Nepal is birthplace of lord Buddha, it is an indisputable fact

Kathmandu / Aug 9: The government has expressed objections over the Indian External Minister S. Jaisankar’s statement that Buddha was an Indian.

“It is true that Buddhism spread from Nepal to other parts of the world in the subsequent period. The matter remains beyond doubt and controversy and thus cannot be a subject of debate,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Sunday.

It said that the entire international community knew Gautam Buddha was born in Nepal.

The statement cites the Indian PM Narendra Modi’s statement, made at the Parliament of Nepal during his visit in 2014, “Nepal is the country where the apostle of peace in the world, Buddha, was born.”

Responding to the media queries seeking the government’s comment on Jaishankar’s statement, MoFA said that it was a well-established and undeniable fact that Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal.

Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha and the fountain of Buddhism is one of the UNESCO Heritage Sites.

Jaishankar, during a virtual event on Saturday, had claimed that Buddha was Indian. His statement had drawn widespread criticism from the political leaders, diplomats, civil society and media in Nepal.

Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expressed objection over Jaishankar’s statement. “I would like to draw attention that though it was a proven from the historical facts, evidence and archaeological studies that Gautam Buddha was born in Nepal, insensitive and misleading statements time and again from the Indian leaders would have a counterproductive impact on the bilateral relations between the two countries,” he said in a tweet.

Urging the government of Nepal to formally talk to the Indian government regarding the issue, he said it was unfortunate to have such a statement from a responsible government representative.

Former Foreign Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya said that if the enlightenment and preaching in India would satisfy the claim that Buddha was Indian, then many sages that India claims as its own would be Nepali.

“If the enlightenment and preaching in India is to be used to claim that Buddha was an Indian, then most of the Rishimunis (sages) like Vyas, Valmiki and Patanjali who India claims to be their own are Nepalis because they mediated, wrote treatises and achieved moksha in Nepal,” he said.

Likewise, Former Chief Secretary and diplomat Leela Mani Paudyal said, “Gautam Buddha is Nepali by birth, who was born in Lumbini and Buddhism is a common heritage of humanity. Claim alone does not change the status of the greatest thinker and teacher of life and world in the past 3000 years of time.”