NEW DELHI: A sparkling wine called “Gautama Buddha wine” produced by an Indian company and marketed in Japan has drawn strong protest from the Buddhist Mahabodhi Society in Sri Lanka.
Gamini Jayasuriya president of the Society has called the labeling of the wine “most offensive” and in “very poor taste.”
Jayasuriya told the Times of India New Service in Colombo that he had not seen the wine bottle. Somebody had given him the label and he wanted the Indian authorities to investigate it.
Sources in the ministry of external affairs confirmed that the Indian high commission in Sri Lanka N.N.Jha had written to New Delhi about the protests in Sri Lanka. The government plans to start a dialogue with Colombo soon.
The ministry said that the company might be located in Bangalore or somewhere in Maharashwa. The ministry had not communicated with the company. But the government was seeking legal advice after which the company would be asked to abide by the legal regulations.
“The matter is under investigation and we have asked the authorities concerned to look into it in detail” the ministry said.
A Sri Lankan embassy spokesman here said that the wine was not only an insult to Buddha but was also offensive to the land in which Buddha was born. “This is an audacious act which is offensive to India and not just to Sri Lanka” the spokesman said.
Buddha preached against drinking and the panchasila (Five rules of discipline) clearly lies down that it is wrong to drink the spokesman pointed out. It is strange that such an outrage against Buddha should have perpetrated in his native land the spokesman said.
“Have you ever heard of a wine called Jesus Christ wine? If there was a wine named after The Prophet Mohammad there would be a Jihad! But because Buddhists are a meek and mild people they are taken advantage of” the spokesman said.
“In fact all religious preach against drinking alcohol: even some Hindu sects caution against intoxicants. Of course I’m not saying that Buddhists don’t drink but drinking is their personal business. However the naming of a wine after one of the most outstanding religious leaders of all times is a distasteful act” he added.
The manufacturers of this intoxicant are Champagne India Limited which is owned by the Chougule family based in Pune. “Gautama Buddha Wine” is the name under which the Marquise da Pompidour champagne which the company produces is marketed in Japan. Jayasuriya is a former minister who resigned from the Jayawardene cabinet to protest the signing of the 1987 Indo-Sri Lankan agreement. Besides leading the Mahabodhi Society he also runs an organization championing the cause of the Sinhalese.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 20, 1992
