With his artworks in Delhi, the well-known artist Benoy K Behl
tried to highlight the great culture of Buddhism in Nalanda, finds rakesh kumar
Hundreds of years ago, a small place in eastern Bihar, Nalanda, was abuzz with a vibrant atmosphere of learning. Be it philosophy or science, the University, which is termed as one of the ancient universities of the world was the centre of development of complex theories of logic, philosophy, metaphysics and psychology, as well as studies in astronomy, cosmology, linguistics, medicine and monastic order. This attracted students from many Asian countries, including Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Sumatra, Java and Sri Lanka. Many students carried the knowledge they had gained back to their homelands and the philosophies that were born at these great viharas spread throughout Asia. Thus, the remnants of the scholarly tradition of Nalanda have survived through the ages and been preserved in several Asian countries.
Through hundreds photographs and a documentary, artist Benoy K Behl spoke of this very tradition spread across Asia. His eyes captured the Buddhist heritage, not only from India but also from 17 different countries, including Tibet, Myanmmar, Thailand, China, Japan, Afghanistan and many others. Behl’s work shows the birth and development of different schools of Buddhism in India and their spread to many countries of Asia. “My interest in traditional art is very old, it is not only for Buddhist but for all other religion,” shared the artist. In a two-day event held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Behl with his photo exhibition titled Buddhist Heritage of the World and documentary on the Nalanda tradition of Buddhism, reserved by Tibet, highlighted the great tradition of the Buddhist culture residing in Nalanda. Inaugurated by The Dalai Lama, the exhibition shows the deeply-shared Buddhist traditions of the whole of Asia and the spread of the Nalanda tradition. It is a journey through Buddhist history and culture, from the time of the life of the Buddha, through the development of Vajrayana and other Buddhist deities in eastern and western India, to the spread of these traditions to distant lands. Impressed by the heritage presented, The Dalai Lama said, “Buildings of the Nalanda University might be in ruins but the knowledge is still alive in the 21st century. We Tibetans for 1,000 years have preserved Nalanda knowledge, through memorising, reading and debate."
Apart from Buddhism, Behl also stressed on revival of Indian culture. He said, “We have our own culture tradition that needs to be preserved. We should noy follow only western culture.” The filmwas shot extensively by Behl in Tibet, Kalmykia in European Russia, Ladakh, Spiti, Arunachal Pradesh, Nalanda, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Karnataka. “The most difficult to shoot place was in Afghnistan; we worked over there in fear,” shared Behl. The event was graced by Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director of Tibet House, and Dr Kapila Vatsyayan.
Hundreds of years ago, a small place in eastern Bihar, Nalanda, was abuzz with a vibrant atmosphere of learning. Be it philosophy or science, the University, which is termed as one of the ancient universities of the world was the centre of development of complex theories of logic, philosophy, metaphysics and psychology, as well as studies in astronomy, cosmology, linguistics, medicine and monastic order. This attracted students from many Asian countries, including Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Sumatra, Java and Sri Lanka. Many students carried the knowledge they had gained back to their homelands and the philosophies that were born at these great viharas spread throughout Asia. Thus, the remnants of the scholarly tradition of Nalanda have survived through the ages and been preserved in several Asian countries.
Through hundreds photographs and a documentary, artist Benoy K Behl spoke of this very tradition spread across Asia. His eyes captured the Buddhist heritage, not only from India but also from 17 different countries, including Tibet, Myanmmar, Thailand, China, Japan, Afghanistan and many others. Behl’s work shows the birth and development of different schools of Buddhism in India and their spread to many countries of Asia. “My interest in traditional art is very old, it is not only for Buddhist but for all other religion,” shared the artist. In a two-day event held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Behl with his photo exhibition titled Buddhist Heritage of the World and documentary on the Nalanda tradition of Buddhism, reserved by Tibet, highlighted the great tradition of the Buddhist culture residing in Nalanda. Inaugurated by The Dalai Lama, the exhibition shows the deeply-shared Buddhist traditions of the whole of Asia and the spread of the Nalanda tradition. It is a journey through Buddhist history and culture, from the time of the life of the Buddha, through the development of Vajrayana and other Buddhist deities in eastern and western India, to the spread of these traditions to distant lands. Impressed by the heritage presented, The Dalai Lama said, “Buildings of the Nalanda University might be in ruins but the knowledge is still alive in the 21st century. We Tibetans for 1,000 years have preserved Nalanda knowledge, through memorising, reading and debate."
Apart from Buddhism, Behl also stressed on revival of Indian culture. He said, “We have our own culture tradition that needs to be preserved. We should noy follow only western culture.” The filmwas shot extensively by Behl in Tibet, Kalmykia in European Russia, Ladakh, Spiti, Arunachal Pradesh, Nalanda, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Karnataka. “The most difficult to shoot place was in Afghnistan; we worked over there in fear,” shared Behl. The event was graced by Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director of Tibet House, and Dr Kapila Vatsyayan.
