Buddha and the world

What we really need is a debate on the enlightened one’s teachings rather than his citizenship.

As though the bickering over the birthplace of Lord Ram and his nationality was not enough, statements were flying on Sunday about Gautam Buddha and his nationality. This time, Buddha was drawn into Nepal-India politics by S Jaishankar, the Indian minister for external affairs. On Saturday, while addressing an interactive session organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry as part of its India@75 Summit, Jaishankar described Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi as 'the two greatest Indians' the world remembers. A video clip of Jaishankar making the claim went viral on social media. In Nepal, his statement touched a raw nerve among certain sections of Nepalis who resort to 'Buddha was born in Nepal' as nationalism hits a fever pitch.