Buddhist scholars from east Asia appeal for Sanskrit teachers
Visiting Buddhist scholars from Cambodia particularly mentioned that the
country is now without any Sanskrit teachers after several of them were purged
by the Khmer Rouge rule in the east Asian country where the Communists had killed
the Buddhists and their teachers in a large number.
ICCR organised media organisation with visiting Buddhist scholars
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, November 19: Buddhist scholars from East Asian countries have
called upon the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to facilitate
Sanskrit teachers in their countries. The ICCR has asked such scholars to get
in touch with Indian embassies in their countries and register their requests.
During a media interaction in the national capital on the conclusion of the ‘Buddha
Bhoomi Vandan Yatra’ organised by the ICCR for the Buddhist scholars, a few of
the delegates brought to the notice that there is an acute void of Sanskrit
teachers who can teach them from the original Buddhist manuscripts. The ICCR
has assured that it will look into the issue and work to arrange for the
availability of Sanskrit teachers.
Visiting Buddhist scholars from Cambodia particularly mentioned that the
country is now without any Sanskrit teachers after several of them were purged
by the Khmer Rouge rule in the east Asian country where the Communists had killed
the Buddhists and their teachers in a large number. One of the Cambodian
Buddhist scholars said that only one Sanskrit teacher is available in their
country to teach from the original Buddhist manuscripts while there are
hundreds of students.
The Buddhist scholars also conveyed the ICCR that besides Sanskrit there is
also a need for teachers of Pali language. It may be noted that original
Buddhist manuscripts were written in either Sanskrit or Pali language. India in
the recent years is also laying emphasis on promotion of Sanskrit language.
Kumar Tuhin, Director General of the ICCR, told the Buddhist scholars that
his organisation would look into the request for teachers from Sanskrit and
Pali. “We will work through the channel of the Indian embassies where such
requests and any other may be registered,” Tuhin told the Buddhist scholars.
The ‘Buddha Bhoomi Vandan Yatra’, a cultural and educational programme was organized
by ICCR to help young scholars connect to the various sites in India related to
Gautam Buddha’s life. The programme helped young scholars to gain a deeper
understanding of India’s Buddhist heritage while also helping them to gain
insights into the deeper meanings of Buddhism, said the scholars during a media
interaction on Friday.
From 25 October 2023 to 3 November 2023, 23 young Buddhist scholars from 11
different countries, including Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia,
Japan, Bhutan, South Korea, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam travelled across India.
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