The new Parliament building in Delhi, just recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28th May 2023, has been under a lot of controversies for various reasons. Now, a mural called the ‘Akhand Bharat’ by some sources showing various ancient sites of Indian influence is sparking debate and protests in Nepal.
According to reports, political leaders and others are taking issue with the fact that sites such as Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha and others are being shown in the mural even though they are outside the boundaries of present-day India.
This also comes close at the heels of Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to India and planned meeting with PM Modi. PM Dahal as per reports had assured Nepali lawmakers and leaders that he would be bringing up the issue in his meeting with the PM.
What Is The Controversy?
The controversy started soon after images from inside the New Parliament building started to be revealed and among them was a mural claimed by some BJP leaders to be of an ‘Akhand Bharat’.
The mural is said to have been inspired by the prehistoric Ashokan empire and the “influence of ancient Indian thought” as well as featuring ancient sites like Lumbini and Kapilvastu in Nepal and other historic locations that are now in present-day Pakistan.
The phrase ‘Akhand Bharat’ was particularly used in tweets by parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi and Lok Sabha member Manoj Kotak. However, the phrase and its implications reportedly did not sit well with political leaders from Nepal and Pakistan.
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Among the ones to raise the issue was former PM of Nepal, Baburam Bhattarai who wrote in a tweet that “The controversial mural of ‘Akhand Bharat’ in the recently inaugurated new Parliament building of India may stoke unnecessary and harmful diplomatic row in the neighborhood including Nepal.
It has the potential of further aggravating the trust deficit already vitiating the bilateral relations between most of the immediate neighbors of India. It would be prudent for Indian political leadership to unravel and communicate in time the real intent and ramification of this mural episode.”
Another former Nepal PM, KP Sharma Oli also stated to The Kathmandu Post that “If a country like India that sees itself as an ancient and strong country and as a model of democracy puts Nepali territories in its map and hangs the map in Parliament, it cannot be called fair.”
What Has India Said On This?
External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi did speak on this controversy during a news briefing also adding that the matter was not raised during the Nepal PM’s visit with PM Modi as well as how they had no idea about any official protests regarding the matter in Nepal or Pakistan.
He stated that “The mural in question depicts the spread of the Ashokan empire and the idea of responsible and people-oriented governance that [Emperor Ashoka] adopted and propagated.”
Bagchi concluded by saying “That’s what the mural and the plaque in front of the mural says. I really don’t have anything further to add to that. I’m certainly not going to comment on statements that other political leaders might have made.”
Indian foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra also reportedly stated that the topic had not been brought up during the meeting of the PMs of the two nations when they met on 1st June 2023.
Adwaita Gadanayak, Director General at the National Gallery of Modern Art, also explained the intent behind the mural “Our idea was to depict the influence of Indian thought during the ancient ages. It extended from the present day Afghanistan in the northwestern region to south-eastern Asia.”
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: The Hindu, NDTV, The Print
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This post is tagged under: Akhand Bharat Mural, Akhand Bharat Mural new parliament, Akhand Bharat Mural Controversy, akhand bharat map in parliament, akhand bharat mural, akhand bharat mural parliament, akhand bharat map, indian parliament mural, indian parliament mural controversy
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