Felicitation of Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji- Chechar

Sanghassa Patiţţhāpako Mahā Kassapa Yāvajīvam Sammānopādhi
About the Honour
 Community involvement for the heritage management is the theme of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Sanskritik Gram (NNMSG). And an important component of heritage management is protection of the heritage. The advocacy and efforts of individuals and village level institutions for the protection and preservation of the Buddhist Remains should be encouraged and appreciated. In the past, NNMSG has acknowledged the contributions of Heritage Leaders from the neighbouring villages of Nalanda. The RABPB Project in Collaboration with Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), Department of Buddhist Studies (Nava Nalanda Mahavihara) and NNMSG proposes to take this acknowledgement to a next level by instituting an award in the honour of Venerable Mahā Kassapa, whose contributions to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha is beyond words.

Conferring of the First Mahā Kassapa Honour
The RABPB Project Committee unanimously decided to Honour Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji for his lifetime contribution towards the protection and preservation of the heritage of Chechar (Vaishali). 
The award was conferred to Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji on occasion of World Tourism Day.
 

Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji with the Citation trophy

Dr. Panth welcoming Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji

Dignitaries offering the Trophy to Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji

World Tourism Day- Dignitaries on Dias

Contributions of Shri Ram Pukar Singh

Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji was born in 1923 in Chechar. He actively participated in Indian Freedom Struggle and spent one year in Muzzafarpur Jail on sedition charges in 1942.

In 1975, Shri Subramaniam a close associate of 2^nd President of India Dr. S. Radhakrishnan visited Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji looking for the “Ananda Stupa” following the travelogues of Xuanzang.

Shri Subramaniam felt that the Chechar should be the place of the “Ananda Stupa”.  Together they visited around eight stupa mounds in vicinity of Chechar.

His meeting with Shri Subramaniam exposed him to the historic value of the place. This realization made him aware of his responsibilities. The Heritage of Chechar had many dimensions but the most demanding issue that required immediate attention was safeguarding the antiquities scattered all around the Chechar. Chechar and its surroundings has a long mound that runs parallel to the river Ganges and annual floods washes off the mound exposing precious antiquities.

It was an enormous task, walking miles for days along the Chechar coastline collecting antiquities from the layers of sand. The task was coupled with convincing people to donate their collections and not to sale it to spurious traders. He worked tirelessly understanding the rich past of the place and then educating the community, instilling a sense of pride among them towards legacy of Chechar.

Another important task was generating awareness among the wider world and other stakeholders. In 1976, Shri Ram Pukar Singh met the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi. He carried some antiquities from his collection to show her. Prime Minister Smt Gandhi got highly impressed with what she saw and what she was informed by him. She immediately asked authorities to conduct exploration and excavations at Chechar.

In 1977, Archaeological Survey of India conducted exploration followed by excavations in 1978. The excavation opened many hidden treasures in the Indian archaeology and history. True to Shri Rampukar Ji’s expectations the finds of Chechar brought Chechar on Archaeological Map of the world.  Smt Gandhi in her visit to Bihar met Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji and discussed the progress.

His next mission was to get a museum for antiquities of Chechar at Chechar. With support from local Member of Parliament Shri Ram Vilash Paswan a museum was constructed at place. This museum receives many national and international visitors, patrons of antiquities and followers of the teachings of the Buddha annually.

 

Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji is also making consistent efforts to safeguard and secure the stupa mounds in Chechar and around and one among them which he believes is “Anand Stupa” at village Madurapur near Chechar. He understands how important it is to preserve the “Ananda Stupa”, for the revival and development of ancient Buddhist Pilgrimage walked by Fahein (5^th CE) and Xuanzang (7^th CE).

Now Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji is in his late 80’s, lost his eyesight, partially deaf but still he is working tirelessly to share his passion and pride for Chechar with the countless people who visit him.

 
Sharing a glimpse of the awareness work done through News Papers and Letters by Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji since 1976.

