Buddhist monks want control of Bodh Gaya temple

Bodh Gaya (UJI): Buddhist monks want control over the management of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, one of the holiest shrines of Buddhism, where Lord Buddha Enlightened. They have decided to intensify their agitation against the Bihar Government until not paying heed to their demands.

They have been demanding total control over Temple management since long times. They are unhappy with the Bihar Government for ‘deliberately’ delaying an amendment to the Mahabodhi Temple Management Act, 1949, to ensure Buddhist control over the management of the temple.

It is very clear that the Bihar Government does not want to favor the Buddhist Monk’s genuine demand for total control over the Mahabodhi temple. We will have to fight for it by mobilizing support for it, Venerable Ananda, president of the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi Vihar All-India Action Committee, said.

The committee has decided to spread its network across India to intensify the agitation for total control over the Mahabodhi temple.

“We will launch a membership drive to induct new people in our fold and will open offices of the committee at different places in the country to mobilize support for our agitation,” Ven. Ananda said.

The delay is a ‘conspiracy’ by the government to keep the management under the control of non-Buddhists. “We fail to understand why non-Buddhists have control over the holiest shrine of Buddhists. We have decided to take up the issue by lobbying support to demand Buddhist control over the management by any means” Ven. Amanda said.

According to the existing law, the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BGTMC) should comprise four Buddhists and the same number of Hindu members for a three-year period with the Gaya district magistrate as its ex-officio chairman.

Buddhist monks want control of Bodh Gaya temple

Bodh Gaya (UJI): Buddhist monks want control over the management of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, one of the holiest shrines of Buddhism, where Lord Buddha Enlightened. They have decided to intensify their agitation against the Bihar Government until not paying heed to their demands.

They have been demanding total control over Temple management since long times. They are unhappy with the Bihar Government for ‘deliberately’ delaying an amendment to the Mahabodhi Temple Management Act, 1949, to ensure Buddhist control over the management of the temple.

It is very clear that the Bihar Government does not want to favor the Buddhist Monk’s genuine demand for total control over the Mahabodhi temple. We will have to fight for it by mobilizing support for it, Venerable Ananda, president of the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi Vihar All-India Action Committee, said.

The committee has decided to spread its network across India to intensify the agitation for total control over the Mahabodhi temple.

“We will launch a membership drive to induct new people in our fold and will open offices of the committee at different places in the country to mobilize support for our agitation,” Ven. Ananda said.

The delay is a ‘conspiracy’ by the government to keep the management under the control of non-Buddhists. “We fail to understand why non-Buddhists have control over the holiest shrine of Buddhists. We have decided to take up the issue by lobbying support to demand Buddhist control over the management by any means” Ven. Amanda said.

According to the existing law, the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BGTMC) should comprise four Buddhists and the same number of Hindu members for a three-year period with the Gaya district magistrate as its ex-officio chairman.

Buddhist monk contesting in the Presidential poll in Sri Lanka
Colombo (UJI): The Janasetha Peramuna (JP), one of the newly formed political parties recognized by the Commissioner of Election, has decided to field a Buddhist monk Ven. Battaramulle Seelaratana Thera, as its candidate to contest the Presidential Election expected to be held in January 26, 2010. He is also the Chairman of Janasetha Peramuna. This will be the first time in the political history of Sri Lanka that a Buddhist monk will be contesting a presidential election under the own party symbol of tractor. Ven. Thera in his media interview said that his party JP would be fielding candidates for the forthcoming provincial council election as well as Parliamentary poll.

We have been in the process of setting up party offices and appointing organizers to strengthen our base island-wide. The JP opted only for honest people capable of doing a job of work with profound commitment to represent the party. "We need those who can render selfless service to ease human suffering. We will not condone dishonesty, injustice” he said.

The JP continues to forge ahead to serve the poor masses without any support or assistance for any other political party. Among his main pledges are giving the Buddhism foremost place, guarantee the equal rights of all communities (Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and other ethnic groups), making Sinhala, Tamil and English state languages, as well as implementing an economic policy based on agriculture.

Chakma Raja Devasish Roy selected new Asia UNPFII expert

New York (UJI): The Steering Committee of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) officially announces the results of the selection process for the new Asia UNPFII expert for 2011-2013. The voting period ended last November 16 with 200 out of the 240 registered organizations from 14 countries in the region who casted their votes.

The country level votes were counted and verified by the country focal persons and were sent to the Regional Technical Secretariat for compilation. The votes were tallied and counted as one country one vote.

