Pune, December 01: When Vinod Khanna, Union minister of state for tourism and cultural affairs, halted his motorcade near the Osho Commune on Friday evening, it was not for more than a mere two minutes. But it sent a surge of renewed hope through
the Osho disciples protesting against the
destruction of the Zen-style pagoda temple that existed on the marble podium of Buddha hall at the commune.
"We have submitted a memorandum to Vinod Khanna who has assured us that our demand for restoration of the marble walls and the glass door (through which Osho used to enter) is valid. He will personally look into the matter because he has been a disciple as well," was the confidence expressed by a protestor, holding a placard that read,
"We want love, not domination."
Practically speaking, will this display gain anything? Speaking to with PT, Swami Chaitanya Keerti who, along with Ma Yoga Neelam, has been leading the protest, said:
"We are hoping that the concerned authorities will try to recognise the erstwhile Osho Dhyan Mandir as heritage property and thereby declare its vandalism as something that needs to be immediately corrected. We want the management of the Osho International Foundation (operated by five key members from New York) to re-construct this temple by December 11, which is Osho's birth anniversary."
To make this happen, Swami Keerti assures that friends of Osho Meditation Centres from around the world would gladly pitch in to not only bear the cost but also volunteer in terms of physical support.
"Our strong feeling is that the Dhyan mandir was not anyone's personal property, but belonged to humanity as this is where Osho sat and presented many of his daily discourses."
He meditated here and helped thousands of people gain an insight into their lives. How can anyone destroy it as if it were nothing but marble and
glass? Keerti asks.
Yet, underlying the level of optimism is the bitter realisation that the memorandum may actually fail to attain its objective.
The management is too stubborn and will refuse to respect our sentiments, laments Swami Keerti. Will love find a way?
