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UNESCO expert studies claim on Budd
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UNESCO expert studies claim on Buddha shrine
The Times of India (New Delhi)
January 17, 2001
GAYA: The arrival of UNESCO expert Kuji Nishi Kawa on a three-day visit
to Bodh Gaya has raised hopes for the declaration of Buddha shrine as a
World Heritage Site by the international body.
A proposal mooted by the government of India to include the seat of
Buddha's enlightenment in the prestigious list, is under UNESCO's
consideration. The proposal was submitted in July in Paris, at the
UNESCO headquarters.
The UNESCO representative, during his official tour to Bodh Gaya, is
accompanied by top level officials of the tourism ministry of India,
including P N Bali, director, tourism, government of India.
Besides personally assessing the merit of the claims made in the
government of India proposal, Nishi Kawa also surveyed the Bodh Gaya
township and Maitreya project and visited the Bodh Gaya museum which
houses some of the rarest images and pieces of religions art.
Though the UNESCO expert has silently been doing his job and has
remained tightlipped on his findings, he is understood to have noted
with concern the maintenance of the shrine and the fitting of electrical
appliances in violation of the guidelines issued by the Archaeological
Survey of India. The lightning conductor fitted on the top of the shrine
has not been functioning for decades.
During the preparation of the proposal to include the Bodh Gaya temple
in the list of fame, it came to light that the Bodh Gaya master plan had
been violated with impunity and the violators included the Mohabodhi
Temple management committee which got a guest house constructed on a
piece of land which did not even belong to the committee and farmed part
of the area where restrictions were imposed on concrete construction.
The Gaya district magistrate-cum-chairman of the temple management
committee, while acknowledging the violation, took the stand that the
irregularity would be undone and the government would transfer the land
to the management committee.
Now that UNESCO has officially sent its expert to study the proposal and
make recommendations, Bodh Gaya watchers believe that the world body may
apply moral pressure, issue guidelines and offer expertise to arrest the
decay of the most sacred Buddhist shrine.
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<b><font size=+2>UNESCO expert studies claim on Buddha shrine</font></b>
<p>The Times of India (New Delhi)
<br>January 17, 2001
<p><b>GAYA:</b> The arrival of UNESCO expert Kuji Nishi Kawa on a three-day
visit to Bodh Gaya has raised hopes for the declaration of Buddha shrine
as a World Heritage Site by the international body.
<p>A proposal mooted by the government of India to include the seat of
Buddha's enlightenment in the prestigious list, is under UNESCO's consideration.
The proposal was submitted in July in Paris, at the UNESCO headquarters.
<p>The UNESCO representative, during his official tour to Bodh Gaya, is
accompanied by top level officials of the tourism ministry of India, including
P N Bali, director, tourism, government of India.
<p>Besides personally assessing the merit of the claims made in the government
of India proposal, Nishi Kawa also surveyed the Bodh Gaya township and
Maitreya project and visited the Bodh Gaya museum which houses some of
the rarest images and pieces of religions art.
<p>Though the UNESCO expert has silently been doing his job and has remained
tightlipped on his findings, he is understood to have noted with concern
the maintenance of the shrine and the fitting of electrical appliances
in violation of the guidelines issued by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The lightning conductor fitted on the top of the shrine has not been functioning
for decades.
<p>During the preparation of the proposal to include the Bodh Gaya temple
in the list of fame, it came to light that the Bodh Gaya master plan had
been violated with impunity and the violators included the Mohabodhi Temple
management committee which got a guest house constructed on a piece of
land which did not even belong to the committee and farmed part of the
area where restrictions were imposed on concrete construction. The Gaya
district magistrate-cum-chairman of the temple management committee, while
acknowledging the violation, took the stand that the irregularity would
be undone and the government would transfer the land to the management
committee.
<p>Now that UNESCO has officially sent its expert to study the proposal
and make recommendations, Bodh Gaya watchers believe that the world body
may apply moral pressure, issue guidelines and offer expertise to arrest
the decay of the most sacred Buddhist shrine.
<br> </html>
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