Among the two candidates, Chakma Raja Devasish Roy (Jummaland, Bangladesh) got 12.5 country votes out of the 14 participating countries while Mr. Neingulo Krome (Nagaland) got 1.5 country votes. The endorsement for Chakma Raja Devasish Roy will be submitted to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in February 2010.

Pali College: Raj Bana Vihar

Rangamati, 2009 (UJI): The Katin Chibar Dana Ceremony is one of the biggest religious Buddhist Festival organizing every year at Raj Bana Vihar. This year Chakma Raja Debasish Roy was inaugurated the two-day festival. He was visited “Bain Ghar” where devotees were weaving “Chibar”. According to the Buddhist history, the first time this festival was introduced by Visaka, a lay disciple of the Enlightened One in 2556 years ago. It is observing world-wide.

Most Highest Holiness Venerable Sadhanananda Mahathera (Bana Bhante) delivered the sermon. He advised to avoid all unwholesome deeds including dividing and rule policy. Nibbana is the Highest and Happiest place for a Buddhist, he said. He also admonished to follow the teaching of Enlightened One.

Mr. Chalermpol Tanchit, Thai Ambassador to Dhaka; Mr. Supatra Masdit, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Thailand; and a representative of the King of Thailand was attended in the occasion. They were donated 9 Buddha statues for the monastery and robes to the Buddhist monks.

Mr. Dipankar Talukder, Minister for CHT Affairs announced a grant of aids to an amount of Tk. 3 Crore to establish a Pali College at the Raj Bana Vihar Complex.

Mr. Dilip Barua, Minister for Industries; Mr. Dipankar Talukdar, Minister from CHT Affairs; and Mr. Nikhil Kumar Chakma, Chairman of the Rangamati Hill District Council and other 50,000 peoples from home and abroad was participated in the ceremony.

Chakma Raja Devasish Roy: UN Climate Change Conference at Copenhagen

Copenhagen, December, 2009 (UJI): Chakma Raja Devasish Roy and accompany with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh team participated in the United Nations Climate Change Conference at Copenhagen, capital city of Denmark.

During their five-day stay in Copenhagen, they were also participated in the Joint High-Level Segment of COP and CMP at Bella Centre in the Danish capital. The delegates met with the Queen of Denmark and the Prince Consort for the Heads of State and Government at Royal Palace on December 17.

Foreign Minister and Indigenous Leaders meet

Jummaland, November 2009 (UJI): Bangladesh Foreign Minister Mrs. Dipu Moni and the Indigenous leaders met at the launching ceremony of a book titled “The ILO Convention on Indigenous and Tribal Populations 1957 and The Laws of Bangladesh: A Comparative Review” written by Chakma Raja Devasish Roy.

Mrs. Dipu Moni was Chief Guest and she has called upon all to work together to resolve the problems of indigenous people. There are some anomalies in the laws for indigenous people of plain lands and hill areas. The problems should be removed through discussions only. She said.

Mr. Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma (Santu Larma) Chairman of the CHT Regional Council was the Chairman in the ceremony and he said the Government has taken some initiatives for the development of the indigenous people but it should take more steps.

The Government of Bangladesh is committed to implement the CHT accord, said Mr. Dipankar Talukdar, State Minister for CHT Affairs.

Attorney General Mr. Mahbubey Alam, and ILO's Country Director Panudda Boonpala also spoke on the occasion. The speakers of the ceremony urged the Government of Bangladesh to ratify the ILO Convention No 169 which was adopted in 1989.

Chakma Girl received Gold Medal in Mizoram

Kamalanagar (UJI): First time in the history of Mizoram organized first Inter Higher Secondary School Swimming Championship Competition was held on 11th December 2009. In this Championship competition, Govt. Mamwiin Higher Secondary School scored 3 Gold Medals; LR Higher Secondary School scored 2 Gold and 2 Bronze Medals; and Govt. KM Higher Secondary School scored 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze medals.

Miss Rekha Chakma and Miss Debashree Chakma both from LR Higher Secondary School became Champion and received Gold and Bronze Medals respectively in the 20 meters freestyle and 20 meters backstroke Swimming Championship Competition. Miss Rekha Chakma with her extraordinary effort she had finished to swim at 31.75 Seconds and Miss Debashree Chakma at 45.53 Seconds.

The Sports Minister Pu Zodintluanga was Chief Guest and presented the prize to the winners in the ceremony.

