Dr Ratnesh Katulkar
Deekshabhumi is a site where Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism on October 14, 1956 along with his five lakh followers. However, this place of historical and spiritual significance is now facing an existential crisis. Common persons’ entry to the upcoming Dhammachakra Pravartan Divas in October could be permanently restricted if things continue as they are. This is due to the fact that for the past few months, a construction project has been taking place at this spot, in accordance with the decision of the Deekshabhoomi Memorial Committee. Digging has taken place below the main stupa, and the construction of a three-story parking area for vehicles has begun. So much soil has been dug out that its heap has almost equaled the stupa of Deekshabhoomi, which indicates the extent and depth of this digging. The historic Bodhi tree planted in its grounds by Dr. Bhadant Anand Kausalyan will soon be gone if this digging continues.
The massive excavation in Nagpur enraged the Ambedkarites of Nagpur, who have been battling it for the past three-four days and have succeeded in halting it. This is however only a temporary victory. Until now, neither the Maharashtra government nor the Nagpur municipal body have issued any instructions to stop this construction. This ban is a precautionary measure due to the opposition of the Ambedkarites.
The overwhelming opposition from the people led to the Deekshabhoomi Memorial Committee arranging a meeting in the premises to present their side in front of the Ambedkarites. The secretary of the committee, Dr. Rajendra Gawai, explained that there is nothing to be worried about when it comes to this digging and future work, as they will take place beneath the building and not on top of it. Apart from three-storey parking area for vehicles, two auditoriums will be constructed.
There’s no logical explanation for why the complex doesn’t require an underground vehicle parking facility. Around 30 lakh people from all over the country flock to pay respect on the occasion of Dhammachakra Pravartan Diwas. As a result the entry to vehicles is blocked at the radius of 3-4 kilometers. The sheer number of people on the roads renders vehicle entry impossible. What’s the point of building a parking lot if vehicles don’t reach the premises?
Mr. Gawai answered this query by sharing additional information that the parking will not be used for parking vehicles on the Dhammachakara pravaratan day, instead during this day this will be used as the shelter by the visitors. Furthermore, he said that there will be arrangements for toilets etc. in this underground space.
The argument itself is worthless and it raises so many questions. The first is, if this parking isn’t for people coming to Deekshabhoomi, then for whom is it being constructed? Gawai says this parking will only be available for the rest of the normal days. But the fact is that on normal days, the number of people coming does not exceed beyond 100, and there is enough space for vehicle parking in the 20 acres of premises. It’s hard to know who will park the cars in this three-story parking when so many don’t show up. The general public is thinking that this parking could be used for the vehicles of the Metro station. This skepticism is not baseless.
A woman activist shared that the stupa of Deekshabhoomi is constructed using old engineering methods, which means it could be damaged by the vibrations generated by the excavation of three floors. She also added that it is possible that this damage will not be visible at this time, but in the coming 10-15 years, the stupa of Deekshabhoomi and the historical Bodhi tree will collapse. She insisted that we must stop this construction at all costs. Her argument was fully supported by the Ambedkarite participants.
Among the group of opponents, another person also raised a sensible issue that vehicles are not allowed to enter any religious sites or heritage sites in order to protect the place from pollution. However, this construction may cause harm to the Stupa if the vehicles enter close to the Stupa in higher numbers.
An Ambedkarite said that the lakhs of people may die due to suffocation if this underground parking is opened to the general public on Dhammadiksha Diwas,. Being underground, oxygen may not be sufficient for everyone, since oxygen may not be sufficient for everyone. A fiery woman leader expressed even deeper concern that, owing to a lack of security, any terrorist could easily plant a bomb in this parking lot. This would not only be detrimental to Stupa but would also lead to loss of lives of many innocent persons.
The general public is vehemently opposed to this construction, but the memorial committee asserts that it intends to enhance the accessibility of the general public by undertaking this undertaking.
I have written this information on the basis of the footage of the meeting available on the Awaaz India channel. Apart from this I also contacted many Ambedkarites of Nagpur over the phone to obtain detailed information about this incident. This discussion yielded a great deal of information.
According to Sanju Lokhande, an Ambedkarite activist from Nagpur. ‘Today, the pile of excavated soil is touching the stupa. This brings me to mind Saket of ancient times, where, according to Alexander Cunningham, large Viharas were buried in the heap of uncovered dirt. History is being repeated at Nagpur’s Deekshabhoomi. If this digging isn’t stopped, our stupa won’t be saved.’
He further states that ‘I personally feel that this construction is not for parking at the underground level, but it seems that there will be multi-storeyed buildings being constructed above the ground.’ Those who disagree with this can witness the pillars being constructed at this site. It seems that corporate are paying for this construction. The possibility is that they will build massive shopping malls and warehouses. In such a situation, our Deekshabhoomi will be buried behind this, there will be no room left for gathering, and publishers will be unable to sell their books.
