SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Ramesh Chander
The writer is A Retired Career Diplomat.
Dhamma Yatra – Bodhi Tirath Sathan is a small spiritual travelogue of 80 pages pertaining to the Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India and beyond written by Bishan Dass Bains of the UK who is an active politician and community activist of the Labour Party and Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Committee of UK. The author, Bishan Dass Bains is a devout Buddhist and a staunch Ambedkarite fully engaged in Municipal matters as a Mayor and Alderman at his second home of choice in the UK. I reviewed his earlier book on social traits – Pride and Prejudice published by Malind Parkashan.
The book starts with Budh Vandhana, Trishna and Panchsheel with explanations by the author for the easy understanding of the common man. The Dhamma Yatra (26 October 2024 – 6 November 2024) was under taken by 12 devout Buddhists living in Europe under the umbrella of Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Committee of the UK to redeem their dream to visit places related to Lord Buddha. The publisher Harmesh Jassal of Malind Parkashan instead writing an introductory note thoughtfully decided to give some details of Babassaheb Ambedkar’s Dhamma Yatras after his embracing Buddhism on October 14, 1956.
The Dhamma Yatra which started on October 26 from Amritsar gives destination wise details of all the important sites related to Thathagat Buddha – Ambedkar Park Luchnow, Jaitvan Sarvsati, Lumbini (Nepal), Kushi Nagar, Vaishali, Kesaria Satupa, Nalanda, Girdhkoot Pahad (Rajgriha), Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Vipasna Golden Pagoda, Kanheri Guffavan, Chaitya Bhoomi, Rajgriha, Diksha Bhomi, Nagalok among others. The Yatris also thoughtfully visited the birth place of Guru Ravidass at Seergovardhanpur at Kashi-Banares. The yatra group later visited Ambedkar Bhawan Jalandhar and paid obeisance at Wolverhampton Buddha Vihar in UK. The author Bishan Dass Bains has shared his sense of satisfaction and spiritual solace with the visit of each site which is quite informative. The book concludes with the thoughts and experiences of some of the Yatris; Tin Chija Lukaian Nahin Ja Sakdian- Sooraj, Chand Te Sach by Devender Chander, Jiwan Di Yadgari Yatra by Jarnail Singh, Shikhyadyak Yatra by Dev Raj Badhan, Jithe Cha Othe Rah by Daulta Balley, Dukh Da Karan Agyan by Raj Kumr Baudh. These brief write ups give an overview of the spiritual travelogue – Boddhi Tirtha Sathan: Dhamma Yatra. The photos, both black and white and colour, add to the presentation of the book for the benefit of the readers. I am reminded of Allma Iqbal’s poetic assertions on Lord Buddha –
Qaum ne paigham-e-Gautam ki zara parwah na ki
Qadar pehchani na apne gohar-e-yak-dana ki
(The nation paid no heed to the message of Gautama, they failed to recognize the value of their unique jewel.)
Brahman sarshaar hai ab tak mae-e-pindaar mein
Shamma-e-Gautam jal rahi hai mehfil-e-aghyar mein
(The Brahmin is still intoxicated with pride, while the light of Gautama [Buddhism] is kept burning in the lands of strangers.)
