Global Buddhist Summit to be inaugurated by Prime Minister to be held at New Delhi

New Delhi:  Shri G. Kishan Reddy Minister of Culture, GoI held a press conference here at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in context to Global Buddhist Summit to be held on 20th and 21st April 2023 in New Delhi. He said that the Government of India in context to celebrations of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ has been commemorating such events for one and half years. The Global Buddhist Summit which will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 20th April will be a continuation of the celebration in that regard. This is the first International Buddhist Summit of its kind to be ever held in India.

To focus on a Buddhist response for dealing with the most pressing challenges the world is facing, the Ministry of Culture, GoI in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) will be hosting the Global Buddhist Summit on 20th-21st April at Ashok Hotel. The theme of the two day Global Buddhist Summit is “Responses to Contemporary Challenges from Philosophy to Praxis”. G. Kishan Reddy said that contemporary challenges of the world can be dealt with the teachings emanating out of Buddhism which was born in India and disseminated to different parts of the world. He also added that Buddhism is part of our cultural diplomacy and is relevant in drawing out cultural linkages of the World with India and through this Global Summit, World will connect directly with India in context to Buddhism. The Union culture Minister also stressed on the fact that, Ministry of Tourism and Culture along with State Governments is facilitating many activities pertaining to Buddhism and in this regard he mentioned the PM’s visit to Nepal for laying down the foundation stone for Buddha’s monument in Nepal, the birth place of Lord Buddha. He also reiterated that Buddhism and its discourses is important to maintain world peace as it has spread to the world and South East Asian countries through India and its beginning and birth is associated with India.

Speaking at the event Abhijit Halder, Director General, International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) said that in the Global Buddhist Summit, academicians, eminent scholars, Sangha leaders, Venerable Monks, and Dhamma practitioners from all over the world will discuss today’s pressing global issues and look for answers in the Buddha Dhamma (in Pali) that is based on universal values. He further added that 171 delegates from 30 countries, like Vietnam, Srilanka, U.S, Europe, Germany, South East Asian Countries, Laos, Mexico, Brazil and others will take part in Global Buddhist Summit. It is also expected that 150 delegates from Indian Buddhist organization will take part in the Global Buddhist Summit. He further informed the broad themes of the Global Buddhist Summit will be under four sub-themes namely, ‘ Buddha Dhamma and Peace’, ‘Buddha Dhamma: Environmental Crisis, Health and Sustainability’, ‘Preservation of Nalanda Buddhist Traditions’, ‘Principles of Dhamma and World Peace’. It would be noteworthy that International Buddhist Confederation in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has done several events in the past like presentation of ‘Mongolian Kanjur’ to the representatives of different countries and a ‘Map Model Exhibition on Buddha’ during IGNCA’s 36th foundation day celebrations. It is expected that the deliberations will explore, as to how the Buddha Dhamma’s fundamental values can provide inspiration and guidance to the contemporary world. The summits prime vision or objective is to look into teachings of the Buddha that have been continuously enriched over the centuries with practice of ‘Budhha Dhamma’. The summit will also delve into Buddha’s message for peace, compassion and harmony in accordance with core values of ‘Dhamma’ which can be used as a tool for conduct of international relations on the global stage.