 Early Times Report
Jammu, May 23: On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, the Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Jammu in collaboration with INTACH Jammu Chapter and Haloti Gompa Welfare Society, Kishtwar organised a one-day National Seminar on “Relevance of Buddhism in the modern world” at the seminar hall of the Department of Urdu.
Vesaka Buddha Purnima, Buddha Jayanti is a Buddhist festival. It falls on the day of the Full Moon in May and commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Nirvna), and death (Mahaparinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha. The event commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by floral tributes to Buddha while students and scholars recited prayers in Pali.
Sh. Suresh Kumar Gupta, IFS, Principal Secretary of the Department of Culture, was the Chief Guest for this inaugural session. He highlighted the relevance of Gautama Buddha's teachings in today's hectic professional lives, suggesting they can provide relief and guidance.
Earlier Prof. Shohab Inayat Malik, Head of Buddhist Studies, University of Jammu delivered the Inaugural address. Prof. Ram Nandan Singh was the Keynote Speaker of the inaugural Session, Prof. Singh provided deep insights into how Buddhist principles can transform individual lives and societal structures in the modern world. Further, he also talked about the important teachings of the Buddha i.e. Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Theory of Relativity, Brahamvihara, etc. Distinguished speakers also addressed the audience. Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh spoke about the importance of love, kindness, and friendliness in fostering peace and social harmony in the current global context. He also discussed the comparative aspects of Buddhism and Kashmir Shaivism. Venerable Lobzang Dechan, the Special Guest speaker, emphasized that we should follow Buddha's teachings daily, not just on special occasions.
Sh. S. M. Sahani, Convenor of the INTACH Jammu Chapter, stressed the importance of conserving and promoting local heritage.
Dr. Rajesh Sharma conducted the entire proceedings, and the event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Vivek Sharma.
After the opening session, more than fifteen research papers on various topics were presented by scholars from across India. Dr Ajay Singh and Sh. Des Raj chaired and co-chaied the session. The seminar was attended by more than a hundred of participants, including scholars, practitioners, and members of the general public. The event highlighted the enduring wisdom of Buddhist teachings and their application in contemporary life, emphasizing mindfulness, compassion, and ethical living. Prominent among others who were present included Sh. Desh Raj, President HGWS, Kishtwar, Dr. Nishant Verma, Dr Chaman, Dr P.P. Singh, Dr Rohit Kumar, Dr Ekta Kumar and Students, Scholars of Deptt. of Urdu and Buddhist Studies. |
