September 25, 1955

Nine

INDIA PREPARES TO CELEBRATE
2500th BUDDHA JAYANTI

New Delhi, September 20

Under the inspiring
guidance -of Sri Jawa-
harlal Nehru, the Govern-
ment of India has decided
to celebrate the 2500th
Buddha Jayanti in 1956
on a national scale. With
this object in view, a high-
level Committee was for-
med with the Prime
Minister himself as the
Chairman ' i and Dr. S.
Radhakrishna, Vice-Presi-
dent of India, as the
Chairman of the Working
Committee. Several Cabi-
net Ministers and Chief
Ministers of State are
members of this Com-
mittee. The only member
outside the Government
is the Maharaj Kumar of
Sikkim, President of the
Maha Bodhi Society of
India,

Cultural programme
for the oelebrations which
has been finalised include
an exhibition of Buddhist
art and a symposium on
Buddhism, staging of
poet Tagore's play "Natra
Puja", publication of a
book dealing with 25 cen-
turies of Buddhism and
showing a documentary
film on Buddhism.

It was stated that
the Government of India
would spend nearly a

crore of rupees in con-
nection with the celebra-
tions and on building new
roads and r.-st houses at
Buddhist pilgrim centres.

The Government of
India was in contact with
Buddhist countries from
where the delegates were
expected to attend the
celebrations. (C.A.G.)

TIBETAN ASSOCIATION

(Continued from page 4)
basis, the Association has been
formod with the object of doing
welfare work amongst its com-
munity and to safeguard
their interest in India.

About a hundred and fifty
guests including officials and
non-officials as well as repre-
sentatives from different KIDU3
(parties) from Darjeeling, Ghoom,
Kurseong, Gangtok and Pedong
attended the tea party in the
Town Hall the samo afternoon
where the gueBts were enter-
tained with sweet dishes and
delicacies from CHANDRAS,
who catered for the Association,
and with Tibotan vocal and ins-
trumental music coupled with
Tibetan Tap Dances by well
known Tibetan artistes.

The President Mr. L. Tse-
ring and other enthusiastic
members of the Association were
all attention to the guests who
were highly impressed with the
unprecedented gathering of the
Tihetans in the Town Hall
and with their melodious music
and dance.

Sikkim News Letter:

(From Our Correspondent)

Gangtok, Sept. 22.

Shri A pa Sahib B.
Pant, Shrimati Pant and
Maharaj Kumar g. T.
Namgyal of Sikkim left
Gangtok on Sept 17 for
about a fortnight's tour
in North Sikkim. They
may also do some climbing
and cross Donke La.

« *

At the invitation of
the (Sikkim State, a re-
gional Conference of Agri.
cultural Direotors and
Ofnoers from all over India
will be held at Gangtok
on the 5th & 6th Ootober.
About 30 high banking
officers from all over India
are likely to attend the
confo-'onne.

It is reliably learnt
that a government aided
cultural Institute Nvjll bo
soon started at Gangtok
for enabling scholars to
conduct researches in Ti-
betology and other anthro
pologica! studies.

Next week
the embers thereof

BY

'moosa'