EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BANTE SURAI SASAl
Ven. Bante Arya Nagarjun Surai Sasai, a Japanese Buddhist monk now an Indian citizen who gave a new turn to the history of India, is a big name in the Buddhist world. We had an opportunity to share his intimate thoughts and experiences at the Indore Buddha Vihar at Nagpur on Dec.28 1992.
The monk came to Nagpur as an alien about 25 years ago. Today, he is an Indian and Buddhist perhaps better than many other Buddhists. It is difficult to make out his Japanese origin because of his fluent Hindi and his simple lifestyle as a monk. His recent historic struggle to liberate Bodh Gaya from the hands of Brahminical priests has earned him great respect and recognition. (DV Nov. 16 1992 p. 14: “Japanese monk wins Bodh Gaya Battle”).
Question: We congratulate you for the historic task undertaken by you to liberate the Bodh Gaya from the clutches of Brahminism which none else in this country ever had the courage to lead. How did this liberation idea come to you?
Answer: Thirty years ago, when I first came to India, I undertook a nine-day meditation under Bodhi tree at Gaya. While doing so, I was shocked to see the “Hindus” performing Sat Narayana Puja and tonsure (shaving the head). I sensed the danger foreignizing this great Buddhist temple. After a few days, I was assigned the project of supervising the construction of Shanti Stupa by Ven. Fuji Guruji of Japan. During the same period, the All-India Bhikkhu Sangha of Bodh Gaya had entrusted me the job of training the Bhikkhus. Some youths told me about Dr. Ambedkar. (Till then, I knew only about Gandhi and never heard of Dr. Ambedkar. Till I came for Nagpur, 25 years ago, had. not even seen a picture of Dr. Ambedkar). I became anxious to know about Dr. Ambedkar. Later, I pressed the management of the temple to have a statue of Babasaheb. It was a big shock to them. They never entertained any Ambedkarite. They scented that I would become an Ambedkarite and a threat to their business. They decided to throw me out.
False allegations: They started manufacturing allegations against me. They spread the rum out of money misappropriation and theft of construction materials against me. As they continued this character assassination, I gradually understood the real affairs of the temple.
These Hindus had got trained a Brahmin in Sri Lanka as a monk and he was assigned an important position in the temple. Crores of rupees were being sent from Japan to the Indian govt. to improve the Bodha Gaya. But all the money was swallowed by the Brahmins. Finally, they succeeded in throwing me out by entrusting the construction work to a private company.
Babasaheb dream: Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted to make India a Buddhist country. Soon the Brahminical forces conspired to “Hinduism” India.
Remember, the people who demolished the Masjid at Ayodhya and the people illegally occupying the temple at Gaya are Bhabha (brothers). They are birds of the same feather.
They are planning to build a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ to finish us all
Siva Linga: Few years ago, they had installed a Siva Linga at Bodh Gaya. They manufactured a story that the Pandavas came to Gaya and renamed the statue of Ven. Mayadevi (Mother of Ven. Buddha) as Draupadi, wife of Pandavas. They installed the statues of Vishnu, Ganapati etc. around the Vihar.
On the Buddha Poornima day, May 1992, over 2,000 Buddhists from Nagpur went to Bodha Gaya. Shocked by the rituals performed by the Brahmin priests, we strongly protested. Next day, the newspapers carried a story that Naxalites from Nagpur had entered the temple and beaten up the Banters. All these disturbing developments made me resolve that I must liberate the Bodh Gaya from the Brahminical fold.
Q: Do you get the co-operation from other Bhikkhus and monks in your liberation struggle?
A: It is not the work of Buddhist monks alone. It is more so the task and responsibility of Ambedkarite like you.
I cannot expect cooperation from the Bhikkhus. Because most of them are from Brahmin back- ground and hence, naturally there is no unity.
These Brahmin Bhikkhus are totally against liberating the Bodh Gaya, from Brahminical hands. If the real Bhikkhus come forward, it is well and good. However, I am getting big support from foreign Buddhist monks. Buddhists of many foreign countries have already sent their resolutions to that effect to the Govt. of India.
Q: What made you to settle in India? That too at Nagpur, the erstwhile capital city of the Nagas?
A: (laughing) After becoming a monk, I wanted to stay in Japan itself. My Guruji (master) sent me to Thailand and then to Burma. Then I came to Bodh Gaya, the place of Buddha’s enlightenment, to pay my respect. After a short stay, I wanted to go back to Japan. But an unusual event changed my whole plan.
Vaman Godbole: On the Buddha Purnima (1967), I was in deep meditation. Suddenly, a well-built person appeared before me. He was tall, broad-chested, with long hair, and beard, vasomotion his forehead. He was holding along stick in his right hand. I was dumb founded and could not shake my body. I wanted to ask him ‘Who are you?’ The person started speaking in a thundering, but slow, tone: “l am Nagarjuna of Namakula. Go to South – Nagpuri is your Karma Bhoomi. I order you to work there”. He then disappeared. I had never heard of Nagpur. I did not even know the local language. Somehow, I managed to locate Nagpur, I was advised to meet Vaman Godbole, close associate of Babasaheb. When I came to his house, I saw a life-size photo of Gautam Buddha. There was another photo by its side. Suddenly, I recognized the person in the photo. He was the one who appeared before me during my meditation on Buddha Purnima day. But here he was in full suit, clean shaven in the photo. I asked Godbole about this great man. He said: “Oh don’t you know him? He is Dr. Bhim Rac Ram ji Ambedkar!” Shock waves gripped my body.
Naga people: Later I read Babasaheb saying “I belong to the Santan (family) of Nagas. Nagpur was the capital city of Nagaoka. Nagas are the people who propagated Buddhism all over India”. I am here to work for the cause of Buddhism in India particularly in Nagpur on the divine order of Babasaheb.
Q: When Babasaheb’s book, Buddha and His Dhamma, was released, the Buddhist monks of those times had criticized it as “Ambedkar and his Dhamma”. Even today, many monks do not appreciate the views of Babasaheb’s Buddhism. What is your opinion?
A: Babasaheb has not only revived Buddhism, he has brought the ‘Buddha’ to India. India has seen only the ‘Buddha in Samadhi’ sitting silent. Babasaheb did not like it. He brought the Buddha in action. He introduced the standing Buddha and Buddha in movement. Sitting Buddha was peaceful and interested in self-realization. So are the Buddhists who use to undergo the oppression. But the standing Buddha never cared for self. He is on his toes to rescue the people. He is a sang Harshada (fighter).
Babasaheb has revolutionized Buddhism. it has no place for Brahminism. itis ‘Bhim Ayana’. In that way Babasaheb is the Buddha of 20th century and most relevant.
Q: What is your future plan to spread Ambedkarite Buddhism?
A: Do you think I alone should shoulder that responsibility? Youngsters like you should take up this mission started by Babasaheb. He has declared 22 oaths at the time of conversion. As Bhimanis, we should follow them strictly. Babasaheb has taken every step to keep ourselves away from Brahminical contamination. If we still have doubts about his path, it means we have not made deep study on him. Letups all join together to fulfil his mission. Dalit Voice is doing a marvelous job. Convey my regards to V.T. Rajshekar. Jai Bhim.
Bante Angarika from Sri Lanka was the first monk lo break the grip of Hindus over Bodh Gaya in the sixties. Now, it is up to Bante Surai Sasai who calls himself as Nagarjun, following the vision of Babasaheb, to cleanse the Bodh Gaya from Hindu contamination. We are sure of his success in his mission.
