Seminar on Kalinga-Lanka: Reviving Old Linkages and Exploring New Opportunities

The seminar was followed by a 3-days orientation of the Sri Lankan delegates with the heritage of ancient Kalinga. The scholars got a first-hand experience of the rich Maritime and Buddhist legacy of Eastern India when they visited the Odisha State Maritime Museum at Cuttack and the Buddhist circuit of Ratnagiri-Udayagiri-Lalitgiri (known as the Diamond Triangle). The delegates also visited the architectural marvels of ancient Kalinga like Konark Sun Temple, Mukteswar Temple and the Rajarani Temple.

Welcome Address by Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, Founder President, Kalinga Lanka Foundation

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Welcome Address by Mr Esala Weerakoon, the then High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India

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Welcome Address by Mr S C Jamir, the then Governor of Odisha

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Broad contours of the Kalinga Lanka Seminar over the six sessions were:

Session 1: Retracing Shared history

The technical sessions of the Kalinga Lanka Seminar were held at the PG Council Hall of the Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. Prof. K.K.Basa of the Utkal University initiated the deliberations by presenting the broad overview of the Seminar and the expected outcome.

Kalinga’s historical, cultural and commercial exchanges with Sri Lanka date back to the 6th Century BCE. The historical evidence has been better preserved in Sri Lanka than in India. More research is required on both sides in the following areas:

• Sequence of historical events following the voyage of Prince Vijaya to Kalinga.
• The Kalinga War and its impact on political, religious and trade relations between the two regions.
• The story of Kalinga-Lanka trade and commerce; the linkages of Kalinga and Sri Lanka with South East Asia.
• Comparative study of boat building and maritime practices in both regions.
• Reasons for Kalinga and Sri Lanka drifting apart after the 11-12th Century.

Chairman:

Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, Former Foreign Secretary of India & President of Kalinga Lanka Foundation

Speakers:

Prof. B.D. Nandadeva, Department of Fine Arts, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Prof. Sandagomi Coperahewa, Director, Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies (CCIS), University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Dr Lalatendu Das Mahapatra, Asst. Director, National Archives of India, Bhubaneswar

Dr. Benudhar Patra, Department of History, PG Govt. College, Chandigarh, India

Prof. R K Mohanty, Former Head of Archaeology Department, Deccan College, Pune

Dr Sila Tripati, Marine Archaeology Centre, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa

You Tube link of the Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANrQ6N0S-aw

Session 2: Buddhism: Reviving a Common Heritage

Buddhism formed one of the most powerful links between Kalinga and Sri Lanka in the early centuries. While it established itself as the dominant religion in Sri Lanka, it virtually disappeared from Odisha, as in the rest of India. And yet, the spirit of Buddhism prevails everywhere in Odisha. Not only does Odisha have a wealth of Buddhist archaeological heritage, Buddhism seems to have permeated Odisha’s cultural environment. Kalinga was a major centre for Buddhist theological and monastic studies. From Kalinga, Buddhism travelled south to Sri Lanka, east to South East Asia and north to Nepal and Tibet.

Areas of Discussion:

• Comparative evaluation of Buddhist theology in Kalinga and Sri Lanka.
• Kalinga’s contributions to Mahayana and Vajrayana/Tantrayana schools of Buddhism.
• Buddhism in Odisha’s art and architecture; Speculation about Buddhist linkages with Jagannatha worship; representation of the Buddha in Odisha’s art and architecture; transformation of Buddhist temples into Hindu shrines (eg. the Tara Tarini and Marichi temples).
• Revival of the Buddhist connection; promoting pilgrimage and tourism between Odisha and Sri Lanka

Chairman:

Prof. Sadasiba Pradhan, Former Head of the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar

Speakers:

Prof. Anura Manatunga, Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Dr Umakanta Mishra , Department of History, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, India

Dr. Sunil Kumar Patnaik, Secretary, Odisha Institute of Maritime & South-East Asian Studies (OIMSEAS), Bhubaneswar, India

Dr. Sanjaya Acharya, Department of Ancient History & Archaeology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India

You Tube link of the Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMr2uNWNKyk

Session 3: Development Tourism and the Buddhist Circuit

Considering the wealth of tourist attractions in both regions, the current exchange of tourists is insignificant. Sri Lanka has a highly developed infrastructure for tourism. Since Odisha and Sri Lanka share similar eco-systems for tourism, Odisha will benefit greatly from joint ventures which will bring in the best-practices in tourism from Sri Lanka to India. Connectivity with Sri Lanka needs to be improved in order to attract Buddhist pilgrims and tourists to Odisha.

