HINDUISM AND SANATAN DHARMA

Maleban emerges in Indian ocean atoll- Hindu-Buddhist past erased

Maleban emerges in Indian ocean atoll- Hindu-Buddhist past erased without a whisper from New Delhi

Image source-http://www.maldivesculture.com

Goddess Nidhi-lakshmi as represented on a 9th century coral block

While Maldivian President, Mohamammad Nasheed, who was elected through popular vote in the 2009 parliamentary elections, was forced on gun-point to resign on 7th February by the supporters of the opposition coalition being led by the Adhaalat (Justice Party), the Islamic fundamentalists attacked the National Museum of Maldives at Male and vandalized Hindu- Buddhist artifacts, erasing a monumental treasure from the Maldivian history. Though, Maldives is an Islamic state with 100% Sunni Muslim totaling 328,536 persons that inhabits 200 of its 1,192 islands, Islam came to the garland of atolls only in 1153A.D. Maldives has a Hindu-Buddhist past. Many of the atolls were also part of the Chola Empire and Buddhism is believed to have reached the islands during Ashoka’s time itself. Before Buddhism, Maldivians practiced Srauta tradition of Hinduism.

News report mention that around half a dozen of radical Muslim fanatics entered the museum and completely destroyed the collection of coral and lime figures, including the famous six-faced coral statue( Buddhist Tantric image) and famous Buddha’s head, Nearly 35 artifacts of Hindu and Buddhist tradition have been completely destroyed, some dating back to 6th century and most from 8-9th century. These were the main items of attraction since the time museum was opened on 26 July, 1952. The Chinese government had built the Museum as part of a UNESCO project . Museum Director has told media that 99 percent of the Maldives’ pre-Islamic artifacts from before the 12th century, have been completely destroyed.

Six-faced coral-stone stele

Period: Circa 9th century CE ;

Place found: Ameeru Ahmad Magu, Henveiru, Male’, early 1960s

Image source-http://www.maldivesculture.com

What is surprising is utter silence of Indian government on this vandalization of a tradition linked with India’s civilizational glory that too in a small state which is part of the SAARC &SAFTA. What further astonishes is the alacrity which the government showed in bestowing recognition to the coup d’etat within 24 hours and to add to the worse part, Indian Prime Minister made a phone call to congratulate the new President Mohammad Waheed Hassan Manik. Not a single whisper of condemnation came against the vandalism perpetrated by the Islamic fundamentalists of the Maldives, the Male-bans.

Coral stone head

Period: Circa 6th-7th centuries CE ;

Place found: Thoddoo island in North Ari atoll

Image source-http://www.maldivesculture.com

Now, one can see the differential treatment meted by the government of India on two religious-cultural issues in the same month. When Jay Leno was joking about American Republican Party Presidential election contender ,Mitt Romney’s wealth by pointing to a picture of the Golden temple and describing the GoldenTemple as Mitt Romney’s summer home, the whole Indian establishment went into a tizzy. Indian government lodged a formal protest with the US government mentioning that it has offended Sikhs sentiments. MEA, Overseas Indian Affair Ministry, Indian Ambassador in the US all went into a huddle as if it was a national emergency. But, in the case of Malibanese erasure of Hindu-Buddhist past in the courtyard, what to say about the condemnation, the whole establishment is busy burying the incident under the Indian Ocean itself. One can also contrast the way the Rajya Sabha condemned the humiliation of Sikhs who were being forced to remove their turbans in the name of security at international airports, especially in Italy on 8th December, 2011. Italian Ambassador Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte was summoned in Delhi and protests lodged twice with the Italian government. Indian Foreign Minister called dishonor to Sikhs as “national insult”. One can also see the urgency on this very issue when Indian Prime Minister takes up the matter of Sikh turbans at important meeting of G-20 with the French President. It appears as if the whole establishment is so much engrossed in the issue of Sikh turbans that it is apt to call the administrative machinery as undergoing “turbanization”. But, the vandalization and erasure of a whole past rooted in the non-violence and compassion in the little island-state of Maldives is not even an issue to be condemned by the same bunch of people.

Tantric deity in coral stone

Image source-http://www.maldivesculture.com

The double standard meted by the state vis-à-vis majority community and selected minority community is quite evident. There are people who drumbeat about secularism , but what they practice is utter devastative path of erasing the culture and creativity of the Indian civilization.

It is right time that India takes up a tough stand in its own backyard. India cannot afford to lose Maldives in the hands of Maleban who would turn it into a relay station for the Sea Ghazis, the Muslim fundamentalist pirates who now straddle Indian Ocean from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca and have emerged as the gravest threat to the safety of international navigations in the common waters.

(16.2.2012)