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NEW DELHI: Calling India not only the custodian of Lord Buddha’s sacred relics but also the living carrier of his tradition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a first-of-itskind international exposition of the Buddha’s Piprahwa relics, reliquaries and gem relics that were recently repatriated to India.Noting that the the departure from India and eventual return of the sacred relics of Buddha are both significant lessons in themselves, PM Modi stressed “slavery is not only political and economic, but it also destroys our heritage”. He remarked that the same happened with the sacred relics of Lord Buddha, which were taken away during colonial rule.He asserted that “for India, the sacred relics are not merely artefacts; they are a part of our revered heritage and an inseparable part of our civilisation”.PM also reflected on India’s role in spreading the message of Buddha around the world with the sacred relics having travelled from India to different countries with significant Buddhist populations, including Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia and Russia, “where waves of faith and devotion arose” with people turning up to pay homage in large numbers.Speaking at the function organised at Qila Rai Pithora Cultural Complex where he inaugurated the exposition ‘Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One’, PM underlined that this “shared heritage of Lord Buddha is proof that India is not connected merely through politics, diplomacy and economy, but through deeper bonds. We are connected through mind and emotions, through faith and spirituality.”On the site of the exhibition which will be open to public from Sunday, PM said the space reflected India’s glorious history, where nearly a thousand years ago former rulers established a city surrounded by strong and secure walls.He recalled that the sacred relics returned to India after more than 125 years at the intervention of govt and the Godrej Group.Highlighting that Buddha’s Abhidhamma, his words, and his teachings were originally in Pali, PM Modi said, “We are striving to make Pali accessible to the common people. For this reason, Pali has been accorded the status of a classical language, which will make it easier to understand and explain the Dhamma in its original essence.”Striking a personal note, Modi said his birthplace, Vadnagar in Gujarat, was a major centre of Buddhist studies and Sarnath near Varanasi, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, was his karmabhoomi . Modi is MP from Varanasi. He also shared that during his travels to China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia, he carried saplings of the Bodhi tree.