MP CM opens new varsity, enhances his stature

The grand ceremony for laying the foundation of a Buddhist University at Sanchi on Friday, has raised the stature of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the national level.

While Chouhan is an uncontested leader in state politics, he has not been very active at the national level in the Bhartiya Janata Party.

Many a times a comparision is made between Chouhan and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, but Modi always outweighs the Madhya Pradesh CM.

If political analysts are to be believed, the foundation laying ceremony of University of Buddhist and Indic Studies in Sanchi has certainly raised his political stature at the national level.

This is the first such occasion in state where international leaders marked their presence at an event. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bhutan Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley were invited by the Madhya Pradesh government as guests for the foundation laying event of the university.

Shivraj also showed shrewdness when he successfully managed to carry out the event despite the protest by MDMK leader AMK Vaiko and his supporters against Lankan President. He also expressed his concern on the Tamil issue in Lanka and asked Vaiko to forsake his protest programme as it had nothing to do with the politics. Shivraj also termed Vaiko his good friend.

He also managed to persuade Congress workers not to stage a protest outside CM's residence on the day of the university launch programme.

During his meeting, MP CM raised the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils with the President Rajapaksa and urged him a fair treatment for Tamils. Such an step by Shivraj on an international issue seems to have increased his standing among his counterparts in the party.

Speaking on the occasion, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said, "India and Sri Lanka are on the same page as far as the friendship and history is concerned between the two neighbours. We also need to go back to our roots."

Rajapaksa also brought a sapling of peepal tree with him from Sri Lanka. The sapling was planted at the campus of the 100-acre university.

Mahendra and Sanghamitra, the son and daughter of Emperor Ashoka, had brought the sapling of "Peepal tree" from Bodhgaya, where Gautam Buddha attained enlightment. Ashoka had sent them to Sri Lanka to preach Buddhism.

MP governor Ram Naresh Yadav said that the creation of university will help in spreading the environment of peace and communal harmony.

In his address, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the creation of the university is the realisation of the long cherished dream.

Buddhist monks ftom several countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Mongolia, Singapur also participated in the event.

Buddhist University will be spread in 100-acres and Rs 300 cr will be spent on the university in two phases. It will have five department, including Buddhist Philosophy, Sanatan Dharm, International Buddhist Centre, Centre on study of comparitive religion. A libarary will also be established on Buddhism, Indian culture in the university.