Buddhists celebrate Ashoka’s legacy, demand Bodh Gaya control
By Doruvu Paul Jagan Babu: Assistant Chief Editor
Chittoor – Andhra Pradesh: On Saturday, Chittoor’s Buddhist Society and CRPC honoured Emperor Ashoka’s birth anniversary, calling for Buddhist control over Mahabodhi Vihar in Bodh Gaya, amid a peaceful 59-day protest by monks and Ambedkarites.
Ashoka jayanti celebrated
The Buddhist Society of India and the Constitutional Rights Protection Committee (CRPC) marked Emperor Ashoka’s birth anniversary at the Ambedkar statue in Darga Chowk, Chittoor district headquarters. The event, steeped in Buddhist traditions, drew senior Ambedkarites, Dalit leaders, and youth, including Rajkumar, Chittibabu, Sarath, Bullet Babu, and Vallathur Uday, who gathered to pay tribute with devotion and peace.
Ashoka’s welfare legacy praised
Chittoor District Buddhist Society President Somarajulu hailed Ashoka as a “peace emperor” who elevated India’s global stature through his Buddhist-inspired welfare initiatives. He credited Ashoka with pioneering schemes that modern politicians emulate, emphasizing his enduring influence on India’s social fabric after his conversion to Buddhism.
“In interviews, Constitution framer Ambedkar credited the Buddhist Vinaya Pitaka as a key inspiration for India’s Constitution. He noted that Ashoka’s 85,000 stone edicts, shaped by Buddha’s teachings, influenced this framework. Ambedkar believed these principles echo in our Constitution, making Ashoka Jayanti a celebration every Indian should embrace”, said Somarajulu.
Push for Mahabodhi Vihar control
CRPC Chittoor Convener Parthasarathi used the occasion to demand full Buddhist oversight of Mahabodhi Vihar in Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment. He called for repealing the 1949 BTA Act, which grants Brahmin priests equal authority over the site, and removing them from its management. Parthasarathi voiced support for the Vishwa Buddhist Sangham and Ambedkarite Buddhists, who have protested peacefully for 59 days to reclaim the sacred space.
Solidarity from Ambedkarites and Buddhists
The celebration saw robust backing from Ambedkarite and Buddhist communities, with leaders like Kothapalli Shambhogam, Ramapuram Kumar, and BT Palli Sudhan Kumar expressing solidarity. Participants not only honoured Ashoka’s legacy but also rallied behind the ongoing Bodh Gaya movement, reinforcing their commitment to constitutional rights and Buddhist heritage.