Sanju said that my assessment is also due to my own experience with the commercialization of Nagpur’s natural place Futara pond, which was once open to every common man. But now, in the name of beautification, it has been remodelled in such a way that a common person cannot even think of sitting near it. The reason is that now every spot is priced and one needs to pay for it. Do you think this could not happen with Deekshabhoomi? It is possible that Deekshabhoomi will not be sacrificed for the billion-dollar project! If the Chhattisgarh government sacrifices thousands of acres of forest for the Adani project. How come it’s not possible in Deekshabhumi?
There seems to be some substance to the words of Sanju Lokhande The Smarak Samitis gathering with the public recalls of Pa. Rajith’s film Kaala, where a builder tries to grab the land of Mumbai’s Dharavi by showing slum dwellers dreams of slum eradication, development, and cleanliness. The committee also similarly presented a 3D video for its proposed development plan of the Deekshabhumi but it failed to address the concerns raised by the Ambedkarites.
The fact is that this land is in a prime location of the city, so its value is billions of rupees. On the request to keep his name anonymous, a government employee said that the Deekshabhumi has special significance and no one directly dares to usurp it. However, this is possible in collusion with the memorial committee. Anyway, the chairman of the committee, Bhante Surai Sasai, who is an honest and dedicated person, has been so sick for the past few years that he has lost his memory to a great extent. The rest of the committee members are having fun in this situation. They must have been swayed by the corporate offering them crores of rupees. Otherwise, what is the reason for this massive construction which every Ambedkarite is opposing? Nagpur Engineers organization BANAI is also concerned about the loss of the stupa, as the committee members are not ready to follow even any engineering advice. The committee has no democracy left, it has become an ancestral property for some. After the father, the son will join the committee as a member. Is this a democracy or something else? Is it a Ambedkarism? We should not fall for their empty assurances of this corrupt committee. The Chief Minister of the Maharashtra Government should immediately cancel this construction project. No body is satisfied with the members stems from the committee’s for their indifference towards public interest and initiating this new project.
He further said, ‘In the past, Ambedkarites were the most progressive, struggling and educated group. However, in the last few decades they have seen a strange lack of it. The people today are becoming selfish. The corrupt leader of a political party called Ambedkarite Party of India spouts venom against Dr. Ambedkar on TV channels in Nagpur city. There is no opposition to him. Was this conceivable ten years ago? The papers from the NEET and NET exams were leaked? Again, our children will have to pay for these examinations. Not everyone can afford to travel to the exam centre by bus and train again and again. Are there any repercussions for their behavior? A conspiracy is denying foreign fellowships to the scheduled castes in Maharashtra. Our neighbouring state of Chhattisgarh is experiencing the displacement of indigenous people and the brutal destruction of forests. In the state of Madhya Pradesh, attacks against Dalits and indigenous people are at their highest in the state. Caste crimes have increased in Maharashtra, yet the people who call themselves Ambedkarites remain silent In such a situation how can Deekshabhumi be saved? He further said that when the Jharkhand government declared one of their mountains as a nature reserve, Jains from all over the country stood up against it. As a consequence, the government was forced to withdraw its decision. We need to take lessons from them. The people of Nagpur came to their senses after six months, but the people outside the city haven’t heard anything. Media attention is absent. If we remain silent tomorrow corporate may usurp our homes and properties. It already started in tribal region, where corporate is grabbing their lands. The government on one hand is building Hindu temples in Ayodhya, Ujjain, and Varanasi by misusing public money, while on the other hand, it is bent on destroying the historical sites of the minorities. This is an assault on our Constitution. This needs to be stopped.
Deekshabhoomi is not an ordinary religious place, but a historical place where every year common people and progressives from all over the country gather and exchange their views. The importance of this place is also demonstrated by the fact that on the day of Dhammachakra Pravartan, the highest numbers of books are sold here. Publishers from all progressive sections are able to sell their books.
The numerous specialties of this historic spot make it a popular destination for both Indians and international visitors. Therefore, it is vital to save it at all costs. Given the seriousness of the issue, either the state government of Maharashtra or the central government should immediately take action and halt any such construction activities. All justice-loving, progressive people and political parties have to protect Deekshabhoomi and contribute to the country’s secularism and the spirit of the Constitution.
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*Dr Ratnesh Katulkar is author and activist. His recent published books are ‘Outcasts on the Margins: Exclusion and Discrimination of Scavenging Communities in Education’ and ‘Prefaces of Forewords of Dr Ambedkar.’ He is also a teacher of Navayana philosophy, his videos on navayana are available at youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@NavayanaBuddhism . He could be contacted at ratnesh.katulkar@gmail.com
Pictures Courtesy: Sanjeev Lokhande
