‘TRIVENI’
HAS SHED LIGHT ON MY PATH.
BLESSED BE HER NAME!
‘THE
TRIPLE STREAM’ l
Three
months ago, when the Fazl Ali Commission’s Report on the re-organisation of
States was presented to the nation, and the Prime Minister appealed for a
dispassionate consideration of the proposals, the atmosphere was not so
surcharged with acute discontent as it is today. Strong criticism was no doubt
directed against the proposed formation of the bi-lingual State of Bombay, with
Vidarbha left out. The leaders of Vidarbha Were keen on having a State of their
own; they would not join hands with the advocates of United Maharashtra. But
Vidarbha was slowly induced to support a fresh move for a yet larger State
consisting of all the Gujarati and Marathi speaking areas, with Bombay City as
its capital. But this was not acceptable to the leaders of Gujarat who were
afraid of ‘domination’ by Maharashtra. At a later stage, they agreed; but the
Maharashtra leaders dropped the proposal and resumed their original demand for
a purely Maharashtra State, including Vidarbha. They would not resile from the
position they have all along taken up, that Bombay is the natural capital of
Maharashtra, and cannot be cut off from it under any circumstances. The
decision of the Government of India to make Bombay City a Centrally
administered area, has roused the resentment of Maharashtra and an ugly
situation has developed, the consequences of which are unpredictable.
It
is worth while recalling that the Government of India’s decision is in
consonance with the recommendations of earlier bodies like the Dhar
Commission and the J.V.P. Committee. The Prime Minister, in his
broadcast speech, gave full weight to the sentiment of Maharashtra by conceding
that Bombay was geographically a part of that area. But he felt impelled by
the special circumstances of the case, and, in particular, by the unique economic
importance of the city, to justify its being carved out into a Centrally
administered area like Delhi. Where conflicting claims cannot be reconciled,
and powerful elements in the population of Bombay oppose its inclusion in a
uni-lingual State, the Central Government have taken the only step that is
possible for the adequate safeguarding of all the interests involved. The other
alternative of a separate State of Bombay, with the usual paraphernalia, was
apparently ruled out as too costly and clumsy. It is unfortunate that a city
which played a noble role in the freedom fight should have no elected Legislature
of its own; but this grievance may be remedied, to some extent, by enlarging
the powers of the Corporation of Bombay.
The
outbreak of violence in Bombay and Orissa, the difference of opinion over the
issue of Visalandhra, and the continued agitation about border areas like
Bellary and Belgaum, have led to a rapid re-orientation all over the country
with regard to the problem of linguistic States. The scheme of zonal advisory
councils is acceptable to the Working Committee of the Congress and to the Government
of India, but this is not meant to interfere with the present programme of
re-distribution of States. Uni-lingual States grouped into five zones for
purposes of co-ordination of activities, and consultation on matters of common
concern, is a perfectly sound proposition. But the Chief Ministers of Bihar and
Bengal sprang a surprise by their joint statement on the merger of the two
States to avoid the present border disputes between them. The idea has been
welcomed with enthusiasm, and similar bi-lingual States–in the South and the
West–are envisaged. As an escape from the present atmosphere of conflict, large
bi-lingual or tri-lingual States might appear to be a counsel of wisdom. But it
is necessary to remember that this will not solve the many problems which gave
rise to the demand for linguistic States in Bihar and Andhra, and later in
Orissa and Karnataka. The new found harmony between rival groups may not last
long. Further, while the border disputes between Bengali and Bihar, or Tamilnad
and Kerala, may be solved by the States’ being grouped together, the solution
will not apply to similar disputes between Bihar and Orissa, or between Orissa
and Andhra which are not so merged. This is not to deny the psychological value
of the move initiated by the Chief Ministers of Bengal and Bihar. Indeed, it is
like a silver lining to the cloud of distrust and despair enveloping us at the
moment. If voluntary agreement could be achieved through a union of hearts,
people speaking different, languages ought to be encouraged to effect mergers.
But it is vastly more important to emphasise the essential unity of India
and the virtues of a common Indian citizenship. There may be uni-lingual as
well as multi-lingual States, and very soon language will fall into its proper
place as a vehicle of expression and not the means of discord. The present
upheaval represents a passing phase in our national history–a
sad and shameful one. But a temporary situation like the present need not lead
to the complete scrapping of linguistic States, on which large sections of the
Indian people have set their hearts. Any re-organisation of States must keep in
view administrative and economic factors. The Fazl Ali Commission made their
recommendations after a careful consideration of all the relevant factors,
including that of language. Even now, it is not too late to implement those
recommendations, except where a change can be effected with the agreement of
the parties. Where such agreement is not forthcoming, a decision taken by the
Government of India in the wider interests of national unity must be accepted.
It is the prevailing uncertainty and the vacillation in high quarters that must
cease.
If,
at a later stage, the idea of ‘mergers’ should gain momentum, the proper
grouping would be Maharashtra-Gujarat, Tamil-Kerala, and Visalandhra-Karnataka.
People in these States will gradually acquire a knowledge of both languages and
the Legislatures will be bi-lingual. While a member speaks in his own language,
he will be able to follow the speeches made in the other. All this seems to be
a far-off vision, but it is a vision worth pursuing. So, while the present
re-organisation is effected on the basis of the Fazl Ali Commission’s
recommendations, as modified by the decisions of the Government of India,
provision may be made in the Draft Bill for a re-grouping of States with the
consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned.
On
the eve of Republic Day, All India Radio, Delhi, arranged for the first time a
‘National Symposium’ of poets representing the fourteen principal languages of
India. Sri Nehru, as Chairman of the Sahitya Akademi, inaugurated the function
and stressed the vital role which the modern Indian languages should play in
Republican India, and also their inter-dependence for their growth and
fulfillment. As poet after poet gave melodious expression to the urge for unity
in diversity, and called up visions of the India of the future, one experienced
an enrichment of the spirit. Here were the makers of the great modern
literatures of India, the inheritors of the traditions of Valmiki and Kalidasa.
