Sikkim Chapter of All India Buddhist Forum to hold peace rally on April 26, demands repeal of BTMC Act

Buddhists in Sikkim are gearing up for a big peace rally on April 26, 2025, to support a nationwide call to repeal the Bodhgaya Temple Management Act of 1949. The Sikkim Chapter of the All India Buddhist Forum is leading the charge, demanding that the management of the sacred Mahabodhi Buddha Vihara in Bodhgaya, Bihar, be handed over entirely to Buddhists in India. This rally comes as monks and activists have been protesting in Bodhgaya for over 60 days, sitting in dharna to press for the same cause.

The Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodhgaya, is one of the holiest sites for Buddhists worldwide. It’s the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. But for decades, many Buddhists have been upset about how the temple is run. The Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee Act of 1949 set up a nine-member committee to look after the temple’s administration. The problem, according to the All India Buddhist Forum, is that five of these members are non-Buddhists, while only four are Buddhists. This setup, they say, gives non-Buddhists too much control over a place that’s sacred to Buddhists.

Sonam Gyatso Sherpa, a leader from the Sikkim Sherpa Protection Board and the state coordinator for Sikkim Nagarik Samaj, spoke at a press conference in Gangtok.

“We’ve come together under the Sikkim Chapter of the All India Buddhist Forum to support the protests happening in Bodhgaya. For over 60 days, monks and Buddhists have been sitting in dharna there, demanding the repeal of the 1949 Act. We’re holding a peace rally on April 26 to show that Sikkim stands with them.”, he said.

Sherpa said that the rally is meant to raise awareness about the issue. “Bodhgaya is not just a temple; it’s a place where Buddhists from all over the world come to pray and meditate. If we don’t have control over our own holy site, where will we go to find peace?” he asked. He also pointed out that Sikkim is unique in India for having an Ecclesiastical Department, which looks after religious matters in the state. The Sikkim Chapter plans to write letters to Chief Minister P.S. Tamang, Ecclesiastical Department Minister Sonam Lama, and other organizations to seek their support.

The press conference introduced the coordinators of different Buddhist communities in Sikkim who are helping organize the rally. Sherpa himself represents the Sherpa community. Sange Gatso Bhutia is the coordinator for the Bhutia community, Rohan Gurung for the Gurung community, Angdi Lamaju for the Tamang community, and H.D. Lepcha Halju, a former secretary, for the Lepcha community. Sherpa mentioned that they’ve reached out to the Newar and Tibetan communities as well, but their representatives couldn’t attend the press conference.

The issue with the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee goes back a long way. Sange Gatso Bhutia, the Bhutia community coordinator, gave a brief history lesson during the press conference. “This fight isn’t new,” he said. “It started over a hundred years ago, even before the 1949 Act. Back when the British ruled India, the temple was controlled by local landlords called Muthas. A Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka raised his voice against this, saying that Bodhgaya should belong to Buddhists because it’s one of our four holiest pilgrimage sites.”

Bhutia explained that the four key Buddhist pilgrimage sites are Lumbini, where Buddha was born; Bodhgaya, where he attained enlightenment; Sarnath, where he gave his first sermon; and Kushinagar, where he passed away. “For Buddhists, these places are like the heart of our faith,” he said. “But right now, in Bodhgaya, the majority of the committee members aren’t even Buddhist. How can they understand what this place means to us?”

The 1949 Act says that the committee must have nine members, including the District Collector of Gaya, who automatically becomes the chairman. Out of the other eight members, four are Buddhists, and four are non-Buddhists. The All India Buddhist Forum argues that this setup creates confusion and doesn’t respect the temple’s importance to Buddhists. “The non-Buddhist members have the majority, so they get to make the big decisions,” Sherpa said. “We’re not saying they’re bad people, but this is a Buddhist temple. It should be managed by Buddhists.”

The Sikkim Chapter of the All India Buddhist Forum was formed in 2023 to spread awareness about this issue. Angdi Lamaju, the Tamang community coordinator, said, “We’ve been trying to tell people in Sikkim what’s happening in Bodhgaya, but it’s taken time. Many people here didn’t even know about the protests. Now, with this rally, we hope everyone will understand why this matters.”

The peace rally on April 26 will start in Gangtok and the organizers have already gotten permission from the Sikkim Police. “We’re thankful to the government for letting us hold this rally,” Sherpa said. “We’re not here to cause trouble. We just want to show that Sikkim’s Buddhists care about Bodhgaya and want the 1949 Act repealed.”

The rally is expected to draw Buddhists from different communities across Sikkim, including Sherpas, Bhutias, Gurungs, Tamangs, Lepchas, and others. The organizers are also inviting people from other religions to join in support. “This is about fairness,” Bhutia said. “We’re a peace-loving state, and we believe in coming together for what’s right.”

The All India Buddhist Forum isn’t just active in Sikkim. Sherpa mentioned that Buddhists in other parts of India, like Maharashtra, Ladakh, and the hilly regions, are also demanding the repeal of the 1949 Act. The organization is registered, with Akash Lama as its general secretary and Jambu Lama, based in Kuala Lumpur, as its president. The Sikkim Chapter has been officially approved by the national body to lead efforts in the state.

For many Buddhists, this issue is deeply personal. “When we go to Bodhgaya, we feel a connection to Lord Buddha,” Lamaju said. “It’s where we meditate and pray for peace and liberation. If we lose control of that place, it’s like losing a part of our faith.”

The Sikkim Chapter is also planning to send letters to various organizations in the state to build support. They hope that Sikkim’s Ecclesiastical Department, which handles religious affairs, will take up their cause. “Sikkim is special because we have this department,” Sherpa said. “We believe our leaders will listen to us and help spread our message.”

As the date of the rally approaches, the organizers are working hard to get the word out. They’re putting up posters, talking to community leaders, and using social media to invite people to join. “This is our chance to show that Sikkim’s Buddhists are united,” Bhutia said. “We’re not just doing this for ourselves but for Buddhists everywhere.”