(K.P.Jayaswal, ‘Lost Sanskrit Works Recovered from Tibet’, Modern Review, No.61, 1937)

In a sub-layer of Darjeeling’s history lies hidden and forgotten the legacy of one of India’s greatest and most iconic figure in the study and recovery of Buddhism and Buddha legacy of India in modern times. That intellectual, cultural and philosophical recovery was done with Bharat as the epicentre. Its output was exhaustively creative and rich in thought and content.

Rahul Sankrityayan’s (1893-1963) contribution to India’s intellectual and cultural self-recovery was towering and profuse. For over 4 decades he dominated India’s quest for cultural and civilisational recovery. Darjeeling was an important centre in his life. He spent his last days here passed away here in April 1963. While in Darjeeling, thus, paid homage to his memory. Had an engaging conversation with Shri Ramanuj Thatal, former ADM, Darjeeling who now lives in the house once occuppied by Rahul Sankrityayan.

The efforts being undertaken today by PM Modi, in recovering Bharat’s Buddha legacy, would have made Rahul Sankrityayan happy. As he had once written, ““Every decade brought a new astonishment. They saw the noble teachings of their own Buddha, admired and accepted from Baikal to Bali, from Japan to Ceylon. The Buddhist monuments and remains in Java, Cambodia, Central Asia showed them the extention of the realm of Buddhism. Now, not a single educated Hindu can be found without profound respect for the Buddha…” (Renaissance of Buddhism in the East, 1932).

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