New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Smt Sumitra Mahajan inaugurated the birth centenary year celebration of 19th Kushok Bakula Lobzang Thupten Chognor on November 23. RSS Sahsarkaryavah Shri Suresh Soni was the chief guest at the inaugural function. Also present on the occasion were Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj, former foreign secretary Shri Shashank and national president of the Himalayan Sanskriti Sanrakshan Sabha Lama Chosphel Zotpa. Lama Chosphel Zotpa worked closely for over a decade with the 19th Kushok Bakula.
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Acclaimed as a statesman and diplomat, and popularly known as the Architect of Modern Ladakh, Kushok Bakula was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1988. He was recognised by the 13th Dalai Lama as a direct disciple of Gautam Buddha. Born in 1917 in Ladakh, the largest region of Jammu-Kashmir State, the 19th Kushok Bakula is even today remembered as a god figure in Ladakh, Russia, Tibet and Mongolia because of his social and spiritual contributions.
Former Foreign Secretary Shri Shashank will preside over the Organising Committee of the year-long centenary celebrations. The event was coordinated and anchored by Dr Kuldeep Agnihotri, presently Vice Chancellor of Himachal Central University. The centenary celebrations will be organised across India for a year, jointly by the Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC) and the Himalayan Sanskriti Sanrakshan Sabha.
On this occasion Shri Suresh Soni said the 19th Kushak Bakula was a great personality, but few people know about him. “Great personalities should not be seen in the context of their place of birth. They belong to the entire nation and should be recognised as such. He was a Buddhist monk. Monks are peace-loving ascetics. But when Pakistan tried to invade the territory of Ladakh, he took it upon himself to motivate the youth to repulse the invasion.”
“Today, Jammu Kashmir State is seen only in the context of ‘Kashmir problem’ and separatist ideology. The regions of Jammu and Ladakh get eclipsed in this narrative. In Jammu the Praja Parishad Andolan and in Ladakh Kushak Bakula have played a great role. Celebrating the birth centenary of Kushak Bakula is an appreciable step. The nation needs to know about his life and achievements. The teachings of such great personalities will surely go a long way towards erasing the differences between communities,” Shri Soni said.
“As I learn more about Kushak Bakula Ji, I’m impressed by his works and achievements. I believe the Hindus and Buddhists can play a leading role today in taking the Indian ethos to the world,” said Swami Avdheshanand Giri. Lok Sabha Speaker Smt Sumitra Mahajan remembered that when he visited Lhasa (Tibet) as representative of GoI, Shri Bakula reported back to then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru about the dangerous situation emerging vis-à-vis Chinese activities. His observations emerged as the gospel truth.
Shri Jawaharlal Kaul, president of Jammu Kashmir Study Centre, said Kushok Bakula’s birth centenary celebrations will be organised in different parts of the country. “His work and principles are relevant to the society even today. Just like people welcomed the millennium celebrations of Kashmir’s Acharya Abhinavagupta, we are sure the country will be happy to learn about Kushok Bakula.” he said. n
