Chinese Takeaway_ Modi’s Buddhism _ the Indian Express _ Page 99

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In hisoutreach toleaders in the subcontinent and Asia, from Nepal to Japan and

China to Myanmar, Modi has projected Buddhism as one of Indias bridges to

these nations.

Written by C Raja Mohan | Posted: December3, 2014 12:59 am| Updated: December3,

2014 8:08 am

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi winds down an intensive

phase of foreign policy activism, one surprising feature of his

diplomacy has been the frequent evocation of Buddhism. In

his outreach to leaders in the subcontinent and Asia, from

Nepal to Japan and China to Myanmar, Modi has projected

Chinese Takeaway:Modis Buddhism

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The Great Game Folio:

Modis Asia

The Great Game Folio: US

And Iran


Buddhism as one of Indias bridges to these nations. The PMs

overt expression of his Hindu religiosity has been

controversial, but not surprising.

But Buddhism?

Some have seen it as an effort to compete with China for

leadership in Buddhist Asia. Others have viewed it as a fond

hope of finding a spiritual connection to China. Some point to

Modis personal interest in Buddhism and cite his

commitment to restoring the rich Buddhist heritage of

Gujarat when he was chief minister there.

It does not really matter if none of the above can explain

Modis emphasis on Buddhism. What does matter is the fact

that the PM has put Buddhism at the heart of Indias vigorous

new diplomacy. The Buddha has long figured prominently in

Indias international engagement. As the land from where

Buddhism was born and spread around Eurasia, India did not

have to work too hard to make it part of its cultural

interaction with the rest of the world. One out of six touriststo India visits Bodh Gaya. Buddhism has long been an integral

part of Indias relations with many countries in Asia.

Buddhism brought a few problems as well. By hosting the

Dalai Lama since 1959 amidst continuing restiveness in Tibet,

India has created an enduring source of tension with China.

Beijing Rivalry?

Chinas active promotion of

Buddhism in recent years has

generated some alarm in New

Delhi. China held the first World

Buddhist Forum in 2006 at

Hangzhou. It was launched by Xi

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Kashmir Rail


Russian Pipeline

Jinping then the party secretary

of the Zhejiang province and a

rising star in the CPC. Beijing

convened

the forum again in 2009 and 2012. The UPA government

responded with a diplomatic initiative of its own. In 2011,India convened the first Global Buddhist Congregation. It

joined hands with Myanmar in 2012 to convene a conference

of Buddhist scholars in Yangon.

Just when it seemed that Buddhism was becoming part of

Sino-Indian rivalry, Modi came along to insist that the

religion could be a valuable bond between Delhi and Beijing.At his first meeting with President Xi on the margins of the

BRICS summit in Brazil and in his conversations with the

Chinese president in Ahmedabad, Modi spent much time

talking about the shared heritage of Buddhism.

Buddhist exchanges between independent India and

communist China ceased only during the disastrous period ofthe Cultural Revolution. After Deng Xiaoping took charge in

the late 1970s, there has been a steady liberalisation in the

Communist Party of Chinas attitudes towards religion in

general and Chinese Buddhism in particular. In more recent

years, China has figured out Buddhism can play an important

role in promoting Chinas relations with its Asian neighbours,

including India. Modis hope that Buddhism might leaven thetroubled ties between the two countries may be unrealistic.

That does not mean, however, that India should hustle itself

into a permanent competition with China on Buddhism.

Advantage Delhi

A closer look would suggest that China is no competition for
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India in the spiritual business. Given Beijings inability to

grant full religious freedom at home and the continuing

hostility towards the Dalai Lama amid the restiveness in

Tibet, China will always find it hard to realise the full

potential of its Buddhist soft power. India, in contrast, just

needs to end the prolonged neglect of its Buddhist heritageand begin to invest in preserving and promoting it.

Within the neighbourhood, Modis focus on Buddhism has

deeply touched the people of Nepal, despite the rumblings of

discontent among its habitual anti-Indian leftists and

secularists. It has also opened an opportunity for Modi to

arrest the decline in the relationship with Sri Lanka andconsolidate its partnerships in the vast world of Buddhism in

East Asia.

Modis focus on Buddhist heritage nicely complements his

focus on infrastructure, accelerated economic development

through the promotion of tourism within the country and

across its borders. The PMs Buddhist bug appears to haveinfected the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu

Naidu. During his recent visits to Singapore and Japan, Naidu

has sought support in restoring the rich Buddhist legacy of

the state.

Buddhist heritage is not limited to the contemporary borders

of India. A collaborative effort with our neighbours and the

participation of other interested countries like China, Japan

and South Korea could go far in securing the greater

subcontinents Buddhist heritage from Afghanistan to Sri

Lanka and from western China to southern Myanmar.

The writer is a distinguished fellow at the Observer Research

Foundation and a contributing editor for The Indian Express

Documents

Chinese Takeaway_ Modi’s Buddhism _ the Indian Express _ Page 99