‘The Triple Stream’

‘TRIVENI’ HAS SHED LIGHT ON MY PATH.
BLESSED BE HER NAME!

‘THE TRIPLE STREAM’ ^l

A Passing Phase

Three months ago, when the Fazl Ali Commission’s Report on the re-organisation of States was presented to the nation, and the Prime Minister appealed for a dispassionate consideration of the proposals, the atmosphere was not so surcharged with acute discontent as it is today. Strong criticism was no doubt directed against the proposed formation of the bi-lingual State of Bombay, with Vidarbha left out. The leaders of Vidarbha Were keen on having a State of their own; they would not join hands with the advocates of United Maharashtra. But Vidarbha was slowly induced to support a fresh move for a yet larger State consisting of all the Gujarati and Marathi speaking areas, with Bombay City as its capital. But this was not acceptable to the leaders of Gujarat who were afraid of ‘domination’ by Maharashtra. At a later stage, they agreed; but the Maharashtra leaders dropped the proposal and resumed their original demand for a purely Maharashtra State, including Vidarbha. They would not resile from the position they have all along taken up, that Bombay is the natural capital of Maharashtra, and cannot be cut off from it under any circumstances. The decisionof the Government of India to make Bombay City a Centrally administered area, has roused the resentment of Maharashtra and an ugly situation has developed, the consequences of which are unpredictable.

It is worth while recalling that the Government of India’s decision is in consonance withthe recommendations of earlier bodies like the Dhar Commissionand the J.V.P. Committee. The Prime Minister, in his broadcast speech, gave full weight to the sentiment of Maharashtra by conceding that Bombay was geographically a part of that area. But he felt impelledby the special circumstances of the case, and, in particular, by the unique economic importance of the city, to justify its being carved out into a Centrally administered area like Delhi. Where conflicting claims cannot be reconciled, and powerful elements in the population of Bombay oppose its inclusion in a uni-lingual State, the Central Government have taken the only step that is possible for the adequate safeguarding of all the interests involved. The other alternative of a separate State of Bombay, with the usual paraphernalia, was apparently ruled out as too costly and clumsy. It is unfortunate that a city which played a noble role in the freedom fight should have no elected Legislature of its own; but this grievance may be remedied, to some extent, by enlarging the powers of the Corporation of Bombay.

The outbreak of violence in Bombay and Orissa, the difference of opinion over the issue of Visalandhra, and the continued agitation about border areas like Bellary and Belgaum, have led to a rapid re-orientation all over the country with regard to the problem of linguistic States. The scheme of zonal advisory councils is acceptable to the Working Committee of the Congress and to the Government of India, but this is not meant to interfere with the present programme of re-distribution of States. Uni-lingual States grouped into five zones for purposes of co-ordination of activities, and consultation on matters of common concern, is a perfectly sound proposition. But the Chief Ministers of Bihar and Bengal sprang a surprise by their joint statement on the merger of the two States to avoid the present border disputes between them. The idea has been welcomed with enthusiasm, and similar bi-lingual States–in the South and the West–are envisaged. As an escape from the present atmosphere of conflict, large bi-lingual or tri-lingual States might appear to be a counsel of wisdom. But it is necessary to remember that this will not solve the many problems which gave rise to the demand for linguistic States in Bihar and Andhra, and later in Orissa and Karnataka. The new found harmony between rival groups may not last long. Further, while the border disputes between Bengali and Bihar, or Tamilnad and Kerala, may be solved by the States’ being grouped together, the solution will not apply to similar disputes between Bihar and Orissa, or between Orissa and Andhra which are not so merged. This is not to deny the psychological value of the move initiated by the Chief Ministers of Bengal and Bihar. Indeed, it is like a silver lining to the cloud of distrust and despair enveloping us at the moment. If voluntary agreement could be achieved through a union of hearts, people speaking different, languages ought to be encouraged to effect mergers. But it is vastly more important to emphasise the essential unity of India and the virtues of a common Indian citizenship. There may be uni-lingual as well as multi-lingual States, and very soon language will fall into its proper place as a vehicle of expression and not the means of discord. The present upheaval represents a passing phase in our national history–a sad and shameful one. But a temporary situation like the present need not lead to the complete scrapping of linguistic States, on which large sections of the Indian people have set their hearts. Any re-organisation of States must keep in view administrative and economic factors. The Fazl Ali Commission made their recommendations after a careful consideration of all the relevant factors, including that of language. Even now, it is not too late to implement those recommendations, except where a change can be effected with the agreement of the parties. Where such agreement is not forthcoming, a decision taken by the Government of India in the wider interests of national unity must be accepted. It is the prevailing uncertainty and the vacillation in high quarters that must cease.

If, at a later stage, the idea of ‘mergers’ should gain momentum, the proper grouping would be Maharashtra-Gujarat, Tamil-Kerala, and Visalandhra-Karnataka. People in these States will gradually acquire a knowledge of both languages and the Legislatures will be bi-lingual. While a member speaks in his own language, he will be able to follow the speeches made in the other. All this seems to be a far-off vision, but it is a vision worth pursuing. So, while the present re-organisation is effected on the basis of the Fazl Ali Commission’s recommendations, as modified by the decisions of the Government of India, provision may be made in the Draft Bill for a re-grouping of States with the consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned.