Areas of Discussion:

• Tourist-friendly development of historical and archeological sites in Odisha and Sri Lanka.
• Deficiencies in the tourism infrastructure in Odisha; Plans to promote increased tourism between Odisha and Sri Lanka.

Chairman:

Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, Former Foreign Secretary of India & President of Kalinga Lanka Foundation

Speakers:

Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne, Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Mr Roshan Wijesekera, Aviation & Tourism Consultant, Sri Lanka

Mr T. Banambar Patra, Managing Director, Toshali Resorts International, Bhubaneswar, India

Mr Biranchi Mishra, Former Joint Director-cum- Deputy Secretary, Department of Tourism, Govt of Odisha, india

Mr Debasish Patnaik, Director, Hotel Crown, Bhubaneswar, India

Concluding remarks were made by Mr B.B.Mukherjee, Asst. Director, India Tourism-Bhubaneswar, Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India and Dr. S. K. Lenka, Associate Professor–Tourism & Nodal Officer –Indian Institute of Travel & Tourism Management(IITTM), Bhubaneswar

You Tube link of the Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqwgFO7Ggd4

Session 4: Joint Ventures, Business Enterprise and Economic Co-operatio

Odisha is richly endowed with minerals like iron ore, bauxite, coal, manganese, chrome and precious stones.

Sri Lanka is famous for its precious stones.

Both regions have a wide range of handicrafts and textiles.

The most obvious areas of co-operation are textiles; gems and jewellery and tourism. There is also a possibility of collaboration in areas like manufacturing and IT services. Both regions are strategically located to increase their commercial exchanges with the ASEAN and East Asian markets.

Chairman:

Mr Debi Prasad Bagchi, IAS (Retd), Former Chief Secretary of Odisha & Member-Governing Body, Kalinga Lanka Foundation

Speakers:

• Prof. Anoma Abhayaratne, Department of Economics, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka & Visiting Faculty, South Asian University, New Delhi
• Ms Chitra Arumugam, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Handicraft, Handloom & Textile, Govt of Odisha
• Dr.K.C.S Ray, Director, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar, India
• Concluding remarks were made by Ambassador Abasara Beuria and Ambassador Lalit Mansingh

You Tube link of the Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyVZzXHHuLI

Session 5: Educational Opportunities & Collaborations

Odisha is developing as a hub for technical education and industrial development. Iconic Indian institutions like IIT and AIIMS have recently opened their campuses on Odisha, adding to an existing network of institutions of higher learning.

Considering their cultural affinities, students from Sri Lanka may find Odisha an attractive place for pursuing higher education and training at affordable rates.

Chairman:

Prof. A.K.Das, Vice-Chancellor, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar

Speakers:

• Prof. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Retired Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and the Founder Chairman,
• National Multilingual Education Resource Centre (NMRC)
• Dr Tushar Kumar Nath, Chairman, Odisha -Joint Entrance Examination
• Dr Binod Dash, Secretary, Odisha Association of Private Engineering College

You Tube link of the Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpBDvP_u9r0

Session 6: Cultural Exchanges and the Valedictory Session: “Taking Stock & Moving Forward”

The sixth & the last technical session on Cultural Exchanges was deliberated upon following areas:

• Comparative studies of Pali, Sinhala and Odiya languages.
• Comparative studies of art, architecture and archaeology.
• Comparative studies of intangible heritage: music, dance, theatre, festivals and folk traditions.
• Promotion of cultural exchanges between Odisha and Sri Lanka

Chairman of the Session:

Shri K.P. Singh Deo, Former Union Minister and Member of Parliament (Loksabha) in India

Speakers:

• Prof. B.D. Nandadeva, Department of Fine Arts, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
• Prof. Sandagomi Coperahewa, Department of Sinhala Language, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Shri Jatin Das, eminent painter & Chairman, JD Centre for Art, Bhubaneswar
• Dr Debi Prasanna Pattanayak, Chairman of Institute of Odia Studies and Research, Bhubaneswar and Founder
• Director of the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore.

Prof. Jatin Nayak and Dr Bimalendu Mohanty made the concluding remarks.

The valedictory session “Taking Stock & Moving Forward” was co-chaired by Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, President, Kalinga Lanka Foundation and Mr. Esala Weerakoon, Hon’ble High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and Patron-in-Chief, of Kalinga Lanka Foundation. Other distinguished panellists in the valedictory session were Mr D.P.Bagchi, Former Chief Secretary of Odisha and Prof. A.K.Das, Vice-Chancellor, Utkal University.

You Tube link of the Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dscocIg1Rd0