Hope Nepal bounces back soon, says PM Modi on Buddha Purnima

Sharing the "pain" of quake-devastated Nepal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hoped that the "beloved brother" bounces back quickly from its current crisis even as he observed that the task of recovery was long and arduous.

Modi was addressing a gathering in New Delhi on 'Buddha Purnima' where a minute-long silence was observed in memory of those killed in the recent earthquake in Nepal and India.

On the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, Prime Minister Modi said his teachings of compassion were the answer to the ongoing turmoil in the world and wished that Nepal revives itself from its current crisis created by the devastating earthquake.

“We should share the pain and wipe the tears of people of Nepal,” he said while referring to the devastation caused in the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

He wished that Nepal overcomes its present condition and revives itself with a new strength even as he observed that the tragedy is so huge that nobody can assess how long it will take for recovery.

“The birthplace of Lord Buddha, our beloved Nepal is going through a massive crisis. It is difficult to imagine how long and arduous this journey will be. We should share the pain of people of Nepal. Let us pray to Lord Buddha that they get new strength,” he said.

Modi said the world is going through “turmoil” and the teachings of Lord Buddha can show the way out.

“Violence is at its peak. Major part of the world is soaked in blood... People are baying for each other's blood. In this situation of bloodshed, where will the message of compassion come from? The only resort is Lord Buddha and his teachings,” the prime minister said.

He cited how Buddha, who was born as a prince, renounced the worldly things like power and wealth to seek salvation through spiritualism 2,500 years ago. 

"Some people think power and prosperity are good enough to solve all problems.... But Lord Buddha renounced all these to seek greater powers through love and compassion for welfare of humanity. This thought is not small. He must have been having big conviction and courage to renounce all these," Modi said.

Modi said Lord Buddha had always championed the cause of dalits, oppressed and deprived classes of the society besides empowerment of women.

He did not believe in ekla chalo (march alone) but always laid emphasis on bringing people together, which has inspired dalit icon Baba Ambedkar.

"Lord Buddha wanted evolution in the society... The issues being discussed presently were taken up by Lord Buddha 2,500 years ago. His teachings are relevant in this age also," the prime minister said.

Referring to the talk that 21st century belongs to Asia; he said this cannot happen without Buddha and application of his teachings.

"Buddha's words had immense power and that is why the world accepted him," he underlined.

Taking a dig at his critics, Modi said he, as Chief Minister of Gujarat, had placed a statue each of Lord Buddha at the entrance of the state Secretariat and his official residence but "apparently their (critics') attention has not gone to that aspect. Otherwise, they would have flogged me."

He said he proposes to build an impressive Buddha temple in his ancestral place Vadnagar in Gujarat where materials related to the founder of Buddhism had been found. 

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing at the ‘International Buddha Poornima Diwas Celebrations 2015’. Photograph: PIB