India continues to strengthen the Buddhist spiritual bond with several countries of the region through Jataka Tales which describe various previous births of Gautam Buddha and instructive episodes related to them.

Around 550 in number, the Jatakas originally belonged to ancient Indian storytelling or narrative traditions that were both rich and varied.

They are now playing a pivotal role in India's cultural diplomacy, deepening Buddhist linkages with South, Southeast and East Asian countries.

A Jataka Tales audio book in Sinhala was launched at the Ruwanweli Maha Seya premises in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka earlier this week on the occasion of sacred Poson Poya – the full moon day celebrating the arrival of Arhant Maha Mahinda in Sri Lanka with the message of Buddha's teaching in 3rd century BC.  

The audio book contains 50 Jataka Tales, selected from Jataka Atthakatha under the theme of 'Good Advice' and primarily caters to the hearing impaired. It is a joint collaboration between Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) and the Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies (CCIS), University of Colombo. 

India's High Commissioner to Colombo, Gopal Baglay offered the Jataka Tales audio book as a "dharma daana" from the people of India to the people of Sri Lanka. He highlighted that Buddhist heritage, including the Jataka Tales formed an important civilisational bond between India and many countries, of which Sri Lanka has a very special place as one of the first countries to receive the gift of Buddhism from India two millennia ago.

Baglay mentioned that as India and Sri Lanka celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, similar initiatives would help in strengthening the shared cultural heritage and people-to-people bonds between the two neighbours.

A special grant of USD 15 million for the promotion of Buddhist ties; inaugural international flight to the sacred city of Kushinagar from Sri Lanka on the auspicious ‘Wap Poya’ day in October 2021; multi-city exposition of the sacred Kapilvastu Buddha relics from the Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Vihara of Waskaduwa, in India in October 2021, are among several steps taken by New Delhi to deepen linkages with Colombo in the sphere of Buddhism.

In 2017, while addressing the Indian-origin Tamil Community in Dickoya, a town in Nuwara Eliya district in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had referred to Jataka Tales while speaking about "threads of unity and harmony" binding people from both the countries.  

"Several Buddhist texts including Jataka tales mention Saint Agastya, whom many consider to be the father of Tamil language. The Sinhalese Nayak Kings of Kandy had matrimonial alliances with the Nayak Kings of Madurai and Tanjore. Sinhala and Tamil were the court languages. Hindu and Buddhist shrines were both respected and revered," PM Modi had said in his speech.

In a similar effort to cement the Buddhist linkages with ASEAN and East Asian countries, a podcast series 'Kwentong Jataka' based on the educational Jataka Tales from India was launched in Filipino language at Manila's Doreen Fernandez Blackbox Theatre of Arete Ateneo on May 31.

The project was launched in the presence of Ambassador of India to the Philippines, Shambhu Kumaran and Mercedes Rodrigo of the Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila University.

It comprises 12 short and engaging stories in a podcast format for young learners and is produced by the Embassy of India in Manila in partnership with Arete Ateneo – the creativity and innovation hub of the Ateneo de Manila University.

"Kwentong Jataka would be a valuable addition to the supplementary material available in the Philippines for young learners. By making a rich body of Indian literature accessible in a friendly form. This would also help enhance inter-cultural understanding of children and grown ups alike. Delivery of these stories in podcast format would also help boost listening skills, foster imagination, develop vocabulary and sharpen memory of the young listeners," the Indian embassy in Manila said in a statement.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of External Affairs had also unveiled books of Jataka Tales translated into Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese languages.

The launch was done as part of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' which is an initiative of the Indian government to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.

Also Read: India, Sri Lanka to take ties to the next level with inauguration of Kushinagar airport