positive efforts from both governments, in November 2021, the Lumbini Development Trust allocated a plot to the IBC to build a project.
This was followed up with a detailed agreement between the International Buddhist Confederation and Lumbini Development Trust in March 2022, following which the land was formally leased to the International Buddhist Confederation.
The two Prime Ministers also held a bilateral meeting later in the day. PM Modi underscored the necessity of cooperation between India and Nepal in the sphere of Science, Technology and Infrastructure.
PM Modi also said India’s collaboration with Lumbini Buddhist University, Kathmandu University and Tribhuvan University is a reflection of India’s cooperation in those areas.