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The 19th Kushok Bakula Lobzang Thupstan Chognor Rinpoche Birth Centenary celebrations concluded at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) in Leh, Ladakh. Dattatreya Hosabale, the Joint General Secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), attended the event as a special guest.

This three-day concluding event was held from May 16 to 18 in Leh and was jointly organized by the Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC) and the India Foundation.

The 20th Kushok Bakula (a 12-year-old named Nashtan) also participated in the event. On this occasion, Dattatreya Hosabale stated that the 19th Kushok Bakula was a multifaceted personality who remains relevant even today and serves as a role model for society. He was a spiritual leader, speaker, a great Buddhist thinker, and a visionary diplomat. Dattatreya Hosabale also said that if Ladakh is an integral part of India today, the credit goes to Kushok Bakula. In 1947, when Pakistan attacked Jammu & Kashmir, he organized the youth of Ladakh and provided complete support to the Indian Army.

He always saw Ladakh as an integral part of India and made significant efforts for the development of the region.

Dattatreya further said that in today’s times, when voices of separatism are rising in various parts of the country, even in universities where anti-national agendas are being promoted, Kushok Bakula’s speeches can guide the youth in the right direction. On this occasion, Dattatreya Hosabale also highlighted the peace efforts made by Kushok Bakula in Mongolia. He said that appointing Kushok Bakula as India’s Ambassador to Mongolia was a commendable decision by the Indian government. Even though he was not a professional diplomat, he deepened the cultural, spiritual, and humanitarian relations between the two countries.

It was due to Kushok Bakula’s efforts that peace was restored in Mongolia, and the Communist regime could realign itself with the path of Buddha.

The event was graced by the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Kavinder Gupta, as the chief guest, while the Chairman of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), Professor S.R. Bhatt, presided over it. Other notable attendees who shared their views on Kushok Bakula included G. Ganbold, Indian Ambassador to Mongolia; Chering Dorje, Minister of Ladakh Affairs; Shakti Sinha, Director of the Nehru Memorial Library; Professor Rajneesh Shukla, Member Secretary of ICPR; Anil Goyal, Trustee of JKSC; Alok Bansal, Director of the India Foundation; and Dr. Mayank Shekhar from IGNCA.

On this occasion, Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta congratulated the organizations for holding an event in honor of the 19th Kushok Bakula and said that the teachings of this great Buddhist guru still provide direction to society today. He added:

“Ceasefire is a peace initiative, but that doesn’t mean we won’t respond to aggression. Indian security forces are fully capable and will take all necessary action to safeguard the nation.”

During the program, a book by Professor Kuldeep Agnihotri titled “Jammu Kashmir ka Vismrit Adhyay: Kushok Bakula” (The Forgotten Chapter of Jammu & Kashmir: Kushok Bakula) was released.

On the first day of the centenary celebrations, May 16, Dr. Nirmal Singh, Deputy Speaker of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly, participated and discussions were held on “Bahujan Hitaya–Bahujan Sukhaya Lokanukampaya” and “Geo-strategy of the Himalayan Region.” JKSC Director Ashutosh Bhatnagar said that people should be made aware of Kushok Bakula’s contributions to the nation. JKSC is working to highlight the rich and glorious culture of all parts of Jammu & Kashmir.

Kushok Bakula: A Brief Introduction

The 19th Kushok Bakula was born on May 21, 1917. His birth centenary was completed recently. He passed away on November 4, 2003. He was one of the most popular and renowned Lamas of Ladakh and also served as an international diplomat for India. He made a remarkable contribution to the revival of Buddhism in Mongolia and Russia. Even in faraway places like Mongolia and Belarus, he is fondly remembered. The RSS Sarsanghchalak, Shri Mohan Bhagwat, paid a heartfelt tribute to him during his Vijayadashami address on September 30. The 19th Kushok Bakula Lobzang Thupstan Chognor played a significant role in nation-building. Besides Maharaja Hari Singh and Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, Kushok Bakula played the most crucial role in defeating anti-India forces in Jammu & Kashmir. Like a true Mahasthavir (great elder monk), he dedicated himself to public welfare. A true Mahasthavir, even though qualified for Nirvana, takes rebirth again and again to relieve the suffering of common people. In the 20th century, Bakula accomplished exactly that. For him, spiritual practice and penance meant alleviating the suffering of ordinary people. It is difficult to trace his original birth name.

In the Buddhist world, he is widely known as Bakula. There is a popular story regarding his name. It is said that Bakula was deeply immersed in prayer and meditation. He renounced all worldly possessions and desires. He used only Pakula grass for sleeping and sitting. Due to his use of Pakula, he gradually came to be known among the people as Bakul or Bakula.

Kushok Bakula in the Lok Sabha

In 1967, he was elected from the Leh constituency to the 4th Lok Sabha. In 1971, he was re-elected to the 5th Lok Sabha from the same constituency. Thus, he served as a Member of Parliament for 10 years, until 1977.

Kushok Bakula in the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly

The people of Ladakh requested Kushok Bakula to represent them in the Constituent Assembly. He was elected unopposed from Leh to the state’s Constituent Assembly. Until the elections to the Constituent Assembly, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah was taking oaths of loyalty to India. However, after filling the Assembly with National Conference members, his stance changed. Sheikh Abdullah began dreaming of an independent state in the guise of Jammu & Kashmir’s autonomy. At such a critical time, Kushok Bakula stepped up in the greater national interest. The first session of the newly elected Constituent Assembly began on October 31, 1951. On the second day, November 1, Kushok Bakula expressed hope that this Assembly would find solutions to long-pending problems.

Member of Minority Commission

In 1978, the Government of India constituted the National Minority Commission. In August 1978, Kushok Bakula was appointed as a member of the Commission, and he served in that role until December 1989.

Padma Bhushan Award

The Government of India honored Kushok Bakula with the Padma Bhushan in 1988, presented by the President of India.