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The
Buddhist Heritage have a variety of projects their outlines are
herewith mentioned:
JOURNAL: A monthly Online Journal entitled "The
Buddhist Heritage" registered with the Registrar of Newspapers
and Publications, New Delhi, India. It will be the voice of "Asia's
Buddhist World" and will cover features on the forgotten sites,
news, research findings and explorations etc. A major portion of
the journal will be devoted to research on neglected sites in India.
We invite Scholars, Archaeologists, Explorers and Research Persons
to join us in this venture.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Every year
in December, the Buddhist Heritage intends to hold an International
Conference of Scholars, Archaeologist, Explorers and Research Persons,
Government Organizations etc. The main objectives of these conferences
will be to resolve problems in the preservation of sites and monuments,
changes in Government Laws, stricter laws to curb looting and smuggling
of images as well as discussions as well as implementation of more
modern methods to manage sites and museums etc.
EXPLORATION OF BUDDHIST SITES IN INDIA: The Chinese Pilgrims
(5th and 7th Century A.D.) were the first to explore the sites related
to the life and travels of the Buddha. These sites were mentioned
in the scriptures as well as marked by Asoka the Mauryan Emperor.
It was only in the 19th century that the British Officers in India
re-visited a large portion of these sites, excavated and restored
some of them. We are grateful for the records left behind by them.
There are still a fairly large number of sites that have yet to
be excavated. Taking into consideration that India's population
continues to boom, hence land has become scarce, especially in village
areas, and there is a danger that if the ancient Buddhist remains
are not saved now, they could be destroyed and modern buildings
could possibly be constructed over them-thus we could loose important
pieces of history forever due to sheer neglect.
In Bihar, the land where the Buddha attained Enlightenment, there
are over 200 sites yet to be excavated, preserved and brought on
to the pilgrimage list. There is an equally large amount of sites
in other States that need immediate attention.
The Buddhist Heritage has a research team travelling to these sites
(often to very remote villages) to photograph what exist of these
monuments and update history. These records will soon be available
on this website; many will also be mentioned in the Journal we publish.
We will also be inter-acting with the respective Government Departments
to explore and implement concrete plans for converting some of these
sites to centres of Pilgrimage.
The Buddhist Archaeological Research Society: We propose setting
up of the Buddhist Archaeological Research Society. Plans are under
way to register this Society with a view to establish
an Institution, which will impart studies in Buddhist History, Research
facilities etc. to scholars from India, Asian Buddhist countries
and western students.
OUR OTHER PROJECTS:
Photo Galleries: To facilitate
pilgrims visiting established Buddhist Sites such as Lumbini, Bodh
Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Nalanda etc. We plan to establish photo
galleries, so that Asian and International pilgrims on a fixed itinerary
may be able to get exposure to the rich Buddhist Heritage of India.
Television Projects: As part
of our project, we also intend to produce a Television serial entitled
"The Foot Steps of a Pilgrim". This serial will cover
the path taken by the Chinese Pilgrims, the British Archaeologists....
and what is left of these sites today. This serial will also portray
the travels of the Peace Pilgrim, his impressions of the sites and
interaction with the local inhabitants, setting up of schools and
offering assistance to the unemployed youth by way of self-employment
projects etc.
We also intend to produce authentic Guide Books, C.D. ROMS and a
number of other publications for the serious travellers.
Web Site: Our websites, apart
from being an introduction to our projects, will in the near future,
be the most comprehensive "data base" of forgotten sites
in India. Some of its special features will be a "Web Alert"
on stolen Buddhist images in India. We shall also link-up with similar
organizations globally working in locating ancient stolen images.
We will also be installing an on-line 'Forum' whereby scholars wishing
to interact on any particular subject may do so on this portal.
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