Chief minister Virbhadra Singh said on Monday that Tabo- known as 'The Ajanta of the Himalayas' was all set to get an institute of Bodh studies which would emerge as an innovative centre of Buddhist learning.
Tabo Monastery, situated in Lahaul and Spiti, has been a centre for study of Buddhist philosophy and tribal culture since its inception in 996 AD, said Singh.
To preserve the ancient seat of Buddhist studies at Tabo, the ministry of culture has agreed in principle to establish the Indian Institute Baudh Darshan (IIBD) at Tabo.
"Tabo has evolved as an important centre of learning and setting up of IIBD will further bring the state on the international map which will help scholars and academicians pursue higher studies on Buddhist literature,"said the Chief minister.
It is pertinent to mention here that the suggestion for establishing the institute at Tabo was made to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh by Virbhadra Singh when he was union minister of steel.
The proposed centre will be a landmark as it will preserve and publicise the ancient seat of Buddhist studies, he said.
Singh said that land measuring around 30 acres at Mohal Dhaang Chummi had been cleared by the government and necessary clearances from forest department were underway. He said the land would be soon transferred in the name of union ministry of culture for setting up the institute. The project cost is `45 crore and will be fully funded by the central government.
{{/usCountry}}Singh said that land measuring around 30 acres at Mohal Dhaang Chummi had been cleared by the government and necessary clearances from forest department were underway. He said the land would be soon transferred in the name of union ministry of culture for setting up the institute. The project cost is `45 crore and will be fully funded by the central government.
{{/usCountry}}The state government has conveyed its approval to the proposed institute. The case was held up since 2011 due to site related issues. The centre has finally accepted the recommendation of the state government. "It will serve the monks and students, not only from remote areas of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, but also learned scholars from far and wide and help preserving the ancient seat of Buddhist studies and blend it with the contemporary scenario,"said the chief minister.