New Delhi- The Buddhist community under the banner of the All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF) and supported by hundreds of national and international Buddhist organizations, has escalated its long-standing demand for the repeal of the Bodhgaya Temple Act, 1949. The Act, which governs the management of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar in Bodh Gaya, Bihar-one of the holiest sites in Buddhism-has been a focal point of contention for decades.

As the Supreme Court prepares for a final hearing on August 5, for a writ petition challenging the Act, the Buddhist community has launched a massive postcard campaign targeting the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, and the Bihar Chief Minister to pressure the government into action. The campaign, coupled with ongoing protests and hunger strikes that have persisted for over 173 days, highlights the community’s resolve to reclaim control of their sacred site.

Historical Context

The Mahabodhi Mahavihar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002, marks the location where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. Built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, the temple is one of the four holiest sites in Buddhism, alongside Lumbini, Sarnath, and Kusinagar. However, the temple’s management has been a point of dispute since the 13th century, when invasions by Bakhtiyar Khilji led to the decline of Buddhist influence in the region. By 1590, a Hindu monk, Ghamandi Giri, established the Bodh Gaya Math, initiating Hindu rituals at the site, which Buddhists argue has diluted its sanctity.

The Bodhgaya Temple Act, enacted in 1949 by the Bihar government, was intended to resolve disputes between Hindu and Buddhist communities over the temple’s control. The Act established the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), comprising nine members: four Buddhists, four Hindus, and the Gaya District Magistrate as the ex-officio chairman. Until a 2013 amendment, the Act mandated that the chairman be Hindu, a provision that fueled resentment among Buddhists. Even with the amendment allowing a non-Hindu chairman, the Buddhist community argues that the Hindu majority on the committee undermines their right to manage their holiest site, violating constitutional guarantees under Articles 25, 26, 29, and 30, which protect religious freedom and minority rights.

The Mahabodhi Mahavihar Mukti Andolan

The current agitation, known as the 37th Mahabodhi Mahavihar Mukti Andolan, began on February 12, 2025, with nearly 100 Buddhist monks and nuns launching an indefinite relay hunger strike near the Mahabodhi Temple. Led by AIBF General Secretary Akash Lama and President Jambu Lama, the protest has drawn international attention, with over 5,000 signatures on a global petition titled “In Solidarity: Demand Buddhist Control Over the Mahabodhi Temple.” The movement seeks to replace the BTMC with a proposed Bodhgaya Mahabodhi Mahavihara Chaitya Trust, which would be exclusively managed by Buddhists.

The protests have not been without challenges. Few weeks back, the Bihar Police detained 25 fasting monks at midnight, forcing the protest site to be relocated two kilometers away to Domuhan Road. This incident sparked global outrage, with Buddhist communities in countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, and the United States expressing solidarity. Despite the crackdown, the monks’ resolve remains unshaken, with Dr. Vilas Kharat, a prominent protester, declaring, “This is a fast unto death, and we are prepared to sacrifice our lives to protect this heritage.”

The Postcard Campaign

In a strategic escalation, the AIBF has launched a postcard campaign urging Buddhists worldwide to flood the offices of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with postcards demanding the repeal of the 1949 Act. The postcards, signed by members of the AIBF and associated organizations, carry a clear message: “Justice and religious rights must be upheld for the Buddhist community.” The campaign aims to collect lakhs of postcards to amplify pressure on the government, particularly as the Supreme Court hearing approaches.

Akash Lama emphasized the campaign’s significance, stating, “Every religion has its own space managed by its followers. We are not demanding too much, just the same right for Buddhists to control our holiest site.”

The Supreme Court Case

The writ petition (Civil No. 0380/2012) was filed in 2012 by Buddhist monks Bhante Arya Nagarjun Surai Sasai and Gajendra Mahanand Pantawane, challenging the provisions of the Act and demanding exclusive Buddhist management of the temple. However, the petition remained unlisted for over a decade.

Amid the deteriorating health of Buddhist monks on a hunger strike since February 12, 2025, as part of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar Mukti Andolan, an urgent hearing was sought. On May 18, Justices Deepankar Datta and Prasanna B. Varale reprimanded government lawyers for the 12-year delay and made it clear that no further adjournments would be granted. The court directed all parties to file their affidavits and counter-affidavits in the interim, marking a decisive step toward resolving the contentious issue surrounding the management of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.

The court scheduled a final hearing for July 29, but the matter could not be listed, leading to a rescheduling for August 5. Advocate Anand S. Jondhale, President of the Buddhist International Forum for Peace, is representing the AIBF which has filed an intervention application the the matter. Jondhale, who recently visited Bodh Gaya, claims to have gathered evidence of a “multi-billion rupee scam” and the “systematic plunder of Buddhist heritage,” which he plans to present in court.

As the Supreme Court hearing approaches, the Buddhist community remains steadfast. In a recent online meeting, monks and organizations expressed solidarity, vowing to intensify protests regardless of the court’s verdict. Akash Lama summed up the sentiment: “The Mahabodhi Temple is the heart of Buddhism. We will not rest until it is under Buddhist control.”

The outcome of the August 5 hearing will be pivotal, not only for the temple’s management but also for India’s commitment to religious freedom and minority rights.