Arunachal: Deputy CM Inaugurates maiden Global Buddhist Conclave

By Tenzin Chokyi

DHARAMSALA 22 April: In a first, the government of India has organised a two-day international Buddhist conclave in Arunachal Pradesh(AP), its bordering state with China-occupied Tibet, to highlight the spread and impact of Buddhism in India’s northeastern region(NE) and to promote cultural exchange and dialogue.

According to the Public Intelligence Bureau of India, the “Two-Day international conclave on Buddha Dhamma and the culture of Northeast India” commenced yesterday at the Multipurpose Hall in Namsai, a district known for its deep-rooted Buddhist tradition, particularly the Theravada tradition in AP.

It is stated that the conclave, organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Culture, saw Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, as the Chief Guest and Chau Zingnu Namchoom, MLA Namsai, as the Guest of Honour. 

The conclave hosted sessions and talks on the historical and cultural relevance of Buddha Dhamma in NE and its heritage and diaspora influence. Representatives from Bhutan, Myanmar, and Cambodia are stated to have participated in the session with over 300 participants, including heads of sanghas, political representatives, professors and academicians from the Northeast and other regions.

According to Arunachal 24, Mein advocated for the creation of a Buddhist tourist circuit to leverage AP’s spiritual wealth for cultural and economic growth. He highlighted the state’s rich spiritual diversity by pointing to the strong presence of the Theravada tradition in Namsai district, the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and the historic Tawang monastery with its links to the 6th Dalai Lama of Tibet. 

The International Buddhist conclave held at Namsai is the first of its kind in the state of Arunachal Pradesh and the whole of India’s northeastern region. Previously, International Buddhist conclaves were hosted in Delhi, attracting monks and scholars from South and Southeast Asia. 

In yet another unprecedented move, the Government of India has recently announced its first-ever school curriculum for Buddhist monasteries in the contested Himalayan region adjoining China-occupied Tibet. It is aimed at unifying education programs and fostering patriotism to insulate religious learning in the wake of China’s growing encroachment and influence in the region.   

Namsai, in AP, stands as a vibrant epicentre of Theravāda Buddhism in Northeast India, making it a symbolic and strategic choice for the maiden international Buddhist conclave in the region.