South Korea seeks ties with
Ayodhya
South Korea seeks ties with
Ayodhya
By Arvind Singh Bisht
The Times of India
Ayodhya - After Ram Bhakts, it is South Korea which has
shown a keen interest in Ayodhya -- the birth place of
Lord Rama. The temple town braces up this time to play a
host for guests from "surprise quarters." And this is a
high-power delegation of the Karak Clan, the ruling elite
of the South Korea, slated to visit here by the end of
this month in search of renewing its old cultural ties
with it.
It is believed that a princess of erstwhile Ayodhya
state, Ho Hwang sailed to South Korea some 2000 years ago
and married to King Kim Su Ro. Their progeny, members of
the Karak Clan owes its success to the princes of Ayodhya
who is regarded as a mother by it. Its delegation thus
proposes to undertake a visit to set up a memorial here
in memory of the princes and explore the possibilities
for developing the town as a "sister city" of the Kimhae,
once the seat of power of the King Kim Suro with an
estimated investment of Rs 200 crore.
Both the Centre and the UP government have cleared the
visit of the delegation which is expected to arrive here
between February 27 and March 3. Comprising 18 members,
the delegation includes ten prominent industrialists from
South Korea and two representatives of the Karak Clan
Society -- Mr. Jong-Su-Kim, vice-president and Mr. Young-
Jun-Huh, secretary.
Although it is not known exactly that which dynasty came
to rule Ayodhya after Lord Rama some 2000 years ago, the
Karak Clan has chosen to be identified with Mr.
Bhimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, a king of erstwhile
Ayodhya state with a history of 200 years old. Mr. Mishra
was invited to South Korea from April 28 to May 3 last
year and there he and his wife were accorded a rousing
reception by the Karak Clan society at official
functions. It was after his visit that South Korea became
interested to establish a cultural ties with Ayodhya.
Former prime minister of South Korea Kim Jong-Pil in a
sentimental letter written to Mr. Mishra, said "My visit
to India remains very meaningful to me expect that of my
unfulfilled desire to visit Ayodhya, a princes of which
became the queen of the ancient Karak Kingdom. I am the
72nd generation descendant of the King Kim Suro of the
Karak Kingdom."
Against this background, a three metre high memorial
weighing about 7500 kgms is proposed to be set up at a
place in Ayodhya. The memorial shipped by South Korea has
already arrived at Calcutta port and the Karak Clan
society has requested Mr. Mishra to bear the cost of its
inland transportation and erection. While shipping
expense is expected to be around 2000 US dollars, equal
amount of custom duty is likely to double its cost.
However, enthusiastic Mr. Mishra puts it "He is keen to
erect the memorial, although a request will be made to
the Custom department to waive off its duty in the public
interest".
The district administration of Faizabad has already
agreed to provide land for the erection of memorial.
However, the final selection of site would be done only
after the visit of the Karak Clan delegation, says Mr.
Mishra who has also requested the district administration
to take the responsibility for the maintenance of the
memorial. "How can I maintain it when I can not maintain
my place now", quips Mr. Mishra. But certainly this is
bound to give Ayodhya a new dimension and adds yet
another cultural importance to it.
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