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| BDS At a Glance |
| Jagajjyoti |
| After fifteentlh year of the establishment of the Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha, its journal Jagajjyoti first came to light in 1908. So long the great Scholars, leaders and thinkers used to assemble on the platform of the Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha and threw light on the various aspects of Buddhism by their discourses. Only a part of discourses had been revealed in the proceedings of various minutes of the Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha. This was all along a great longing for a journal of its own. At last Jagajjyoti came out with an assurance to fulfil this long-felt need. A poem Udbodhan published in the first issue of Jagajjyoti burst into a merry rhythm: |
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| “I have come to your doors, |
| My name is Jagajjyoti |
| To show the light to the people |
| Enveloped under the darkness of ignorance.” |
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| Edwin Arnold, the famous English poet composed the Light of Asia on the basis of the life of the Buddha, as stated in Lalitavistara. This great work of Arnold had exerted such a great influence on many great western scholars and thinkers that many of them later found to have devoted to the pursuit of studies and culture of the principle of Buddha’s doctrines. The Buddha had been called the Light of Asia in Bengali verse in the Bauddha Bandhu a Buddhist journal of Chittagong. He translated the Light of Asia as Jagajjyoti (the light of the world). So the journal of the Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha was named as the Jagajjyoti. It was first published on the holy occasion of the full moon of Asadh, under the editorship of Ven. Gunalankar Mahasthavir (1874-1916) a veteran Buddhist scholar and Ven. Samana Punnananda (1870-1928) the then lecturer of Pali, Calcutta University. Under the continuous devotion and endeavour of these two generous monks, the Jagajjyoti, very soon made an impact on the life of the Buddhist community, and was able to fulfill their long cherished desire. The world renowned Buddhist scholar Dr. Beni Madhab Barua (1888 – 1948) was a student at that time and was very intimately connected with the Jagajjtyoti. Mahasthavir Gunalankar then successfully discharged the function of editorship upto 1916. Mahasthavir Gunalankar died on the same year. Dr. Beni Madhab Barua returned from London in 1917 and the responsibility of the editorship was entrusted to him. |
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| Owing to unavoidable circumstances, Jagajjyoti could not be published for a number of years. In the second stage of its publication too, the Jagajjyoti had the privilege of having the favour and patronization from many a good number of renowned scholars in Indology. The writings published in the Jagajjyoti undoubtedly deserve a high appreciation. The second stage covers the period from 1950-1959. The famous writer-scholar Silananda Brahmachari (1907-2002) was the editor in this second sage but the chief responsibility and the main function of the publication of the journal was discharged by the internationally reputed Buddhist monk Ven. Dharmapal Mahathera (1925-2009) alone. |
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| Again for nearly a decade or so, the publication of the journal was stopped. The third stage is from 1970-1979 and Prof. Dr. Dipak Kumar Barua, Head of the Deparment of Pali, University of Calcutta discharged the function of the editor of the journal, which was published as an annual issue of the Buddha Jayanti only. From 1980 the Jagajjyoti started to be published as quarterly bilingual issue under the editorship of Hemendu Bikash Chowdhury. In the last two decades the following special issues were published which generated a sensational feeling among the readers at home and abroad : |
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| 1 |
Atish Dipankar Millennium Commemoration Volume |
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(released on 29 January 1983 by his Holiness the Dalai Lama) |
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| 2 |
Dr. B.M. Barua Birth Centenary Volume, 1989 |
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(realeased by Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder) |
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Kripasaran Mahathera 125 Birth Anniversary Volume, 1990 |
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(released by Annadasankar Roy) |
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| 4 |
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Birth Centenary Volume, 1991 |
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(released by Raja Tridiv Roy, Ambassador of Pakistan to Argentina) |
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| 5 |
Hundred Years of the Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha (Bengal Buddhist Association), 1993 |
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(released by Hon’ble Justice Anandamoy Bhattacharya, Chief Justice Calcutta High Court) |
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| 6 |
Mahapandita Rahula Sankrityayana Birth Centenary Volume |
