Buddhists demand control of Mahabodhi Temple, stage protest at Collectorate
By Doruvu Paul Jagan Babu: Assistant Chief Editor
Eluru – Andhra Pradesh: The Indian Buddhist Mahasabha staged a protest at the Eluru Collectorate on Wednesday as part of a nationwide movement demanding that the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya be handed over to Buddhist monks. The protestors, led by the Andhra Pradesh branch of the Buddhist Society of India (BSI), submitted a memorandum to the District Collector urging Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to repeal the 1949 Bodh Gaya Temple Management Act.
Call to end Brahmin control over Bodh Gaya Temple
The protestors condemned the current management structure of the Mahabodhi Temple, arguing that Buddhist religious sites should be governed by Buddhist monks, not Hindu authorities. Citing the control of other religious sites by their respective communities, they pointed out:
Jerusalem is under Christian control. The Golden Temple is managed by Sikhs. Mecca remains under Islamic administration. Tirumala Temple is governed by Brahmins.
They questioned why the Mahabodhi Temple—one of the holiest Buddhist sites—remains under Hindu administration despite its significance to Buddhists worldwide.
Nationwide protest at Collectorates
The Buddhist Society of India and Samata Sainik Dal have announced an ongoing protest campaign that began on September 17, 2024. The movement will culminate in a mass demonstration on March 12, 2025, with planned gatherings in front of district collector offices across the country. Protestors emphasized that the temple remains largely inaccessible to Buddhist devotees due to what they termed “Brahmin-influenced rule.”
Unity call against ‘Manuwadi’ governance
Speakers at the event called on Buddhists, Ambedkarites, secularists, and democrats to unite against the perceived “atrocities of Manuwadi governments.” They argued that true secularism demands religious autonomy for all faiths, including Buddhism.
Leading the protest were Andhra Pradesh Indian Buddhist Mahasabha State President Bethala Sudarshanam, General Secretary Yaram Shyam Kumar, and Secretaries PV Subbarao and Bethala Nagaraju. Other leaders included Tadepalligudem District President Mettu Venkannagaru, RTC SC/ST office bearers Anil Kumar, Paul, Namburi Ravi, T Akhil Dev, BRTS Poole, P Raju, and several association representatives.
The protestors reiterated their demand for the full transfer of Mahabodhi Vihara to Buddhist monks and vowed to continue their struggle until their demands are met.
