Welcome to Bharat Kambuja Maitri Samithi
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Bharat Kambuja Maitri Samiti
Background & Objectives
His Holiness reading an inscription on the temple wall in South India
VISIONARY SPEECH
Pujya Shri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Mahaswamiji,68th Acharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, in a visionary speech given on Jan 1947, a few months before India’s independence, explained how in the ancient times, Indian culture was spread across, from Egypt in the West to Java in the East, and had attained an exalted position. In that speech, he had also stressed that brotherhood and unity among Asian nations should be promoted through the cultural relations that existed between India and these nations. The Acharya has told “India needs Cultural Ambassadors than Political Ambassadors to foster unity and goodwill among these nations”. Those words are very relevant today.
BOOK RELEASE & THE SPEECH
Pujyasri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamiji, 69th Acharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kanchipuram released a book titled " Cambodia -- The land of Hindu temples " at a function held in Mahathi Auditorium, on Nov 2009, Thirupathi.The book release was hosted by " Madhubushi Ananthasayanam Institute of Public Administration". The book is authored by Shri.N.P.Venkatesa Chowdry, former legislator of Chittoor.
Pujyasri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamiji, in His Anugraha Bhashanam, described India as the "mother" of all nations and the most ancient country in the world. Sri Acharya Swamiji regretted that the greatness of Hinduism and the Indian ethos respected world over was rather ironically waning fast in its own land--India due to a variety of social aberrations. "Our own people are looking down upon our great religion and its time tested values", Swamiji said. He said only Hindus are embracing other religions while those belonging to other faiths were remaining strongly rooted to their religion and steadfast in their love towards the tenets of their religious orders.
Pujya Shri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji,70th Acharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham
Organisation
To take forward Pujyasri Mahaswamy's visionary speech of Jan 1947 about the need for cultural ambassadors in the entire Asian region, an organisation called Bharat Kambuja Maitri Samiti or Indo-Cambodian Friendship Society has been initiated as a first step, to increase people to people contact between the two countries.
This website www.bharatkambuja.com has been started with the Blessings of His Holiness as part of the initiative.
Objectives of this Maitri Samithi
1. To develop social and cultural cooperation between Cambodia and India
2. To explore our joint cultural heritage and build relations upon this
3. To arrange conferences, seminars, exhibitions and producing and distributing relevant literature including books and journals
4. To arrange visits of different delegations between the two countries to meet people in all fields, vocations including agriculture, industrial, science and technology, education, arts
5. To translate into English all Sanskrit inscriptions found in the temples of Cambodia for greater understanding of the ancient tradition & culture
6. To facilitate exchange programs for education in Indian and Cambodian Universities.
7. To increase tourism between the two countries
8. To exchange greetings during festivals in order to foster stronger friendship
Inscriptions & the connection
In the website, a section has been hosted on the inscriptions found in the Cambodian land. They contain a wealth of information about the kings, temples, charity, endowments and the culture of that country. There is also mention of Kanchipura and Bhagavatpada Shankara in a couple of inscriptions.
His Holiness desires that this ancient link found in the inscriptions has to reach to the masses so as to have proper understanding of the Cambodian civilization which seems to be just an extended Indian nation and hence develop a basis for future cultural relations.
A book "Inscriptions of Kambuja" by the renowned epigraphist late Shri RC Majumdar, published by the Asiatic society, Kolkatta in 1953 is being digitized for uploading in the Bhartkambuja website. A few inscriptions have been hosted on the site. English translations are being organized to reach the larger section.
Promotion of culture and tourism
The main purpose of the society is to promote cultural ties among the two nations and to educate Indians to understand the cultural relation which existed between the two nations and to encourage them to visit Cambodian Hindu temples.
Food Security
Another important objective of the Maitri Samiti is to provide a broad basis to promote agriculture in the region keeping in mind food security of our country in the near future.