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(released by Benoy Krishna Chowdhury, Land & Land Reform Minister, Govt. of W.B.) |
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| 7 |
Jagajjyoti : Prabandha Sankalan, 1995 |
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(a rare collection of essays on Buddhism in Bengali) |
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| 8 |
Asoka 2003 (Asoka Commemoration Volume), 1997 |
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(released by Dr. U.N.Biswas) |
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| 9 |
Prof. G.P.Malalasekara Birth Centenary Volume 1999 |
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(released by Dr. Shyamal Kanti Chakravorty. |
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| 10 |
Prof Kazuo Azuma Felicitation Volume, 2001 |
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(released by Dr. Pabitra Sarkar) |
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| 11 |
Sanghanayak Dharmapal Mahathera Felicitation Volume, 2002 |
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(released by Prof. Kazuo Azama) |
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| Gunalankar Library |
| Gunalankar Library was founded in the year 1909 just one year later than that of the start of the publication of the jagajjyoti. It was founded by Karmayogi Kripasaran Mahathera in honour of his contemporary monk scholar Ven. Gunalankar Mahasthavir, the first editor of the Jagajjyoti (1908) and the Vice President of the Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha (the Bengal Buddhist Association). The library is now treasure house of rare books on Buddhism. It contains eminent Pali texts such as the Tripitaka in Burmese, Siamese, Sinhalese and Chinese Languages in addition to the Buddhist publication of the Buddhist Mission (Yangon) and of the Pali Text Society (London). Ven. Gunalankar Mahasthavir died in 1916, since then this library had been improving its image as a centre of research. |
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| Kripasaran Continental Institution |
| The Long-cherised dream of the Buddha Dharmankur Sabha (Bengal Buddhist Association) for establishing a model centre of Buddhist education became a reality on 2nd April 1967 with the foundation of the Kripasaran Continental Institution in the premises of the Dharmankur Vihar. In fact education was an important part of preamble visualized by Karmayogi Kripasaran Mahathera around the foundation of Dharmankur Vihar between 1901 and 1903. But later it was closed for a long period on account of doing other important programmes. |
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| However, since 1969 it picked up a genuine speed and made suitable progress under the supervision of Ven. Dharmapal Mahathera who served as the Principal of this educational institution. Despite financial crunch and shortage of accommodation the institution functioned without break. The children are also imparted primary education in the field of dance, drama, songs, arts and crafts. It is the representative centre of the ideal national integration. |
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| Teachers are employed from different communities and students also from various castes, class and communities quite in consonance with Buddhist ideals of universal brotherhood. In general, the students of Kripasaran Continental Institution hail from poor and middle class families. Yet, by dint of their training and education they had been liberally helping the society in times of natural calamities. |
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| Under the patronage of the institution in 1979 International Children year was celebrated. Annual Sports, drawing competition and other cultural activities of the children are worth seeing. Ceremonial programmes of the students in the premises, on the occasions of the Republic Day (26th January) andl on Independent Day (15th August) make them appear like the shining stars of the emerging new civic society. |
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| Dr. B.M.Barua Scholarship Fund |
| The Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha establisahed in 1996 a unique fund in name of Dr. Beni Madhab Barua, an extraordinary Buddhist scholar of international repute on account of his life-time achievements under the shadow of Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha (the Bengal Buddhist Association). The amount of this fund has been deposited in fixed account of Bank of India, Mission Row Branch, Kolkata the account number 401410100022674, IFSC - BKID0004014. Funds have been constituted out off donation given by the Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha, Kripasaran Continental Institution, late. Ven. Dharmapal Mahathera and other benevolent donors. The record shows that from 1996 to 2009 more than 658 students have been benefited by this scholarship. The total sum paid as scholarship amounts to Rs. 8,29,000 (Rupees Eight lakh Twenty Nine thousand). |
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| Dharmapal Mahathera Welfare Fund |
