K J Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visits Somaiya University

The Centre for Buddhist Studies was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on th Dec. 1993. He visited us again in 2003, to see how the institution had progressed. It was our privilege to receive him for teachings in Mumbai in May 2014, organised jointly with Nalanda Shiksha. This was the first time he gave such teachings in Mumbai and he stayed with us on our campus. Our joy was boundless when we had the opportunity to host his teachings again in Dec 2017, organised jointly with Vana Foundation, when he also gave a public talk on the importance of India's ancient wisdom in modern times.

Prof Charles Willemen delivered the annual P V Bapat Memorial Lecture on 23rd May, 2015.

Prof Charles Willemen, eminent scholar of Chinese Buddhism has been a mentor to our faculty and also actively participated in research initiatives. Here he is seen lighting the lamp for the P V Bapat Memorial Lecture held in May 2015. With him are our Hon. Professors, Dr Meena Talim and Dr A P Jamkhedkar, to whom also we owe a debt of gratitude for their unstinting support and contribution to the development of syllabi and research initiatives.

Prof. Shrikant Bahulkar, eminent Sanskritist and Adjunct Professor at the Department of Pali, Savitribai Phule Pune University.

Prof. Shrikant has been a mentor, friend and philosopher to all the faculty at Buddhist Centre. Apart from delivering special lectures and conducting, he has also imbued in the faculty a culture for excellence that manifests in our syllabi and approaches to teaching-learning outcomes.

A seminar had been held in March 2019, on Religion and Gender during which Justice Srikrishna, retired Judge of the Supreme Court, who is also known as a brilliant scholar of Sanskrit, delivered the keynote address.

Here he is seen honouring Ven. Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Professor at the University of San Diego, who is also at the forefront of the movement for gender equality in the Buddhist monastic tradition.

A seminar had been held in March 2019, on Religion and Gender during which Justice Srikrishna, retired Judge of the Supreme Court, who is also known as a brilliant scholar of Sanskrit, delivered the keynote address. Here he is seen honouring Ven. Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Professor at the University of San Diego, who is also at the forefront of the movement for gender equality in the Buddhist monastic tradition.

Eminent Delegates at the International Seminar on ‘Reducing Inequality and Inter-religious Cooperation: Education, Healthcare, Economics and Cultural Difference’ on 30-31 January 2017.

Seen in animated conversation are Prof. Alberto Trevisiol, Rector, Magnificus, Pontifical Urbaniana University, Vatican City with Justice B. N. Srikrishna, Retired Judge, Supreme Court of India and Prof. Benedict Kanakappally, Vice-Rector, Pontifical Urbaniana University, Vatican City.The book ‘Hindu-Christian Dictionary: Essential Terms for Inter-religious Dialogue’ jointly prepared by K J Somaiya Bharatiya Sanskriti Peetham and Pontifical Urbaniana University, Vatican City was published in this seminar.

Visit of Hon. Shri Mohanji Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha

Shri Mohanji Bhagwat inaugurated the National Seminar on ‘Multi-dimensional Contribution of Lokmanya Tilak to Indology and Applied Philosophy', held from 3-5 December 2017. Here he is seen with our Chancellor, Shri Samir Somaiya.