India urged to build Pali university in memory of Ven. Pannananda
Several Buddhist monks in India in their funeral sermons requested the Indian Government to consider setting up a Pali University in memory of Ven. Galagedera Pannananda Thera.
The request came when Uttar Pradesh Minister Swami Prasad Maurya said that a memorial will be built in Lucknow for Ven. Galagedera Pannananda Thera. “Till then, his ashes will be kept at the Ambedhkar Memorial Office where the ashes of Baba Saheb Ambedkhar are akready kept”, he said.
Paying tributes to the monk on behalf of state government, Indian Cabinet Minister Swami Prasad Maurya said a memorial for Pnnananda Thero will be built in Lucknow. “Till then, his ashes will be kept in the Ambedkar Mahasabha office where the ashes of Baba Saheb Ambedkar are already kept,” he said.
Ven. Devendra Thera, one of the six main disciples of the late Ven. Pannananda Thera said that the late monk dedicated his life to the cause of education. “He started a school pices of the Maha Bodhi Society of India for 75 years and that he “enormously contributed” to the improvement of the Buddhist connectivity between Sri Lanka and India.
Indian President Ramnath Kovind and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and former Chief Minister Mayawati had paid their in Jetawanaramaya. Even today, there are just two inter colleges in Shravasti. A university will benefit people — something which Guruji strived for,” he said.
Former head of UP Baudh Shodh Sansthan, Bhikku Chandima said: "The biggest sutra in Buddhism is service to humans, and education is the biggest instrument of change. I would rather propose a memorial university."
Ven. Dr. K. Siri Sumedha Thera, former Deputy General Secretary of the Maha Bodhi Society of India said that while it is good to have a memorial for the late Ven. Pannananda Thera, it would be still better to have a Pali University as India doesn’t have a single Pali University. President, Ambedkar Mahasabha, Lalji Nirmal meanwhile said that the efforts to find land for the memorial for the late Thera have begun. "A piece in Mawai Pariyana area of Lucknow has been spotted. Short listing will follow soon," he said adding, "respect to Ven. Pannananda Thera is an indirect way to remember Baba Saheb (Ambedkhar)." respects earlier in the week.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale represented the Government of India and Minister for Labour, Employment and Coordination Swami Prasad Maurya represented the Government of the state of Uttar Pradesh at the funeral.