PM Modi gets history wrong again, this time in Maghar
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has his critics. And they have taken potshots at some of his policy decisions and his penchant for getting historical facts wrong.
In Maghar this morning there was a sense of déjà vu.
Modi reached Maghar, Uttar Pradesh, on the occasion of the 620th anniversary of Kabir. He first paid his obeisances to Kabir and on his mausoleum offered a chadar (a ceremonial cloth).
Modi addressed a public meeting in the presence of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other BJP leaders.
Mahatma Kabir's reflection upon equanimity and harmony has given direction to the society for centuries. I once again salute him who hailed from this land of nirvana. It is said that here, Saint Kabir, Guru Nankadeva and Baba Gorakhnath sat together and discussed spirituality.
- Said Modi addressing Maghar rally
Modi critics were quick to pounce upon the Prime Minister for getting his facts wrong, again. The three belonged to different eras and maybe PM Modi got his history slightly mixed up.
PM MODI MAKES HISTORY
Baba Gorakhnath's belongs to an earlier era than Kabir and Guru Nanak. Baba Gorakhnath was born in the 11th century while Kabir, who lived for 120 years, was born at the end of the 14th century (1398 to 1518).
Guru Nanak lived between the 15th century and the 16th century (1469-1539).
Guru Nanak bumping into Kabir has an element of probability but they both pondering over spirituality is stretching things a bit too much.
NOT THE FIRST TIME PM MODI HAS MADE HISTORY
This is not the first time that Modi has made such a mistake of mashing-up facts when it comes to history.
Back in 2013, Narendra Modi at a rally in Patna, talking about "power of Bihar" mentioned emperor Ashok, Pataliputra, Nalanda, along with Takshshila; except for the minor issue of Takshila was in Punjab (now in Pakistan) and not Bihar.
At a speech in the US, PM Modi spoke of the Sun Temple of Konark being 2,000 years old; the fact: the famous temple is only 700 years old.
Modi once said that when we talk of the Gupta empire, it reminds us of Chandragupta's politics. But if he was referring to politics did he mean Chandragupta who belonged to the Mauryan empire. Chandragupta II was lived during the Gupta empire.
courtesy : indiatoday.in
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Ladakh a living land of dharma for centuries: Amit Shah
Leh/Jammu (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday described the return of sacred relics of Lord Buddha to Ladakh after 75 years as a "historic reunion" and said that the Union Territory has remained a "living land of dharma", preserving and nurturing Buddhist knowledge for centuries.
Stressing the relevance of Buddha's teachings in modern times, Shah said the message of peace, compassion and the middle path was even more important today than it was 2,500 years ago.
"Ladakh has been a living land of dharma for centuries. When the Dalai Lama comes here, he says this land is not merely a geographical land but a living laboratory of Buddhist culture and compassion," Shah said, speaking after the inauguration of the sacred holy relics exposition of Tathagata Buddha and the 2569th Buddha Purnima celebrations at Jivetsal in Leh during his two-day visit to Ladakh.
Calling Ladakh a land of compassion, he said this land has preserved and nurtured knowledge. "Whenever Buddhism faced crises, this land worked to protect the teachings of Buddha. And when peace returned, it helped to expand and carry forward that preserved wisdom," he added.
"Unless one internalises knowledge and makes it a part of oneself, liberation is not possible. Knowledge is incomplete without spiritual practice, while spiritual practice without knowledge is blind. Therefore, the union of spiritual practice and knowledge is the right path. Even after all this, if there is no moral discipline, one cannot lead a truly wise life. The basis of a life of wisdom is moral discipline," he said.
Shah said it was through Ladakh and adjoining routes that the teachings of Tathagata Buddha, which originated in India, spread to China and several other countries.
"The message that emerged from the land of Ladakh has become a guiding force for many people around the world to take their lives forward. The presence of these sacred relics in Ladakh reminds us that India's civilisation has, for thousands of years, given the message of peace and coexistence," he said.
He said that in a diverse region like Ladakh and Kargil, this message becomes even more relevant. "This heritage still tells us today that amidst conflict and unrest, only the path of peace and compassion can provide solutions."
He said the return of the relics on Buddha Purnima had enhanced the significance of the festival for the people of Ladakh.
"These sacred relics have come to Ladakh after 75 years. It is as if Buddha himself is present here today," Shah said, adding that followers of Buddhism and people of other faiths in Ladakh and Kargil would draw spiritual energy from the relics.
Highlighting Ladakh's role in the spread of Buddhism, Shah said Kashmir was once an ancient centre of Buddhist studies, Mahayana philosophy and Buddhist art, from where Ladakh first came into close contact with Buddhism.
He said Emperor Ashoka's envoys laid the foundation of Buddhist influence in Ladakh through Kashmir and Gandhara, while Mahayana Buddhism expanded in the region during the Kushan period between the first and third centuries CE.
The Silk Route linking Kashmir, Leh, Yarkand, Khotan and Tibet became a channel not only for trade but also for ideas, monks, manuscripts and artistic traditions, Shah said.
He added that later, Tibetan influence between the seventh and tenth centuries further enriched Ladakh through Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.
Stressing the relevance of Buddha's teachings in modern times, Shah said the message of peace, compassion and the middle path was even more important today than it was 2,500 years ago.
"Amid conflict and unrest, only the path of peace and compassion can provide solutions," he said.
Shah also appealed to the Ladakh administration to ensure complete arrangements so that followers of all faiths, especially Buddhists, could visit and pay obeisance to the relics.
#WATCH लेह, लद्दाख: केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह ने कहा, "जब दलाई लामा यहां आते हैं तो वे कहते हैं कि यह भूमि केवल भौगोलिक भूमि नहीं है। यह भूमि बौद्ध संस्कृति और करुणा की जीवंत प्रयोगशाला है। इस भूमि पर ज्ञान का संरक्षण हुआ है... भारत की सभ्यता हजारों वर्षों से शांति का संदेश… https://t.co/2nwG0w2CE6 pic.twitter.com/W13itRBqeX
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