Jumma Buddhist Temple in France

France (UJI): The Jumma Buddhist community in France started fund raising to buy a piece of land for the construction of a Jumma Buddhist Monastery cum Community Center for their growing children’s and future generation. Ven. Bimal Bhikkhu, a famous Chakma Missionary monk encouraged and advised them for this noble task in his last visit in France on June-July 2009. The Jumma Buddhist Community also proudly announced that they are going to celebrate “Chakma Bizu 2010” which means Chakma New Year Eva or Festival with great honor, joy, colorful gathering and grand unity with their two standing socio-cultural welfare organizations, namely: the Belo Shaudok Association (BSA) and the Baia Association (BAIA).

Buddhism growing fastest in Australia

Australia (UJI): Buddhism is fastest growing religion and it is the second largest religious group in Australia. The vast majority of Australians are members of the Christian faith, but per capita the number of Buddhists has growing tremendously than any other Western Nations. Christianity is decreasing in every year. The Christian peoples knew now that Buddhism is the only Scientific, Humanistic and Peace-loving religion in the world.

According to the Australian Board of Statistics released a report in 2006 that claims a 79% increase in Aussies (Australian) who consider themselves Buddhists since 1996, now reaching more than 418,812 people. The few years since this report and visits by the Dalai Lama has probably increased this number considerably.

An interview on ABC Radio with a famous and most Senior British-Australian Spiritual Buddhist teacher Venerable Ajahn Brahmavamsa, Spiritual Director of the Bodhinyana Monastery, Western Australia states that, “Twice as many people who say they are Buddhists actually meditate, go to temples, and read books. That's one in 20 Australians. If they are not sympathetic to Buddhist, they are certainly very close to being Buddhists.”

Accoring to Buddhanet accout, at present 275 monasteries inclunidng Meditation Cente, Community Centre, belong from Thereavada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Non-Sectorian/Mixed.

Many Christian converts says - Buddhism given them freedoms they have never had before. In Buddhism you are allowed to ask questions and actually you're actively encouraged to doubt and to discuss and so on”. The Buddha said, “Don't just believe because I'm very famous, and don’t just believe because many people believe what I teach. Be like the Goldsmith, you know, apply the acid to the gold to test it and the acid being your mind, your intelligence. So in that sense it's a manifesto of intellectual freedom which is very appealing.” It is true that Buddhism really suits for people who have independent thinking.

Between 1405 and 1433 the Chinese Emperor, Ming Cheng-Ho, sent sixty-two large ships to explore southern Asia. Although there is evidence that several ships from that armada landed on the Aru Islands to the north of Arnhem Land, it is not known whether they reached the mainland.

The first documented arrival of Buddhists in Australia was in 1848 during the gold rushes, when Chinese coolie laborers were brought into the country to work on the Victorian gold fields. These workers represented a transient population that usually returned home within five years. It was not until 1876 that the first permanent Buddhist community was established by Sinhalese migrants on Thursday Island. There the ethnic Sri Lankans built the first temple in Australia, while they were employed on the sugar cane plantations of Queensland.

In an excellent article on Buddha Net that gives a detailed account of Buddhism's history in Australia by Darren Nelson. He describes the beginning of the modern expansion of Buddhism Down Under: - “In 1951 the first Buddhist nun, Sister Dhammadinna visited Australia. She came and propagated the Theravada Buddhism according to the Buddha’s teaching. She received nation-wide media coverage.”

This was a landmark event, since the 50 years previous were stained by the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, which was essentially a government-sponsored white supremacist policy that disenfranchised the Aboriginal people as well as Asian immigrants.

Despite such enthusiasm, Australia still remains a very Christian country - with more than 75 percent of the population of 20 million belonging to a Christian faith.

Sanghamitra and Mahaparinirvan Express Trains has introduced in India

The Sangha Mitra was the daughter of Emperor Ashoka, who was the ruler of Maurya Dynasty. Later, Emperor Asoka converted into Buddhism. Sangha Mitra was one of the prominent Bhikkuni (Nun), who went to Sri Lanka and propagated Buddhism there. In her named “Sanghamitra Express” train was introduced by Indian Railways Corporations in 2002. This Express runs in between Patna in Bihar and Bangalore in Karnataka. It has two A/C coaches, 11 sleeper class coaches and two general class coaches, a pantry car and luggage van.

For more information please visit: www.indiarailinfo.com/train

Mahaparinirvan Express is a special Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train launched by Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd in December 2009. The Corporation is targeted to Buddhist tourists from home and abroad. It is a unique express train connecting all important places of Buddhist pilgrimages in India besides one in Nepal. All amenities are provided by the Rajdhani Express trains. Tourists offered onboard and off-board catering and housekeeping services. This special train has 18 berths of first AC, 92 of two-tier AC and 256 berths of three-tier AC.

