REGION
Buddha's billions
Although always officially atheistic, the Communist Party of China continues to make headway in actively promoting Buddhism. In late June, the Chinese government-backed Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (APECF) announced that it would raise USD 3 billion to develop Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage site in Nepal's southern Tarai plains. The project will try to turn the area into a 'magnet for Buddhists' similar to Mecca or the Vatican, building roads, airports, hotels and museums, as well as a Buddhist University.
The new Chinese plans for Lumbini, less than 10 km from the border with India, is said to have raised concerns in New Delhi. Largely lost in this tussle between the Asian giants, however, is Nepal itself. At present, Lumbini loses out in terms of revenue to Saranath in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where Buddha first taught the dharma, and Bodhgaya in Bihar, where he attained enlightenment.
Not much is known about the APECF, and its website (www.apecf.org) is still under construction. However, over the last year, the chairman of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Pushpa Kamal Dahal, made two visits to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, purportedly at the behest of the Foundation. He is also said to be the vice-chairman of the foundation. All of which leads to some speculation that the Lumbini effort is a business-cum-governmental effort by China to promote an economic activity that will also reap geopolitical dividends. Mid-July press reports, on the other hand, indicated incongruously that the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) had signed a memorandum in Beijing with the APECF. Then came news that Paras Shah, the ex-crown prince was also a member of the APECF board!