Jora while addressing at the valedictory function of the 9th Annual Session of Indian Society for Budhist Studies (ISBS) conference organized by Department of Saniskrit, University of Kashmirin Srinagar on Wedenesday said that preserving the rich cultural heritage and age old manuscripts of Buddhism is the need of the hour as this religion has contributed a lot for transformation of our society and has been the leading religion propagating peaceful co-existence on earth . The theme of the conference was “Role of Kashmir in Development of Buddhism”.

The Minister said that Kashmir having multicultural civilization has been the home of world famous religions of Hinduism, Budism and Jainism. He said that these religions have produced renowned personalities, intellectuals, scholars and historians which have contributed a lot for shaping the civilizations of various parts of world. He said that Buddhism spread to other areas like Ladakh, Tibet and China from Kashmir as it has been one of the ancestral places of this religion.

Jora said that history can’t be ignored as everybody from Mughals to Britishers has contributed towards enriching the cultural ethos of the State.

On the occasion, various research scholars read out their papers on the theme.

M .salem Beigh chairman INTAC Kashmir chapter talked about the influences on Buddhism on the contemporary life of Kashmir and said that most of the Buddhist architecture remind us of our past .

The registrar of the University, Prof. S. Fayyaz, while speaking on the occasion stressed the need to go back to the past to seek guidance and wisdom in matters related to on spiritual nourishment. He also assured the house that the university was working tirelessly towards the progress of horizons of knowledge in such important areas. "Department of Sanskrit, Institute of Kashmir Studies, and the Centre for Central Asian studies are already doing much work on Buddhism and they need to work in Co-ordination in this arca he said.

In her address, the Head of Department Sanskrit, Prof. Satyabama Razdan thanked the ISBS for collaborating with the University to hold the historic conference in the University of Kashmir. It has fetched us good results , she said on the occasion .

Prof R Krishna Rao, chairman India council for philosophical research, Ministry of HRD also appealed VC KU for opening the department of philosophy at KU.

Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, Chairman Indian Council for Philosophical research, New Delhi, Prof. R. Krishna Rao, Member Secretary, Indian Council for Philosophical Research, Prof. Goda Vari Mishra, Convener, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage was also present on the occasion.