BRAZILIAN CATHOLICS consider Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Our Lady Revealed) to be the country’s principal patroness. Three fishermen who cast a net in the River Paraíba in October 1717 had a surprise catch: A headless statue of a black Madonna. The threesome found the head in the same area the same day, took both pieces home, and the icon soon became venerated.
When I was first told this story, I was also told about a subtext—of race relations in Brazil. In a country with a wide range of inhabitants—indigenous people, former slaves and former colonists—the question of colour and race has always been running in the background. So much so that Brazil toyed with the idea of “racial whitening” once upon a time. Against this background, the veneration of a black Madonna has special significance.
It is no wonder that I was reminded of a similar story close to home. In these pages, I have shared stories of the village where my roots are—Kuppapuram in Kerala’s picturesque Alappuzha district. About 25km from the village is Karumadi, famous for a Buddha statue which was found in a stream. The monk-prince is venerated as Karumadikuttan here; kuttan being an affectionate address for a lad. It is fairly obvious that the three-feet-tall granite statue was desecrated and abandoned at one point, as it is missing its left arm and leg. The stories Karumadikuttan could tell, if only he would.
Karumadi was part of the erstwhile kingdom of Odanad or Onattukara, an ancient land entwined with the legends of King Mahabali and Onam. Little wonder that Mavelikkara, regarded to be the capital of Odanad, has another Buddha statue, quite close to the Sri Krishnaswami Temple there. Legend has it that the Mavelikkara Buddha was found in a nearby paddy field. To imagine how far and wide Buddhism had spread in our land, and how easily the faith was forgotten!
This issue is a remembering, of the emancipation and upliftment that Buddhism offered to the oppressed in our country, and of the faith’s strategic importance to our nation today. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has always been generous to THE WEEK and to me personally, during my term at the helm of the International Press Institute (India). I place on record my deep gratitude for His Holiness’s article in this edition, issued under his seal and signature. I also thank former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh and Shakti Sinha, director general of the International Buddhist Confederation, for sharing their expertise with us through guest columns.
Before stopping, I must share another link I have with Karumadikuttan, something I am reminded of every day. While the preservation of Buddhist sites in northern India were overseen by Major General Sir Alexander Cunningham, founder director general of the Archaeological Survey of India, Karumadikuttan was retrieved and preserved by Sir Robert Bristow, a British harbour engineer who is hailed as the father of the strategic Kochi port.
The land across the water from my home is regarded to be India’s largest artificial island, Willingdon Island. Bristow dredged the backwaters to make the island, which is now home to the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.