Of enhancing Nagpur’s pride
| Date :10-Oct-2019 |
Vijay Phanshikar :
Visiting the place a day after offers a great insight into not just an ongoing phenomenon of social transformation but also into a project of pride for the city of Nagpur as a global centre of awakening. From any point in the vast sprawl filled by countless thousands of devotees, the graceful dome of Deekshabhoomi towers over the landscape. Though now under repairs, its majestic persona dominates the physical scene as well as mental horizon. Devotees move around, throng the shrine, gather at various points on the grounds and the garden and the Buddha Vihar, engage in discussions that range from politics to human potential, exchange notes and phone numbers, and depart. In those 2-3 days during their stay in Nagpur, or even during an overnight stop-over, for the Dhammachakra Pravartan Din, they -- these thousands of people -- may have faced some difficulties, some discomforts, some inconveniences. Yet, none of them say much about all that. For, each of them is happy that he/she could make it to Nagpur. It is such a fine feeling to meet and mingle with some such people the day after the Dhammachakra Pravartan Din.
Their faces shine in satisfaction, their eyes get teary in gratitude that they came to this place of pilgrimage where their parents --or themselves in some cases where people are on the wrong side of seventies -- accepted Buddhism led by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar himself. It is nice meeting some people who have been coming to Nagpur for Dhammachakra Pravartan Din for years. A newly married couple from nearby areas in Madhya Pradesh has been coming to Nagpur for the past several years when both were just kids. They have continued the practice even after they got married two years ago. They are polished and sensible and politically uninclined, making good conversation.
In fact, very large numbers of pilgrims are politically uninclined, and carry a wonderful sense of surrender to their subject of shraddha. This has been one’s experience for years. One thought often emerges in the mind after such visits annually -- about the facilities the authorities offer to the countless devotees (whose number may run into lakhs each year). Over time, one has seen a steady improvement in the facilities to the devotees who throng Nagpur for Dhammachakra Pravartan Din. Yet, somehow, the authorities do not seem to project the annual event as a point of pride for Nagpur and Maharashtra. The State Government has often showered upon the organisers of the event a lot of aid in varied forms. Yet, one feels that there is something lacking in the promotion of the event as Nagpur’s pride in its fullness. One’s mind then darts towards how the Central and the Uttar Pradesh State Governments make efforts to promote the Kumbh Melas, for example.
There is often a proud projection of how crores of devotees are provided with every possible facility and security during the Kumbh Melas -- countless thousands of tourist tents, countless lakhs of temporary washrooms and bathrooms of truly high standard, countless numbers of medical facilities ...! In Nagpur, too, such an approach needs to be adopted by the Maharashtra Government for Deekshabhoomi-- in consonance with the Centre -- and promoted in all earnestness as an international tourist attraction. Of course, this will need a great, well-organised effort involving not just temporary facilities but also permanent ones -- like they have in Prayagraj or Varanasi or Tirupati or Shegaon or Shirdi, for example. If Shegaon can accommodate lakhs of devotees -- and even tourists without religious bent -- any day, then Nagpur, too, can be made to match that clutch of fine facilities.
This may involve hundreds of crores of rupees and a few years to come level with other centers, no doubt. But this is one project that is worth undertaking on the basis of immediate introduction and subsequent non-stop implementation (which may take a few years to complete). That will enhance one more facet to Nagpur’s identity as a great international centre. There is an official talk all right to include Nagpur on the Buddha Circuit. But that thought cannot be said to be complete truly if the facility is not extended to creating wonderful facilities and amenities beyond the travel linkage and arrangement.