Since February, around 100 Buddhist monks, under the All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF), have been protesting against the Bodh Gaya Temple Act (BTA), 1949.
Their demand is for full autonomy over the temple's management.
The protest, initially at the Mahabodhi Temple, later shifted to another location in Bodh Gaya.
The monks have also submitted a memorandum to the Bihar government, receiving support from prominent Buddhist organizations.
Previous Attempts to Repeal the Act
November 2023: Monks held a rally in Gaya and submitted a memorandum to the Central and State governments, which did not yield results.
2012: A writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court demanding repeal of the BTA, but it has not been heard yet.
What is the Bodh Gaya Temple Act (BTA), 1949?
The BTA created an eight-member management committee with an equal number of Hindus and Buddhists.
The local district magistrate was made the ex-officio chairperson—traditionally from the Hindu community, leading to a Hindu majority on the committee.
Buddhist organizations have long sought full control of the temple, calling it Bodh Gaya Mahavihara.
Historical Significance of Bodh Gaya
The Mauryan Emperor Ashoka built the Mahabodhi Temple in the 3rd century BCE.
The temple remained a Buddhist pilgrimage site until the 13th-century invasion by Bakhtiyar Khilji, which marked Buddhism’s decline.
By 1590, a Hindu monk established the Bodh Gaya mutt, and the temple came under Hindu control.
After India’s Independence, the Bihar government passed the BTA in 1949, creating the joint management structure.
Government's Role & Legal Developments
The BTA aimed to settle disputes between Hindu and Buddhist groups over control of the temple.
2013 Amendment: Allowed a non-Hindu district magistrate to chair the temple committee.
1990s Proposal: Then CM Lalu Prasad Yadav proposed the Bodh Gaya Mahavihara Bill, which sought to:
Give full control to the Buddhist community.
Prohibit Hindu rituals such as idol immersions and marriages inside the temple.
However, the Bill was never passed.
The Current Debate
The dispute raises key questions about religious autonomy, heritage management, and legal rights.
While the BTA tried to balance Hindu and Buddhist interests, many Buddhists believe that a globally significant Buddhist site should be solely under Buddhist management.
Possible Resolutions
Full autonomy for Buddhists, replacing the BTA with a new law.
Further reforms in the management structure to ensure Buddhist-majority decision-making.
Judicial intervention, as the pending Supreme Court petition could set a legal precedent.
The protests highlight an unfinished chapter in India’s religious and cultural governance, with historical grievances shaping modern demands.
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