Akhilesh Jha walks seven countries to see how Buddhism remains the single largest binding factor in the subcontinent

Seven countries. Seven ages. One faith that keeps it all going.
On various platforms of SAARC, member countries find all the reasons to differ and not to cooperate, which is the mandate. The reasons are not only political. The foremost reason is that we cannot see the reasons which are inherited through commonalities. We have failed to cut the size of forces deployed on political borders; we have failed to ensure trade preferences to the member countries despite signing many agreements, we have lost the language of compassion and understanding... we meet occasionally, but we have failed to deliver.


Mihintale, Sri Lanka

Buddhism can deliver what other factors, diplomatic and non-diplomatic, could not deliver to the south Asian region. Buddhist heritage is common to all the member countries. If we could realise the potential of developing a Buddhist circuit in south Asian countries, it may bring all that we want to achieve theoretically through SAARC -- peace, prosperity, solidarity and friendly boundaries.


Saanchi Stupa

In all the famous history museums of world, South Asia is represented by an idol or any other relic of Buddha. One of the most celebrated, experimented and documented characters of history of civilisation is Buddha. This strong brand appeal has brought many revolutions in polity, diplomacy and business processes in the timeline of history within and much beyond this region. It is high time we capitalised on this great legacy to bring all charm and luck to this troubled region.

The beauty of evolution of Buddhism as a faith was such that Buddha remained at the centre of all the beliefs, with all differences in the philosophy and rituals of various sects of Buddhism in different parts of world. Travel of Buddhism to Sri Lanka was very different from its travel to Bhutan. Stories were carved more on stones than on papers in Gandhar region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Stories of Buddha from various sources compiled as pitaks in many volumes by Sri Lankan monks, always come to rescue to fill the gaps in the history in this region.

Baudha, Kathmandu

Depiction of Jatak stories on clay, stone, paper and walls from Kandahar (Afghanistan) to Anuradhpura (Sri Lanka) and from Saanchi to Taktsang (Bhutan) fascinate enthusiasts and adventurers. There are admirable similarities and exciting divergences.u00a0 Buddhist relics in terracotta found in Nalanda and Paharpur monasteries of the eastern part of this region have striking similarity with relics of stone in the Gandhar region of Pakistan.

The development of various seats of learning in different parts of the south Asian region in different phases of patronage to Buddhism is also very interesting. Uniformity in architecture of monasteries of Takshashila (Pakistan), Nalanda, Saanchi, Vasuvihar (Bangladesh) makes me believe that the organisation skills of Buddhist associations in various phases of civilisation in the region were strong and disciplined.


Taktsang, Bhutan

The architecture of these Buddhist sitesu00a0 pulls millions of tourists from all over the world. For example, building a picture perfect Taktsang monastery (Tiger's nest) on the cliffs of a mountain in Bhutan, that has appeared on cover pages in journals world over. Saanchi, Ajanta caves, Dharmarajika (Takshashila, Pakistan) and many such Buddhist monuments spread all over the region have many facets to talk about.

Lord Buddha was enshrined in all forms and material available in the region -- from granite to coral stones (Muttam of Lakshadweep), iron to gold and terracotta to wood. Buddhist iconography is most wealthy and most interesting for the students and pundits of art, and in this field, our region is as rich and as deep as oilfields. You can extract as much you are capable of.


Takshashila University, Pakistan

Various museums of this region possess invaluable Buddhist relics which have immense potential of research and also have great potential of attracting tourists. The museum of Takshashila, housing a great collection of Buddhist artifacts from the excavations, is one of the most well kept museums of the world. National Museum of Kabul and Lahore and other museums of Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Bhutan possess more such treasures. An arrangement of linking these museums through a virtual network will help connecting some loose links of the great common heritage of the region.

India and Nepal have all the sacred sites lived and visited by Lord Buddha, but there also numerous stories in Sri Lanka and Bhutan, which claim the visits of The Buddha in those countries. The journey, which started as a goodwill gesture of diplomacy more than two thousand years ago, turned into an endless process of enriching philosophy, art, architecture, literature and culture as a whole in the region. The cross cultural exchange was propelled by this Buddhist heritage, and helped other regions and also religions, to follow the example.

Apart from following the path of The Buddha in attaining enlightenment and reaching Mahaparinirvana in India and Nepal, reliving the great journey of Prince Mahendra from India to Mihintale (the sacred Buddhist place in Sri Lanka), joining the journey of Buddhist monks from Benaras to Takshashila and Bhutan and discovering the path of Buddhism via the Arabian sea by visiting Lakshadweep and Maldives should definitely find a place in the '100 must-do things before you die'.

Akhilesh jha is a civil servant with a keen interest in Indology. He has authored sixteen books.