The Express is basically a 7 Nights/8 Days tour package covering all Major Buddhist destinations like Bodhgaya, Rajgir & Nalanda, Varanasi & Sarnath, Kushinagar, Sravasti, including Taj Mahal-Agra (India); and Lumbini (Nepal). This package includes your journey with exclusive AC Train & AC Coaches, Accommodation in Hotels, All Meals, Entrance Fee, Travel Insurance, Onboard Security, Service of Tour Guide and Escort, etc.

Class and Prices of the Express:
AC First Class Coupe: - USD 164 per person per night.
AC First Class: - USD 150 per person per night.
AC 2 TIER: - USD 125 per person per night.
AC 3 TIER: - USD 105 per person per night.
For more information please visit: www.railtourismindia.com/buddha

Chakma areas: Road constructions

Arunachal, December 2009 (UJI): For the first time 4 pitch roads are under construction through Chakma Villages under the “Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sarak Yojana Programme (PMGSYP) in the Chakma areas in Arunachal Pradesh. The roads are: - (a) Barket Road (Bordumsa - Magantong) - Bijaypur III village (8kms length & 12 feet width); (b) Newton Village to Dharmapur Village (6kms length & 12 feet width); (c) Diyun - Dumpani Village (3kms length & 12 feet width; and (d) Diyun - Haripur Village (3kms length & 12 feet width).

Chakma in Pakistan

Islamabad, December 2009 (UJI): Former Chakma Raja Tridiv Roy virtually still unknown to the present Pakistanis generation. Raja Roy was just one of the East Pakistan Parliamentarian to reject the new country (Bangladesh) in 1971.

Raja Roy told on December 16, an anniversary of the “Fall of Dhaka”, as the event is remembered in Pakistan that he has “No regrets about that life-changing decision as his people continue to be discriminated against by Bangladesh. The main reason in his decision to support the Pakistani Nation rather than the rebels in 1971 was that “the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) are not Bengalis”.

He left East Pakistan on November 11, before the war began.
The Pakistani forces surrender on December 16. Most of Raja Roy’s family, including his wife, remained behind in the new Bangladesh. Three children joined him later, but his eldest son, Debashis Roy, who remained behind with his mother and a sister, was anointed the new Chakma Raja. However, Raja Roy has never gone back to CHT, Bangladesh. He has studiously kept away from the Chakma issue over the last 38 years. He is now 76-year-old. He keeps a low profile, playing golf and bridge, travelling and working with Pakistan’s tiny Buddhist association.

“My overall advice is that fights for rights constitutionally, peacefully and do not go for violence and killings amongst yourself and with others. Of course, I miss my people, my home, my community,” he said.

Chakma Raj Punyah celebrated

Rangamati, December 30, 2009 (UJI): A three days colorful Chakma Raj Punyah was celebrated from 27th to 29th at the Chakma Royal Palace complex in Rangamati according to the traditional customs. This time, they were celebrated after five years. Last time, it was took place in 2003.
Chakma Raja Devasish Roy and Prince Tribhuban Aryadev Roy ascended the throne at the “Raj Darbar”. Raja Roy received annual jhum taxes from the 175 headmen at the function. He also received chicken, pig, wine, etc. as gift from them as per as their tradition. They also organized as Gautam Muni Mela, cultural function, sports, drama and exhibition.

Tanchangya Council meeting end

Rangamati, December 29, 2009 (UJI): The Bangladesh Tanchangya Kalyan Sangstha (BTKS) 6th General Council meeting was held on 26th & 27th December 2009 at the Tribal Cultural Institute Auditorium. Chakma Raja Devasish Roy was Chief Guest and Mr. Gazi Salehuddin, Dean of Social Science Faculty of the University of Chittagong was special guest.
Mr. Prashyana Kanti Tanchangya, Councilor of the Bandarban Hill District Council was presided the meeting.
More than 500 delegates participated from different part of the country. The council unanimously demanded for Constitutional Guarantee to all ethnic minority groups who are living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in order to develop their culture and heritage.

Indigenous Connections Conference

Australia, November, 2009 (UJI): An Indigenous Climate Connection Conference was held on November 14-20, 2009 at Sarawak, Malaysia. More than 100 indigenous youth participated from different countries of the globe. Mr. Bidhayak Chakma represented from Jummaland, Bangladesh. Mr. Chakma is one of the active members of the Jumma student community since many years. At present, he is studying in Australia since 2007. The conference unanimously demanded “Dignity for the Indigenous Peoples”.