| Dharmapala returned to Ceylon in May 2434/1891 and | | | | publication of a Tripitฺaka in Devanagari |
| founded the Maha Bodhi Society in Colombo. In the | | | | script and '2500 Years of Buddhism,' a special volume |
| same year, a mission was sent to Bodh Gaya and, | | | | which is an indication of the respect given to Buddhism |
| then, an international conference of Buddhists was held | | | | by the Indian educated class. |
| there. In the following year a journal was launched and | | | | On october 14 of the year of celebration, Dr. B.R. |
| headquarters of the new society were set up in | | | | Ambedkar led half a million followers in a formal |
| Calcutta. Dharmapala visited the United States two | | | | declaration of adherence to Buddhism. This event was |
| times during the 1890's, the first time to attend the | | | | followed by a fast increase in the Buddhist population |
| Parliament of Religions in Chicago, when he visited | | | | in India, particularly through a number of similar |
| Hawaii, Japan, China, Thailand and Malaya on his way | | | | conversions among the untouchables seeking social |
| back, and the second time to preach Buddhism when | | | | equality. By 2508/1965 there were about 4,000,000 |
| he stayed there for one year and made several | | | | Buddhists in India in contrast to 50,000 in 2434/1891. |
| American converts. Substantial financial help came | | | | Numbers of Bhikkhus, viharas, and Buddhist societies |
| from wealthy Americans, especially Mrs. Mary E. | | | | and organizations have also considerably increased. |
| Foster whom he met in Honolulu and who became his | | | | The study of Pali was introduced into Calcutta |
| most active supporter. Further branches of the | | | | University as far back as the year 2451/1908. This |
| Society were set up and in 2463/1920 a Buddhist | | | | example has been followed by many other Indian |
| vihara was opened at Culcutta. The revival movement | | | | universities. The establishment of the Nalanda Pali |
| was then well founded and continued steadily. | | | | Institute (Nava Nalanda Mahavihara) in 2494/1951 and |
| Dharmapala entered the monkhood in 2474/1931 and | | | | the founding of the Magadh University in 2505/1962 |
| passed away two years later, leaving his unfinished | | | | are also evidences of an important place modern India |
| mission to be carried on by his colleagues and | | | | has given to Pali and Buddhist studies. |
| followers. | | | | In the 1950s, when the Red Chinese overran Tibet, her |
| India achieved independence on August 15, 2490/1947. | | | | people, both monks and laymen, fled to north India and |
| When questions arose as to what should be adopted | | | | found refuge in her hill country. There, a Buddhist |
| as national symbols of free India, the Constituent | | | | community is taking shape and Tibetan Buddhism may |
| Assembly ultimately turned towards the Buddhist | | | | make a significant contribution to the future of Indian |
| heritage. Thus, the Dharma-cakra or the Wheel of the | | | | Buddhism. |
| Law came to be represented at the centre of the | | | | A Thai monastery called Wat Thai Buddha-Gaya, |
| national flag to remind the nation of the noble doctrine | | | | which was constructed by the Thai Government on |
| of the Buddha and of the Dharma-vijaya or Conquest | | | | the invitation of the Government of India to celebrate |
| by Righteousness of Asoka, while the Lion Capital of | | | | the Buddha-Jayanti, was completed in 2509/1966. It is |
| Asoka, representing the fearless proclamation of the | | | | well known as one of the finest viharas ever |
| Dharma to the four quarters of the world, has been | | | | constructed in modern India. The Burmese, Japanese, |
| adopted as the official seal of the Republic. The | | | | Chinese and Tibetan Buddhists also have monasteries |
| Chairman of the Committee which drafted the | | | | at Buddha Gaya. |
| Constitution was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the leader of the | | | | Just a century ago Buddhism was unheard of in the |
| untouchables who became converted to Buddhism | | | | land of its birth, as nearly every trace of the religion |
| and made the Buddhist revival a mass movement. | | | | had been effaced from the Indian soil. Today, the seed |
| Two other important events increased the interest in | | | | of the Bodhi tree, deeply planted under the soil, being |
| Buddhism among the Indian masses, the home-coming | | | | fed by fertilizer from abroad, has sprouted and has |
| of the sacred relics of the two Chief Disciples of the | | | | signs of a glorious growth. |
| Buddha in 2492/1949 and the Buddha Jayanti, or | | | | In some border areas of India such as some parts of |
| 2500th anniversary of the Buddha's Parinirvana, in 1956. | | | | Assam and in Bangladesh (East Bengal), Buddhism has |
| The relics were returned to India by the British | | | | never entirely disappeared. There the monastic life still |
| Government to be enshrined at San-chi, their original | | | | survives and a small Buddhist population has persisted. |
| resting place, on the request of the Maha Bodhi | | | | Notable in this way is Chittagong, which has been |
| Society. The enshrinement of the relics was | | | | closely connected with Burma both historically and |
| celebrated together with the Maha Bodhi Society's | | | | geographically; there the monkhood consists of |
| Golden Jubilee and an international Buddhist | | | | hundreds of monks and novices.1 Through some |
| conference attended by the Prime Ministers of India | | | | revival movement, Buddhism in these areas has begun |
| and Burma and world Buddhist leaders. The Indian | | | | to grow again and may do a good service to the |
| Buddha-Jayanti celebrations commenced in May 1956 | | | | development of modern Buddhism on the Indian |
| and lasted for one full year, till May 1957. The | | | | Subcontinent. |
| programme of the Government of India includes the | | | | |