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Gandhara Week: Exploring pre-Buddhist and Buddhist heritage in Pakistan

CULTURAL EXPEDITION: Ganghara Week is a cultural expedition organized by the
Government of Pakistan annually in order to give the world community, in particularly scholars, writers, cultural tour operators, business community and others in the Asian region, a first hand experience in art, history and culture of Pakistan.

The name 'Gandhara' is pregnant with lot of historical and cultural meanings. In particular, for one who is interested in Buddhist art and architecture, Gandhara brings out the memories of arguably the first ever attempt at creating the statue of the Buddha.

It is widely held that the statue of the Buddha was made for the first time by the artists of Gandhara who came under the influence of Greek and Roman art and architecture.

Although the result of this influence is usually described as 'Greco Buddhist' art, scholars believe that Gandhara art has its stylistic affiliation with Rome rather than Greece.

The Greek influence of the region goes back to the conquests of Alexander the Great. Region was re-annexed by Mauryas and Buddhism was introduced during the reign of Emperor Asoka.

The region, however, became significant in history and art of Buddhism only with the advent of Kushans whose most illustrious member was Kanishka , who was a great benefactor of Buddhism, and provided patronage to hold the fourth Buddhist Council (Sangayana) which is believed to be the event that marked the origin of the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism.

Gandhara art represents an artistic tradition extending over a vast area comprising Eastern Afghanistan, and North Western Pakistan, including the Kabul Valley and the modern districts of Peshawar, Mardan, Swat and Buner, according to the historian of art, Benjamin Rowland (Encylopdaedia of Buddhism).

According to him, "the greatest contribution of Gandhara to Asiatic art was the invention of the Buddha image. The first anthropomorphic representation of the Teacher was probably with the emergence of the devotional sects of Buddhism and their demand for the portrayal of the object of worship in an accessibly human form, instead of the entirely symbolic references to the Master in the art of early Theravada Buddhism".

For a visitor to cultural cites of Pakistan and the region, it is clear that Gandhara stands not merely for one place or an area but for an entire genre of art, architecture, archeology and culture. There are not only Gandhara Buddha statues, but also Gandhara paintings, stupas and monasteries and many more.

It is a civilization in itself spread over a vast area covering Takthibhai, Swat, Charsada, Peshawar and Taxila. The Silk-Route that carried not only silk, goods and materials, but also religious traditions, cultures, books, religious artifacts and above all, ideas, across the vast region passes through Pakistan.

All these places contain remains of ancient civilizations and its vicissitudes through time. Remains of vast monastery complex at Takhtibhai remind one of similar remains in India and Sri Lanka and still provide a good picture of the golden past for the imaginative visitor.

The museums of Pakistan house some of the most precious artifacts of ancient Buddhist and Indus valley civilization. For instance, the National Museum of Pakistan contains the famous remains of Harappa civilization and the famous head of the Buddha statue dated 4th-5th centuries.

Indus Valley civilization represents one of the most ancient human settlements in the world. Discovery of Mohenjadaro and Harappa remains in the early 19th century opened for the world a whole new chapter in human civilization.

Although the Gandhara-week activities in 2005 did not cover this area for want of time, visiting the remains of this ancient civilization is a most rewarding experience.

Visiting the ancient Gandhara world, particularly for one who is familiar with the ancient Buddhist world, can be a rewarding lifetime experience. The mere names Taxila and Gandhara are capable of evoking lot of memories in those who know the Buddhist literature.

It is the magnanimity of the Government of Pakistan to organize this cultural experience every year and provide the world with the opportunity of getting a first hand acquaintance with this world heritage.

