Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
 
Udupi, Sep 26: “Although Buddhism was founded in India and has deep roots worldwide, it’s extremely distressing that the religion is steadily declining in the land of its origin”, said Dr Tamil Selvi, head of Kannada department, Madras University.

 
Dr Selvi was speaking at the inaugural of a UGC-sponsored one-day national conference on ‘Buddhism in Coastal Karnataka,’ held at Mulky Sundar Ram Shetty College.  It was organized by the history and archaeology department of the college.
 
“Buddhism is losing sheen in the Indian continent despite religious diversity having prevailed for long in the country.  It has to be revived by cultural practices across the nation and there is a need to undertake research study about the declining popularity of Buddhism in coastal Karnataka.  Besides, people’s awareness should be held in this regard”, added Dr Selvi.
 
Dr N S Rangaraju, head, department of history and archeology of the college, in his key note address said, “The research undertaken by the Archaeology Survey of India reveals that Buddhism flourished in coastal Karnataka in 3 AD and 5 AD.  The archaeological excavations undertaken at Sannatti in Karnataka found an Ashoka sculpture which shed light on the golden era of Buddhism”, he said.
 
The programme was presided over by Shirva Vidyavardak Sangh president K Rajaram Shetty.
 
Sangh secretary V Subbayya Hegde and conference organizer Professor T Murugeshi were present on the dais.
 
College principal Prof Y Bhaskar Shetty welcomed the gathering.  Vice-principal Dr Sudhakar Marla proposed the vote of thanks.  Prof Supreeetha Shetty compered the programme.