| The Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha has also felt the necessity for a fund to fulfill the need of its social objectives and therefore has initiated a Dharmapal Mahathera Welfare Fund with a corpus amount of Rs. Five Lakhs which would give financial help and support for those monks and novices who are in need of medical treatment in emergencies or in old age. It would also help for the marriage of the girls coming from the weaker section of the community. The objective of this fund was necessary as it was felt that the Sabha also had duty towards the society than the other humanitarian and educational activities that it is already associated with. The Fund has a separate Bank Account with the United Bank of India, Bow Bazar Branch with an account number of 0077010338869, IFSC - UTBIOBOW105. |
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| Dharmankur Free Medical Centre |
| Dharmankur Free Medical Centre has an interesting history of its own transplanted over the base of the Kripasaran Free Homeo Dispensary started as early as 1973. For this purpose the Association under the initiative of Ven. Dharmapal Mahathera had already obtained a plot (registered on 30 August 1972) adjacent to entrance side of the Dharmankur Vihar. In fact, the financial aid of this dispensary was given by the Lions Club of Jodhpur Park (Kolkata) since 1973 but was managed and maintained by the Bengal Buddhist Associtaion. Later from the month of December 1984, Kripasaran Free Homoeo Dispensary was financed and managed by the Association itself. |
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| Dharmankur Free Medical Centre has carved a special niche in the history of the Bengal Buddhist Association and its successful role for the last decade which has enhanced the spiritual and philanthropic image of the association. Thousands of patients owe their good health and physical welfare to the medical credibility of Dharmankur Free Medical Centre. |
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| Branch Centres |
| It is a matter of regret that only a few braches established during the life-time of the founder Ven. Kripasaran Mahathera are in existence today. These are Shillong (1918), Darjeeling (1910) and Lucknow (1907) branch. |
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| As early as 1974 the association under the initiative of Ven. Dharmapal Mahathera purchased a plot of land at a vantage point adjacent to the Burmese Buddhist Vihara in Rajgir for establishing a meditation centre, guest house and library. In fact this idea occurred to him on account of his deep study of the Pali literature where he noticed two terms existent during the life time of the Buddha – Saptaparni and Tapodarma. On account of financial stringency the dream could not be materialized soon after the acquisition of land. But by dint of the financial support of his Japanese disciple Rev. Kazuharu Sakashita and his friend Rev. Norio Yamamoto, Rajgir branch came into its grand form. Inaugural function of the Saptaparni Vihar and Tapoda Meditation Centre took place in 1998 with the excellent fanfare. |
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| Again, due to enthusiasm of zeal mainly of Ven. Dharmapal Mahathera, the Association purchased a piece of land at Sarnath in 1974. As Sarnath holds a key position in Buddhist World, the Association constructed Dharma Chakra Vihara on that land and thus included in the list of brances of the Association. |
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| Publications |
| The Bengal Buddhist Association also publishes books on Buddhism, Buddhist Philosophy, History in Bengali and English for the benefit of the readers. These publications are those which have run out of circulation and needs to be re-printed and also new books are printed written by scholars on contemporary topics. Some important publications are: |
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Saddharma Ratnamala |
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Ven. Dharmpala Mahathera |
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A useful book of Pali sutras |
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Jatak Nidan |
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Ven. Dharmapal Mahathere |
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Buddha Pranam, 1993 |
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Ed. Hemendu Bikash Chowdhury |
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A rich and varied compilation of poems by well-known poets of the |
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19th century to the present day including those from Bangladesh. |
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Dharmavijayi Ashok, 1997 |
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Probodh Chandra Sen |
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Prasanga : Kazuo Azuma, 1998 |
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Ed. Hemendu Bikash Chowdhury |
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Hindu Bauddha O Marxbad, 1999 |
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Dr. B.R.Ambedkar; translated & edited by Dr. Anil Biswas & Hemendu Bikash Chowdhury |
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Prasanga : Afghanistane Buddha Murti Dhvansa, 2001 |
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Ed. Hemendu Bikash Chowdhury |
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A collection of essays on demolition of Buddha statues by Talibans in Afghanistan. |
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