“Engaged Buddhism”, on occasion of World Tourism Day- 27th September, 2011

  Times of India Reports on the Workshop

The Backdrop of the Function

Nava Nalanda Mahavihara is organisng a one day workshop on "Engaged Buddhism", on occassion of World Tourism Day-27th September, 2011.

Highlights of the "Engaged Buddhism" Workshop are, 

1-   “Journey through Bihar to Vihara”- A Pictorial Exhibition 
2-     Mahā Kassapa Plaque to recognize and inspire the Heritage Leaders


Mahā Kassapa Plaque to recognize and inspire the Heritage Leaders
In honour of Venerable Mahā Kassapa, the RABPB (“Revival of the Ancient Buddhist Pilgrimage in Bihar”) Project has initiated an Honour to recognize the outstanding contribution of individuals and organisations working towards conservation, preservation, generating awareness towards the Buddhist Heritage of Bihar.

Venerable Mahā Kassapa, the first patron of the Buddhist sangha, convened the first Buddhist Council after the Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha. Venerable Mahā Kassapa is regarded as the protector of the Dhamma and the Sangha for his contributions towards of preserving the universal teaching of the Buddha during First Buddhist Council. This award will help stimulate interest among the youths and volunteers in rural areas and will inspire them to protect and preserve the Buddhist Remains scattered throughout Bihar.

A  Pictorial Exhibit on 27^th September, 2011

Heritage is a tie that binds and it is a resource from which we all profit, whether spiritually as a document of the richness of our faith; or culturally, as a testament to the stories and traditions that we share. The Buddhist Remains of Bihar is spread across in its villages and most of the time the community of the village is unaware of its social and economical value. Tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Bihar can provide economic benefit while reinforcing the common identity of the community and strengthening socio-economic aspirations.

The creation of sensitivity, awareness of cultural heritage and attachment is not something that can be developed with short-term efforts. This requires sustained and focused efforts that can persist for a generation. Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Sanskritik Gram (NNMSG), the Patipatti arm of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara is conceptualised for sustained efforts in the field of Community-Heritage interface there by promoting Engaged Buddhism. In past we have organised thematic exhibitions featuring various aspects of the Buddhist heritage of Bihar. In continuity of the past efforts NNMSG is organising an exhibition titled “A Journey through Bihar to Vihara”. The focus of the Exhibition is on the footprints of the Buddha Charika and its dynamics with the local community. 

Bihar in general and Magadha in particular is a repository of tangible and intangible Buddhist heritage, with this exhibition we unfold to interact with the stakeholders. Objective is to instill a sense of pride among the community about the existence of tangible and intangible heritage in their vicinity. We also want to reach those who support the preservation of cultural heritage in this region so that we can plan the roadmap which will enable us to jointly envision and ensure a future for the cultural heritage of Bihar.

Barabar Hills continues to bleed..........

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke

Times of India Reports 

27th August-2011

On the 12th August 2011, we informed the Government by writing a brief report regarding the importance of Barabar Hills and how it is being damaged. The revealing story was also published in the Times of India (19^th August 2011). I visited the site again on the 27^th August, but I found the situation unchanged. This "Heritage for Sale" is occurring during broad daylight. It is very disturbing that those in authority who have an oath to protect such areas are instead contributing to the very destruction at hand. Because the Barabar Hills are an integral part of the Buddhist Heritage of Bihar, this area should be preserved in a most refined way.  The thought of this irreversible loss is very saddening and depressing.

This time I had an opportunity to meet a local man who is part of this illegal trade. He mentioned how the local police station is paid Rs, 1000 per trolley per month and in exchange the police ensure that the community remains a mute spectator. I need not mention that there are more than 1000 small and big trolleys operating fearlessly and destroying the heritage mercilessly. 

Trolleys reaching the base of the Hills...Easy access main reason for the plunder

Miscreants active in broad daylight

Trolley on way .....

