77 th Death Anniversary of Acharya Dharmanand Kosambi

 

 Rich Tributes to the Memory of Dharmanand Kosambi

On the occasion of 77 th anniversary of Acharya Dharmananda Kosambi  a memorial day programme was organized at the Samadhi Sthal at Sevagram on June 4, 2024. The programme was jointly organized by Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan and Dr. Dharmanand  Kosambi Sanskrutik Mandal ,Sevagram . The programme began with garlanding the photograph of Dharmananda Kosambi  and paying floral tributes by dignitaries present on the occasion. It was followed by Buddhist prayer paying respect to Acharya Kosambiji.Shri  Vaibhav Manohar  of Dr. Dharmanand  Kosambi Sanskrutik Mandal welcomed all to the memorial programme.

 

Shri Vijay Tambe Secretary of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan delivered the keynote address on the occasion. In his address ,he described Dharmanand  Kosambi as  a great practitioner of Buddhism in India who  died at Sevagram Ashram after undertaking Sallekhana. This decision was taken in consultation with Gandhi Vinoba, Kaka Kalelkar. He explained the significance of the first detailed biography of Gautama Buddha written by Kosambiji.  The usual focus of biographies is on wonderful mythological stories, fantastic events, and supernatural knowledge. But here we can see a rationalistic view of pure Buddhism. The beauty is that along with the study of Buddhism, he studied Socialism and Communism in depth. Saint Tukaram had a great influence on his life from childhood. In 1924 Gandhiji  was operated upon at Sassoon Hospital in Pune.Dharmanand went to visit him along with his colleague at  Gujarat Vidyapith. The speaker referred to conservation between the two, Gandhiji said:‘In prison Shankarlal Banker used to talk about you. He said you are a great scholar of Buddhist literature.’  In reply Kosambiji  said :‘It is true that I have made a close study of Buddhist literature. But you are the one who understands its essence; I am only a carrier! Through a wide range of life experiences, great study and sharp intelligence, he realized that the welfare of the universe is possible only through means of non-violence.

Dr. Siby K. Joseph, Director of Library and Research Centre in his brief speech referred to well opened by Dharmanand Kosambi at the premises of Sevagram Ashram on May 22 1947. It is to be noted that he was fasting from May 4 th onwards it was interesting to know that a great scholar of Buddhism was deeply interested in construction of wells. The well and agricultural plot named after him are living tributes to his memory. Shri  Vaibhav Manohar  gave a chronological narration of the life and work of Acharya Kosambiji. He referred to a number of events in his life. Dr. Ravindra Rukhmini Pandarinath , former Trustee of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan in his presidential address threw light on the unique personality of Dharmanand Kosambi in whom we can see a real synthesis of different ideologies.  He shed light on various facts of his personality. The programme concluded with an interreligious prayer and floral tributes by all participants in the Samadhi Sthal.