During a virtual event, “India@75 Summit: Collaborating for a New Self-reliant India,” on August 8, the Indian EAM claimed that Lord Buddha was Indian.

“Who are the two greatest Indian ever that you can remember? I would say one is Gautam Buddha and the other is Mahatma Gandhi. Not just greatest Indians that you and I as Indians remember but the greatest Indians that the world remembers,” said Jaishankar.

Taking great exception to the remarks of the Indian Minister, many Nepali leaders have reacted strongly.

“Some 2270 years ago, Indian Emperor Ashok erected a pillar at Lumbini in Nepal to mark the birthplace of Buddha. That monument stands taller than any self-aggrandizing claim to say that Budha was an “Indian”! Period !!,” tweeted Former Foreign Secretary Madhuraman Acharya.

“Gautam Buddha is Nepali by birth, who was born in Lumbini, Nepal, and Buddhism is the common heritage of humanity! Claim alone does not change the status of the greatest thinker and teacher of life and the world in the past 3000 years,” tweeted Former Chief Secretary Leela Mani Paudyal.

Likewise, the Nepali Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press statement on Sunday stating that it is a well-established and undeniable fact that Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal.

ALSO READ | Gautam Buddha – Life, Journey and Significance

The Ministry said that the fact remains beyond doubt and controversy and not even a subject to debate.

“It is true that Buddhism spread from Nepal to other parts of the world in the subsequent period. The matter remains beyond doubt and controversy and thus cannot be a subject of debate. The entire international community is aware of this,” stated the MoFA.

Nepal MoFA Official Spokesperson’s Response to Media Queries on Gautam Buddha

The MoFA also recalled that the Indian PM Narendra Modi, during his visit in 2014, said that “Nepal is the country where Buddha, an apostle of peace in the world, was born.”

After receiving a huge backlash, the Indian MoFA issued a statement on Sunday evening stating that Gautam Buddha was born in Nepal.

EAM’s remarks yesterday at the CII event referred to our shared Buddhist heritage. There is no doubt that Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, which is in Nepal,” stated the Indian MoFA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.

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The marathon attracted participants from several countries including the US, China, India, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand and Sweden, among others.

The event commemorates Buddha’s return to Lumbini on the Falgun Shukla Purnima day after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.

“The major objective of the marathon is to promote Lumbini-Kapilvastu region at national and international level by connecting spirituality with sports,” according to Bikram Pandey, Chairman of Lumbini Peace Marathon.

The marathon commenced at Kudan, the location where Buddha first met his parents after his enlightenment and included Buddhist heritage sites, such as Niglihawa and Tilaurakot Palace before ending at the Sacred Garden in Lumbini.

Tribhuvan Army Club Dominates

Homlal Shrestha of the Tribhuvan Army Club won the marathon for the second consecutive year finishing the 42-km run in slightly under three hours. Hari Prasad Rimal and Khagendra Bhatta, also representing the Army Club, finished in the second and third positions respectively.

“I was an ultra-runner first and I trained for marathon since two years now. I am delighted to win the title here at the birthplace of Lord Buddha,’’ said Shrestha, who was awarded the Lumbini Ashoka Peace Prize worth Rs 100,000.

In the 21-km half marathon category, Indian Army’s Tirtha Pun emerged victorious, while Tribhuvan Army Club’s Ramji Basnet and Tikaraj Katwal occupied the next two positions respectively.

Great Buddhist Trail

A three-day cycle rally named the Great Buddhist Trail was organized from Swoyambhu in Kathmandu to Lumbini on the eve of the peace marathon.

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