JUDIPOLISOCIO (Opinion): ASI & Buddhism in India - British author-journalist John Keay

How India rediscovered Buddha

• The work by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the 19th Century and the political correctness of
  the religion helped the revival of Buddhism in India.
• Mr. Keay, author of several narrative histories of India and China, said re-emergence of interest in Buddhism — in a period when nobody could connect the name of Buddha to religion, not only in India but also in the neighbourhood — was after the discoveries of the Buddhist sites of Taxila, Gwalior, Khajuraho and Mahabodhi.

  • Mr. Keay said General Alexander Cunningham, the founding father of the ASI, in his 25 years as the first head of the ASI had done outstanding work in excavation, classification and protection of India's extraordinary architectural heritage, particularly the Buddhist stupas and monasteries.
• Prof. Lahiri, however, was not in full agreement with Mr. Keay on some of the observations. She said:

  • “General Cunningham was one of the many explorers, who couldn't look beyond Buddhist stupas. ” 
  • “He never got the monuments repaired after discovering them,”
  • He had also overlooked other important elements of classical Indian civilisation that were also uncovered.
  • “He was more interested in religious landscape than archaeological aspects.