Prof. Asanga TILAKARATNE


Director: Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies University of Kelaniya
Sana - Mahela thrash Windies attack
Elmo Rodrigopulle in West Indies

WORLD CUP:A majestic century 115 from Sanath Jayasuriya who was involved in a grand stand of 183 with his skipper Mahela Jayawardena (82) for the third wicket enabled Sri Lanka to whip the West Indians by 113 runs in their Super 8 match here, on Sunday. Sri Lanka 303/5 WI 190.
With this victory the Sri Lankans stay on course for cricket's most prized possession the World Cup 2007.
When a smiling and contended looking Brian Lara the West Indian captain won the toss and asked the Sri Lankans in and when they lost two early wickets - that of Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara with the total on 35, it looked as though the Lankans would have to struggle to get a competitive score and put pressure on the Windies.
Heavy overnight rain and early this morning did not allow the covers to be taken off and let the moisture dry out. It was the moisture on the wicket that went to cause the losing of the two early wickets.
When Jayawardena joined Jayasuriya, the wicket was favouring the Windies fastmen who were revelling on it.
Jayawardena and Jayasuriya were under tremendous pressure. But they rode it cleverly to put the batting back on the rails.When asked how he rates this century from the 24 others he scored in this style of game, Jayasuriya said that this century was the best and which he will remember for the rest of his career.
The dashing left hander had a slow beginning, which is not his style of play. When the third power play was introduced he unwound to smash Devon Smith for 18 runs in one over - 3 fours and a six and that signalled the beginning for the Lankans and the end for the home team.
After that Jayasuriya was devastating. No bowler was spared as Jayasuriya cut, drove, hooked and pulled to pulverize the bowlers. It was his bash that made Jayawardena to get into the run making act after a string of poor scores.
Jayasuriya was finally out playing a tired shot and dragging the ball on to his wicket. He and Jayawardena added 183 for the third wicket to take the game away from the Windies. He hit 10 fours and four big sixes in his 101 ball innings.
Jayawardena played a captain's knock to make 83 in 113 balls with 2 fours and a six. It was an innings played for the welfare of his side.
This was Jayasuriya's second century in the tournament and if he continues in this form could be in the running for the 'Most valuable player of the tournament'. He won this award in 1995/96 tournament.
Of the other batsmen Tillakeratne Dilshan smashed two sixes in his breezy innings off 39 in 22 deliveries. When the Windies batted they too lost two early wickets for 40 and when Kumar Sangakkara brilliantly stumped Brian Lara for 2 with the score on 42, their innings began to fall apart and they were never really in the chase.
Only a 4th wicket stand between the two Guyanese - Shiv Chanderppaul 76 and Ronnie Sarwan 44 was worth talking about in their reply 4 sixes off Muralitheran. When Sri Lanka's victory is being spoken about, one must also compliment wicket Keeper Kumar Sangakkara for his two excellent stumpings.
Jayasuriya in addition to making 25th century captured 3 for 38 to win the man of the match award for the second time.
For the Windies their World Cup campaign is over unless they can win their next three games to stay afloat.

Guyana, Sunday

DOUBLE STANDARDS ON LTTE ABDUCTIONS
THE conduct of sections of the international community is most curious when it comes to handling the LTTE - to say the least.
Some of these sections which vociferously berate and fault the Lankan State on what are considered humanitarian issues are deafeningly silent on the atrocities of the LTTE.
This intriguing mode of conduct comes to the fore, once again, on the abduction of two UN workers, around a month ago, by the Tigers in the North.
As revealed by some sections of the press, the Colombo mission of the UN is fully aware of the incident, but has not reported it to the UN Secretary General’s office in New York, to date.
Apparently, the Colombo UN mission is aiming at obtaining the release of the workers through covert talks with the Tigers.
Why keep the talks under wraps, when the correct procedure to follow would be to report the incident, both to the UN Secretary General’s office and the Lankan State? Ideally, the help of the latter should be obtained to trace those who have been abducted and effect their release.
Apparently, the UN mission here is acutely sensitive about offending the LTTE. Why?
Is this institution having some sort of collaborative link with the LTTE? If so, this is very bad news because an upholder of international law and order, such as the UN, could have nothing to do with a terror organisation, such as the LTTE, which is the very anti-thesis of the UN.
The UN needs to be a model of impartiality and straight-dealing on account of its identity as an upholder of law, order and peace.
The UN can not only have nothing to do with the LTTE, it should be in a position to apply equal standards to all parties to a conflict, stringently and consistently. If not it could stand accused of adopting double standards.
That is, one set of standards for the State and another for the LTTE. In short, the UN would be devaluing itself and opening itself to ridicule.
Accordingly, we urge the UN’s Colombo mission to come clean on this issue of the abduction of its workers. It simply cannot afford to be double-faced on this question.
If it does so, it would be only encouraging the LTTE in its evil conduct, whereas what it should do is seek the assistance of the State to track down the workers and obtain their release. It could have no truck with terrorists.
This is an inviolable rule in the conduct of international relations and all legal actors in the world system need to strongly uphold it.
Perhaps we are seeing in this situation one of the reasons why terror is prospering in the world. It is the witting or unwitting encouragement it is receiving from some sections which is making terror prosper.
Terrorists and terror should be roundly condemned by the right-thinking and collaboratively hunted down. Secret arrangements with terrorists would only lend the latter some legitimacy and enable them to strengthen themselves in the world.
We caution the UN that there could be no fence-sitting on these issues. The more terrorists are recognised and related to, the greater would be the turmoil in countries such as our’s. To the extent to which terrorists are hunted down and incapacitated, the greater would law and order prosper
Crowe admits error took place in the final

