Tripura will soon have India’s first Buddhist-run university which will offer education in the faith while also running courses in other disciplines of modern education. Today, November 29, the World Buddhist Pope Association of South Korea’s Shakya Gasan will lay the foundation stone of International Buddhist University in the South Tripura’s Manu Bankul in Sabroom, which is 125 kilometres from Agartala, the Capital.

Sharing details with the media about the institution, Dhammapiya, Secretary of International Buddhist Confederation and Founder-Chairman of Bahujan Hitaya Education Trust said: ”Dhamma Dipa International Buddhist University will be the first Buddhist University in India to be headed by Buddhist Monastics and run and monitored by Buddhists. This university will set an example in the history of Indian Buddhism for the promotion and revitalization of Buddhist culture.”

The institution, he hoped, will offer insight and depth on Buddhism, a better understanding of the contemporary world and also prepare students and youth with knowledge and skills so that they can lead a healthy, peaceful and satisfying life.

DDIBU will enable students from 50 countries to get a chance to study as well as research Buddhist tradition, culture and literature. Besides Buddhist studies, the campus of the proposed university will also house medical, technical and general degree colleges.

Among those expected to attend the function are Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh; Sankar Ray, Sabroom MLA; and Dr. Pornchai Pinyapoong, senior Buddhist monk from Thailand.

Though His Holiness Dalai Lama will not be able to attend the programme, he has sent a message.

It was on September 26 this year that the Tripura Assembly had passed a bill for establishing this University.