NEW DELHI: Believing that teachings of Buddha are still relevant, Government is working on inculcating it in the text books. Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said this on Wednesday while speaking on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti celebrations organized by the culture ministry.
Union Culture minister Mahesh Sharma said that government is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of monuments, holy shrines and places of Buddhism in India to provide better facilities to pilgrims and tourists.
“Teachings of Bhagwan Buddha are very popular worldwide and the Ministry of Human Resources Development is working on inculcating the teachings of Bhagwan Buddha in the text books as his teachings are still very relevant,” said union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar. He opined that the aim of imparting education should not only be confined to gaining knowledge and getting skilled for employment but should focus on preparing an ideal person also. He emphasized on improving the curriculum framework of NCERT textbooks.
Union minister of culture Mahesh Sharma said that Buddhism has left a great impact on social and cultural life of our country and Bhagwan Buddha’s entire events of life took place in India. “His three baskets, known as Tripitaka, contain the ethical discipline, the methods of training of mind and the ground and modes of the cultivation of wisdom. Seven out of Eight religious places associated with Bhagwan Buddha are situated in India,” said Sharma.
Union minister Kiren Rijuju said that the entire world looks at India as to what India is doing for Buddhism. He opined that India can again become a super power if it continues to follow the path shown by Bhagwan Buddha. He said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken an important step in easing the norms of e-visa for foreign tourists.
Buddhism being an important heritage of India’s ancient glorious legacy, Indian government took various initiatives for the promotion of Buddhism. In 1956, Government of India organized the 2500th anniversary of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana as an international mega event. Ministry of tourism is also developing Buddhist circuit and the map comprises Bodh Gaya, Vaishali, Rajgir and Kushinagar in Bihar, Sarnath, and Shravasti in UP, along with Kapilavastu and Lumbini in Nepal where Buddha was born.