The Indian Council for Cultural Relations has bestowed upon the revered Sitagu Sayadaw Dr. Ashin Nyanissara the prestigious International Award for Promoting Buddhism.
The prestigious award includes a citation, a medallion, and a monetary prize of $20,000 (twenty thousand US dollars). It acknowledges the remarkable and altruistic contributions of Venerable Sitagu Sayadaw Dr. Ashin Nyanissara towards advancing Buddhism and its teachings, both within Myanmar and on an international scale.
Venerable Sitagu Sayadaw Dr. Ashin Nyanissara was honored with the International Award for Promotion of Buddhism by Kumar Tuhin, the Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The event, attended by dignitaries, friends from Myanmar, and members of the Indian community, took place at the India Centre of the Embassy of India in Yangon. The ceremony, as reported by the Embassy of India in Myanmar, recognized one of Myanmar’s highly respected figures in the Buddhist community.
Dr Ashin has played a pivotal role in providing education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid to the people, it said.
According to a press release, “In 2021, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) instituted the prestigious International Award for Promotion of Buddhism, to recognize the outstanding contribution of foreign scholars/individuals/organizations for the promotion of Buddhism globally.”
India and Myanmar’s strong Buddhist bond, fostered by Venerable Sitagu Sayadaw Dr. Ashin Nyanissara’s efforts, promotes unity and mutual understanding across borders. Past recipients of the International Award for the Advancement of Buddhism include Otani University in Japan, Dr. Duong Thi Thanh Huong from Vietnam, and Choijamts Demberel from Mongolia.
Venerable Sitagu Sayadaw highlighted Buddhism’s role in addressing individual and social issues and fostering mutual understanding between India and Myanmar in his speech.
The event was attended by Union Minister for Information U Maung Ohn, Union Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture U Tin Oo Lwin, Chief Minister of Yangon Region U Soe Theis, Mayor and Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee U Bo Htay, Venerable Sayadaw Sobhita, Venerable Panna Zaw Da, President of U Nu Daw Mya Yi Foundation Daw Than Nu, scholars, academics, ICCR Alumni, and members of the Indian community in Myanmar.