Poets of the Republic

On the eve of Republic Day, All India Radio, Delhi, arranged for the first time a ‘National Symposium’ of poets representing the fourteen principal languages of India. Sri Nehru, as Chairman of the Sahitya Akademi, inaugurated the function and stressed the vital role which the modern Indian languages should play in Republican India, and also their inter-dependence for their growth and fulfillment. As poet after poet gave melodious expression to the urge for unity in diversity, and called up visions of the India of the future, one experienced an enrichment of the spirit. Here were the makers of the great modern literatures of India, the inheritors of the traditions of Valmiki and Kalidasa. In diverse tongues, but inspired by a common hope, they conveyed the message of harmony on behalf of the millions of the land seeking in their respective spheres to be worthy of our cultural heritage. The magic of the written word is enhanced when the poet. communicates it in his own person. Over the air, his is an invisible presence, and yet we love to imagine the well-known lineaments, the graceful gestures, and the joy suffusing the countenance. And then followed the renderings into Hindi which served to remind the eager listeners that in thought-content, even as in the diction, the lilt of the verse and the quality of creative imagination, there was a remarkable kinship among the poets. It is noteworthy in this context that the Sahitya Akademi through its programme of translations from one language to another, and anthologies of verse, song and story, is laying the foundation of a cultural fellowship.

The Future of Nagarjunakonda

Immediately after laying the foundation stone of the Nagarjunasagar Project, Sri Nehru visited the Nagarjunakonda Valley which contains the precious relics of Buddhist Art dating from the age of the Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri. He was deeply moved by what he saw. The excavations are in progress and have to be completed within five or six years, so that when the valley is flooded by the waters of the Krishna, the monuments may be preserved at a spot in the neighbourhood. Sri Nehru specially instructed the officers in charge of the excavations to employ a bigger staff and speed up the work. This was soon followed by the constitution by the Government of India of a Board, with the Governor of Andhra as Chairman, to supervise the work and to make the necessary arrangements for the preservation of the monuments. Since the construction of the Dam is inevitable, the only course is to safeguard the monuments and erect a Central Museum to house them as well as other relics of the ancient art of Andhra.

Buddhists of all lands, especially of the Mahayana school, must now evince greater interest in the future of Nagarjunakonda. The 2500th anniversary of the coming into incarnation of the Lord Buddha will be celebrated this year, and pilgrims from all over the Buddhist world will visit the sacred sites of Buddhism. The Lumbini garden in Nepal where he was born, Kapilavastu, the home of the Sakyas, the Deer Park of Sarnath where he first turned the Wheel of the Law, Sanchi where the relics of his great disciples Sariputta and Moggalanna are preserved, are among the spots at which the pilgrims will pay their homage to the Dharma. But Nagarjunakonda is not less important. And since the great founder of the Mahayana school (Madhyamika Sunyavada) lived here and gave to the world his immortal works like the ‘Maha Prajna Paramita’ the Government of India must make arrangements for the celebration of the event on a magnificent scale. Vaisakh Purnima is not far off and attention has to be paid to this important matter.

In the coming years, a new City of Vijayapuri will rise near the site of the Dam, and, with the co-operation of Buddhists all over the world, a great centre of Buddhism. Parks and shrines, libraries and cultural institutes, schools of painting and sculpture, in the vicinity of the great lake Nagarjunasagar, will enhance the glory of this spot. Readers of Triveni will be delighted to know that already a young Buddhist Shramana from Nepal, Sri Dharmajyoti, is at Nagarajunakonda, dreaming of the future and taking the first practical steps to realise that dream. He is well-versed in Buddhist lore, besides being a keen student of different schools of Indian philosophy. His devotion to the cause, and his zeal to “fulfill the mission” are remarkable. He is building a small Vihara at Nagarjunakonda, to be eventually shifted to a spot of safety. Here is a statement of the objects of his new Organisation:

1. To revive Mahayana Buddhism in India, in friendly co-operation with the followers of other religions in India, as a step towards inter-religious harmony.

2. To conduct research in, and publish the Buddhist literature relating to, Darsana (philosophy), Kavya (literature), Tantra, Mantra, Jyotisha (astrology and astronomy) and Ayurveda (indigenous medicine)–works extant in languages like Samskrit, Nepali (Newari), Tibetan and Chinese.

3. To encourage young men of good character interested in social service to join the Buddhist Order, and thereby to spread the doctrines and message of insight-inspired Service and Love as preached by Sri Maha Karunika Samyak Sambuddha (the all-compassionate and fully enlightened) with a view to emancipating the downtrodden, afflicted and suffering humanity.

4. To do Socio-cultural Welfare work among the ward classes.

5. To improve the old Buddhist art and architecture with the co-operation of the artists from all the Buddhist countries.

6. To protect and improve public health by establishing research institutions in Ayurveda, Mantra,  Tantra and allied sciences and by establishing a pharmaceutical institute.

7. To establish a Buddhist Academy at Nagarjunakonda in memory of the old Buddhist University.

8. To provide facilities for students from India to study Buddhist literature available in Buddhist countries like Nepal, Bhutan, China, Japan, Mongolia, Manchuria, Korea, Burma, Ceylon, and Thailand and similarly to offer facilities to students from those countries to come to India for study.

9. To establish an International Buddhist Library and Museum at Nagarjunakonda.

10. To establish contact with other indigenous and foreign institutions which have similar aims and objects.

Very magnificent and very ambitious! But Sri Dharmajyoti is a Sadhu with a far-reaching vision, and he is hopeful that, once a good beginning is made, the Lord will pour forth strength to enable him or his successors to achieve the objects. This is a task in which the Governments of India, Andhra and Hyderabad can take a leading part; they can even invite the co-operation of the Governments of all Buddhist lands.

Sri Dharmajyoti’s special appeal for co-operation is printed at the end of this number of Triveni. The attention of our readers is respectfully invited to it.