Ugly scars reminding the damage of Bamiyan Buddha by Taliban 

Such damage is not possible without Government machinery support

 One way this can be stopped is by destroying access to the hills. The Barabar group of hills is surrounded by villages which have black-top roads and, at some places, even cause-ways for pilgrims. This easy access to the hills is aggravating the situation. If Government is serious about stopping this menace then it needs to present a plan to monitor the use of these cause-ways and black-top roads. In addition, this effort should be coupled by strict vigilance and community involvement. 

Listening to the Local elders......so helpless they are.....

Black-top roads and Cause-ways reaching the hills

Bird's eye view of cause way leading all way to the Ugly scar caused by Mining

Crushing mills in the vicinity.....Government has to do lots of explanations

 As I sadly listened to the local villagers during my last visit to Dakra Village, they told me that they had no faith in the local administration. When they approached the police personnel, they were told, “This cannot stop now, it generates employment. Where will these people now go?”

This explanation by the police personnel is very alarming. It implies that the place has reached a stage where eating away productive resources is the only way left for survival. Why he is saying this probably is not hard to understand but what is more worrying is the “conditioning” of the mind of government officials. This is a downward spiral, a collective failure of various departments of Government to recognize, organise these resources and incorporate it in sustainable way in our livelihood.   This goes against what our constitution says about the primary duty of government, i.e. to secure, build and ensure conditions that are conducive to the creation and maintenance of wealth. Corruption must be stopped in its tracks and replaced by honest jobs that support sustainable livelihoods for all. 

  View of the Barabar Group of Hills from Barki Barabar Hill

 Xuanzang in his travelogue has mentioned about these hills. He approached the hills from North and mentions about two big peaks amid dense forest. The peak on east he says was the place from where the Buddha blessed Magadha Empire, a stupa was erected at that spot. Most probably the mahadeo temple, rests over the top of the Stupa remains. The high peak on the west he says is the place where the Buddha meditated for one night. 

 My objective was to relate the remains at the top of Barki Barabar hill with the Xuanzang's description.
Waters, Thomas (1904), M.R.A.S. On Yuan Chawang’s Travels in India 629-645 A.D. Book- VIII, Page-105-6

The Hills as seen by xuanzang....to the right is Barki Barabar

The Western peak from the base of the hill

My Guide....to the top

View of the Surroundings.......

Kuwa-dol Hill (Kuri Sarai)...far south....

West of Barki Barabar hill

 A Short break.....

South of Barki Barabar hill....

At the Summit.....70 minutes climb!

Eastern peak (Mahadeo temple) .....View from Barki Barabar Hill

North of Barki Barabar

Very dense bushes on the top.......MONSOONS!!!

North-West View

North-West View

Xuanzang traveled 90 Li South-West from Tildhaka Monastery (now Telhada) to reach here. He didn't climb the hill, he said " No one has visited the spot for ages; but looking at the mountain from a distance, one can see different kinds of beasts and snakes turning round it to the right". According to Xuanzang the Buddha entered on ecstatic meditation here.
" Of old, when Tathagata descended as a spirit, he rested on this rock, and entered here the samadhi called "perfectly destroyed" and passed the night so".
Xuanzang mentions about a large and remarkable rock and over it a 10 Ft  high stupa.  He further adds how the gold and silver stupa raised by devas got converted into stone boulders.
And i was surprised to find the place exactly same as Xuanzang's description: a big flat rock at centre and at the top of it stones arranged like a stupa  and the place filled with boulders.
Presently the places is all occupied by dense bushes obstructing the view.  May be month of march and april is the right time to revisit the place.

Stupa like structure at the top of a large rock

Stupas got converted into Boulders.........Xuanzang mentions!

Stupa like structure surrounded by dense bushes

The beauty of Barabar group of Hills helps inspire us to take care of this landscape once walked by the Buddha and followers of his teachings for more than 1500 Years.