Buddha- an Indian citizen??

I know this is very controversial matter and may hurt feelings (let’s call it National pride? false?) of many at Sajha. But I think this is something that should be discussed more and a conclusion should be reached. Either Indian historian should accept that Buddha was born in Nepal or we should stop claiming him once and for all.

Why do I think it is a controversial subject?

First of All, what is Nepal? Nepal is a country just 280 something years old. There was no country called Nepal before 280 something years ago so how could we stake claim on someone as Nepali who was born 2500 years ago.  

Even if you consider present day Nepal and India and you believe that Gautam Buddha was born in present day Lumbini, the city of Lumbini and district of present day Kapilvastu is in such a border to India and Nepal it is hard to confirm where he was born.

Moreover, we have no controversy about the view that, Gautam Buddha did his meditation, gained his knowledge and preached his philosophy in current day India. We never argue against the view that he spent all of his adult life in India but we only argue about his birth place. Now the question arises why did he spent all his life in India but did not preach his views in surrounding areas of current day Nepal.

I believe that the idea about birth place of Buddha is Nepal or is India is controversial at best.

You have all rights to argue for and against it.