- BHU partners with Taiwan’s Tzu Chi Foundation to establish a dedicated research centre for Buddhism.
- The centre will promote academic exchange, translation of texts, and revival of Mahāyāna Buddhism studies.
- Focus will be on skill-building, research, and cultural understanding in Buddhist philosophy and languages.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU), in collaboration with the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation from Taiwan, is set to establish a Research Centre for Buddhism. The centre will function under BHU’s Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, Faculty of Arts, and aims to deepen scholarly engagement in both Theravāda and Mahāyāna Buddhist traditions.
A 13 member delegation from the Tzu Chi Foundation, led by its vice president Lin Pi Yu, visited the BHU campus in Varanasi and held discussions with Vice-Chancellor Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi. The university welcomed the proposal and assured quick action to initiate the centre, following institutional protocols.
The centre will serve as a purely research focused platform dedicated to the study, translation, and publication of ancient Buddhist texts and scriptures. It will support the delivery of lectures, academic papers, and cultural dialogues, enhancing skill development in classical languages and Buddhist philosophy.
With Mahāyāna Buddhism having faded from India despite its roots here, the initiative aims to revive interest in its texts and teachings. The centre will also focus on translating important scriptures into Indian languages, expanding access for scholars, students, and practitioners.
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Senior faculty including Prof Sushma Ghildyal (Dean, Faculty of Arts), Prof Rajesh Singh (Coordinator, International Centre), and Dr Arun Kumar Yadav (Head, Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies) also attended the meeting and supported the vision.