In diverse tongues, but inspired by a common hope, they conveyed the message of
harmony on behalf of the millions of the land seeking in their respective
spheres to be worthy of our cultural heritage. The magic of the written word is
enhanced when the poet. communicates it in his own person. Over the air, his is
an invisible presence, and yet we love to imagine the well-known lineaments,
the graceful gestures, and the joy suffusing the countenance. And then followed
the renderings into Hindi which served to remind the eager listeners that in
thought-content, even as in the diction, the lilt of the verse and the quality
of creative imagination, there was a remarkable kinship among the poets. It is
noteworthy in this context that the Sahitya Akademi through its programme of
translations from one language to another, and anthologies of verse, song and
story, is laying the foundation of a cultural fellowship.
The Future of Nagarjunakonda
Immediately
after laying the foundation stone of the Nagarjunasagar Project, Sri Nehru
visited the Nagarjunakonda Valley which contains the precious relics of
Buddhist Art dating from the age of the Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri. He was deeply
moved by what he saw. The excavations are in progress and have to be completed
within five or six years, so that when the valley is flooded by the waters of
the Krishna, the monuments may be preserved at a spot in the neighbourhood. Sri
Nehru specially instructed the officers in charge of the excavations to employ
a bigger staff and speed up the work. This was soon followed by the
constitution by the Government of India of a Board, with the Governor of Andhra
as Chairman, to supervise the work and to make the necessary arrangements for
the preservation of the monuments. Since the construction of the Dam is
inevitable, the only course is to safeguard the monuments and erect a Central
Museum to house them as well as other relics of the ancient art of Andhra.
Buddhists
of all lands, especially of the Mahayana school, must now evince greater
interest in the future of Nagarjunakonda. The 2500th anniversary of the coming
into incarnation of the Lord Buddha will be celebrated this year, and pilgrims
from all over the Buddhist world will visit the sacred sites of Buddhism. The
Lumbini garden in Nepal where he was born, Kapilavastu, the home of the Sakyas,
the Deer Park of Sarnath where he first turned the Wheel of the Law, Sanchi
where the relics of his great disciples Sariputta and Moggalanna are preserved,
are among the spots at which the pilgrims will pay their
homage to the Dharma. But Nagarjunakonda is not less important. And since the
great founder of the Mahayana school (Madhyamika Sunyavada) lived here
and gave to the world his immortal works like the ‘Maha Prajna
Paramita’ the Government of India must make arrangements for the celebration of
the event on a magnificent scale. Vaisakh Purnima is not far off and attention
has to be paid to this important matter.
In
the coming years, a new City of Vijayapuri will rise near the site of the Dam,
and, with the co-operation of Buddhists all over the world, a great centre of
Buddhism. Parks and shrines, libraries and cultural institutes, schools of
painting and sculpture, in the vicinity of the great lake Nagarjunasagar, will
enhance the glory of this spot. Readers of Triveni will be delighted to
know that already a young Buddhist Shramana from Nepal, Sri Dharmajyoti, is at
Nagarajunakonda, dreaming of the future and taking the first practical steps to
realise that dream. He is well-versed in Buddhist lore, besides being a keen
student of different schools of Indian philosophy. His devotion to the cause,
and his zeal to “fulfill the mission” are remarkable. He is building a small
Vihara at Nagarjunakonda, to be eventually shifted to a spot of safety. Here is
a statement of the objects of his new Organisation:
1.
To revive Mahayana Buddhism in India, in friendly co-operation with the
followers of other religions in India, as a step towards inter-religious
harmony.
2.
To conduct research in, and publish the Buddhist literature relating to,
Darsana (philosophy), Kavya (literature), Tantra, Mantra, Jyotisha (astrology
and astronomy) and Ayurveda (indigenous medicine)–works extant in languages
like Samskrit, Nepali (Newari), Tibetan and Chinese.
3.
To encourage young men of good character interested in social service to join
the Buddhist Order, and thereby to spread the doctrines and message of
insight-inspired Service and Love as preached by Sri Maha Karunika Samyak
Sambuddha (the all-compassionate and fully enlightened) with a view to
emancipating the downtrodden, afflicted and suffering humanity.
4.
To do Socio-cultural Welfare work among the Backward classes.
5.
To improve the old Buddhist art and architecture with the co-operation of the
artists from all the Buddhist countries.
6.
To protect and improve public health by establishing research institutions in
Ayurveda, Mantra, Tantra and allied
sciences and by establishing a pharmaceutical institute.
7.
To establish a Buddhist Academy at Nagarjunakonda in memory of the old Buddhist
University.
8.
To provide facilities for students from India to study Buddhist literature
available in Buddhist countries like Nepal, Bhutan, China, Japan, Mongolia,
Manchuria, Korea, Burma, Ceylon, and Thailand and similarly to offer facilities
to students from those countries to come to India for study.
9.
To establish an International Buddhist Library and Museum at Nagarjunakonda.
10.
To establish contact with other indigenous and foreign institutions which have
similar aims and objects.
Very
magnificent and very ambitious! But Sri Dharmajyoti is a Sadhu with a
far-reaching vision, and he is hopeful that, once a good beginning is made, the
Lord will pour forth strength to enable him or his successors to achieve the
objects. This is a task in which the Governments of India, Andhra and Hyderabad
can take a leading part; they can even invite the co-operation of the
Governments of all Buddhist lands.
Sri
Dharmajyoti’s special appeal for co-operation is printed at the end of this
number of Triveni. The attention of our readers is respectfully invited
to it.