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE in West Indies

CRICKET: It was the worst finish to a World Cup tournament final ever. And for that the International Cricket Council match officials must fairly and squarely take the responsibility and the blame. It was a mockery on the game.
The final moments of this prestigious final was played in pitch darkness and it evoked memories of the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy final at the Oval in London where West Indies beat England in similar darkness to emerge champions.
An unforgivable error by the match officials that left them red-faced and embarrassed brought a bizarre end to the final.
At about 6.10 p.m. Barbados time, the Australians broke into celebrations heralding an unprecedented third success in the World Cup.
They were hugging and kissing and doing the victory lap and with spectators leaving the ground, it shocked everyone who remained to see the players return eight minutes later in darkness to continue.
There was utter confusion after on field umpires Steve Bucknor and Aleem Dar and match officials informed the teams that they would have to return and complete the three overs when Sri Lanka had conceded defeat and accepted an offer to go off for bad light.
At that time, Sri Lanka chasing a revised target of 269 off 36 overs were 206 for 7 in 33 overs.
Sri Lanka in a gesture of goodwill agreed to return in real darkness and also agreed not to attempt the target and the Aussies agreed to use only slow bowlers and not be a danger to the batsmen.
The Aussies finally burst into real celebrations when Sri Lanka made 215 for 8 which left the Kangaroos victors by 53 runs. This was mind you at 6.26 p.m.
At the media conference after the game and facing a packed house ICC match referee Jeff Crowe had to admit that an error took place.
"I am very embarrassed for the playing control team. It's our mistake," said the former New Zealand captain.
                                                                         
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The circumstances were unseen and it was a bit difficult. "From a crisis like this, hopefully we can learn," he said.
Continuing Crowe said they were confused over the simple issue and that they must look at the print in black which technically says that the game is over when 20 overs are bowled.
On the scheduled day of play and according to tournament regulations once both teams have had the opportunity to bat 20 overs which is the minimum, it concludes a match and the reserve day need not be utilised.
Ricky Ponting and Mahela Jayawardena accepted that once Sri Lanka accepted to go off for bad light, the Duckworth Lewis rule should have had Australia as the winners.
"Thinking back, I should have known the rule and said that the game should have been called off," said Crowe who also on behalf of the match officials accepted the responsibility.
The rain, the reducing of overs and the blunder by the match officials brought to a sad end a final that promised so much.
Adam Gilchrist picked up the man of the match award for his blazing 149 in 104 balls with 13 fours and 8 sixes. His 100 came off 72 balls, 10 balls faster than Clive Lloyd's century in the 1975 World Cup final against Australia at Lord's.
Glen McGrath who ended his career was named 'Player of the Tournament'.
Weeressa Ella Falls