Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Monday, September 30, 2024

Rahul Sankrityayan: Ladakh Bodh Shiksha Samiti


Rahul Sankrityayan

Photo Source: Wikipedia Commons.

Rahul Sankrityayan is widely regarded as one of the foremost Indian Buddhist scholars of the 20th century. After his initial visit to Ladakh, India in 1926, he deepened his research on Buddhism, pursuing studies in Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) and embarking on a fifteen-month expedition to Tibet in 1928-1929 to recover the lost Sanskrit originals of Buddhist texts.

In June 1930, he was ordained as a Buddhist monk in Ceylon. His scholarly pursuits brought him into close association with the Maha Bodhi Society, an organization founded by Anagarika Dharmapala.

Meri Ladakh Yatra

During his second visit to Ladakh in 1933, Sankrityayan successfully persuaded a small group of Ladakhi scholars to establish what is likely the first modern Buddhist organization in Ladakh, the 'Ladakh Bodh Shiksha Samiti.' The society was officially formed on July 15, 1933, with all office bearers being Ladakhis. Though Sankrityayan chose to remain outside the formal structure, he played a crucial role as an advisor. The society was led by Gyapo Jigmed Dadul, as President; Kalon Lobzang Tsewang as Vice-President; and Nono Tsetan Phuntsog as Secretary. Under Sankrityayan's guidance, the society focused on promoting Buddhist education in Ladakh.

In his book "Meri Ladakh Yatra," Sankrityayan vividly recounts his travels, providing a personal and cultural narrative of his journey through the picturesque landscapes of Ladakh in the 1930s. His descriptions of the places he visited, from Zoji La to Leh, as well as the cultural insights he shares, contribute to our understanding of the region's heritage and its contemporary challenges.