Developing Buddhist tourism in Bangladesh:

Opportunities And Challenges

 

PROF. C. UPENDER RAO
Professor of Sanskrit And Pali,
School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies,
Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi 110067, India

Tourism is one of the very important sectors to boost economy of any country. Today some countries in the world are seen developing their economy based on cultural tourism. Cultural tourism can be beneficial in various aspects.  It can provide Jobs in  hotel, tour services, food production and housing construction etc. The important aim of cultural tourism is to bring sustainable economic and cultural development in the country. The ancient Bangladesh was culturally rich with its Buddhist monasteries, it was a magnifying eastern part of undivided India with its great culture richness. The ruins of various Buddhist monasteries situated at ‘Paharpur’ are standing as an evidence for the presence of Mahayana Buddhism in Bangladesh.

There are other Buddhist sites in Naogaon district, Mahasthangarh in Bogra district, Mainamati in Comilla district and Bikrampur in Dhaka district. These are the most spectacular ancient Buddhist monuments in Bangladesh. According to some scholars the great Buddhist teacher Atisha hailed from this region. Some of the Viharas like Somapura are renowned intellectual places till the 12^th century A.D. This monastery with its unique Buddhist artistic architecture and many carved decorations had influenced many far off regions, like Cambodia in the past.

It is very important to define the responsibility of developing cultural tourism on ministerial level and to adopt a document of strategy on cultural tourism. The nation has to procure and provide more support of historical and architectural monuments, create financial instruments with tax policies which stimulate tourism in cultural perspective, make tough policies to be adopted in order to save the cultural heritage, introduce policies and positive measures to develop the access to public and private sites of cultural tourism-interest in the country. It has to make sites more accessible for all people, including the people with physical disabilities, provide information in many languages and to develop a group of young people to perform very smoothly when they handle Buddhist tourists.

संस्कृतदिवस- समारोहः

SANSKRIT DAY CELEBRATION

Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia

on 26-8-2016, Time: 3 pm

Sanskrit Diwas (day) was first observed in the year 1969 in India and every year this event is being observed continuously. The Govt. of India under MHRD celebrates this day under community engagement. The day is celebrated to spread awareness about the mother of all Indian languages and the first of the ancient languages spoken in India. But for the first time this programme was held with the efforts of Prof. C. Upender Rao, Indian embassy and the Rector, Royal University of Phnom Penh. Prof. C. Upender Rao is basically working as a Professor at JNU, India but he is now on ICCR chair as a visiting professor in Cambodia. The program was held in ‘Royal University of Phnom Penh’ on 26-8-2016 (Friday) at 3 pm.

After Dignitaries entered in meeting hall all students welcomed them with ‘Tilaka’ in a Vedic style and presented the Khmer scarf to them. Mr. Chunteng Hun, Lecturer, Dept. of Khmer Literature, RUPP, Phnom Penh has welcomed the dignitaries. Students recited the Prārthanā in Sanskrit and later they have presented the flower bouquets to guests.

An excellent Video on ‘Sanskrit Activities in Cambodia by Prof. C. Upender Rao’ was displayed on this occasion. Prof. Dr. C. Upender Rao who is the teaching the Sanskrit language to the students of RUPP has delivered a key note speech on this occasion. He said that Sanskrit is like a bridge between two countries India and Cambodia. This is the first time in the history of Cambodia such program is being organized. It was possible only through the efforts of ICCR, New Delhi. ​​​He said that he found many Sanskrit inscriptions in Cambodia. The largest Hindu temple Angkor Wat was built by Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in then Yaśodharapura.

Then 7 Pairs of students have beautifully recited the Sanskrit Slokas with Khmer translations. Two students have Presented their remarks on Sanskrit classes. Dr. Chet Chealy, the Rector, RUPP, Phnom Penh, who was Guest of Honour on the occasion, has said that Royal university of Phnom Penh wants to develop the Sanskrit language. He described the Sanskrit to be the richest language in the world. He expressed his deep thanks to Prof. C. Upender Rao and Indian embassy for putting their efforts to develop the Sanskrit language in RUPP.

Then the Chief Guest Mr. N. Sitlhou, the first Secretary from Indian Embassy, Phnom Penh explained how Sanskrit is the connecting factor between the two countries. The main objective of the observance of Sanskrit day is to promote Sanskrit and to educate the general public about the importance of Sanskrit. He expressed his deep satisfaction of students’ performance and their Sanskrit learning. He said Cambodia must be glad to have such a senior Professor from JNU who knows Sanskrit and Pali both languages. Mrs. Samreth Sothea, the Head of the department of Linguistics graced the occasion with her presence on the dais. 

Vote of Thanks was presented by Mr. Chunteng Hun from Khmer studies. Mr. Van Vy, lecturer, dept. of Linguistics, RUPP was the anchor. The program has ended with the Recitation of Prarthna in Sanskrit by Cambodian Students It was followed by a Photo Session and refreshments and sweets.

JAYATU SAMSKRITAM

LEARN SANSKRIT PART 9 BY PROF. RAO, JNU

LEARN SANSKRIT PART 9 BY PROF. RAO, JNU

LEARN SANSKRIT PART 9 BY PROF. RAO, JNU

LEARN SANSKRIT PART 8 BY PROF. RAO, JNU

LEARN SANSKRIT PART 7 BY PROF. RAO, JNU