Punjab Da Boddhi Itihas (Buddhist History of Punjab) – Scholarly Research Book of Harmesh Jassal

 

Punjab Da Boddhi Itihas (Buddhist History of Punjab) – Scholarly Research Book of Harmesh Jassal

My friend Harmesh Jassal, my fellow BootanMandian, invited me to the book launch of his Magnus Opus – Punjab Da Boddhi Itihas a couple of months ago but due to health reasons I could not participate. It was kind of him to visit me to gift his book later. I have glanced through the book at leisure. It is a scholarly research work of the author, a staunch Ambedkarite, a conscious Buddhist, literarily and journalistic manager and a dedicated social activist and above all a good human being. Though I am not a voracious reader and a scholar and that too of civilizational historiography yet I thought of sharing my brief observations on the book as a layman.

The get up and layout of the book – Punjab Da Boddhi Itihas is good and presentable. The title page, designed and prepared thoughtfully, say it all to justify the title of the book – from Lord Buddha to Buddhist Kings and Monarchs to Babasaheb Ambedkar who revived Buddhism in India in recent times. The book contained in 368 pages has been divided in two parts – Part 1: Punjab Da Boddhi Itihas (Geo-Political – Rajsi) which has 12 chapters and Part 2: Punjab Da Boddhi Itihas (Civilizational or Archelogical – Prattav) with 3 chapters. The author has explained his motivation to write this book in the introductory narration; Lekhak Balon – From the Author. One of these motivations was to write and inform about the spread, elopement and revival of Buddhism in the Northern region especially Punjab to add and supplement the treatise ‘Buddhism in Punjab Haryana and Himachal Pradesh written by D.C. Ahir, a staunch Amerdkarite and erudite scholar a long time ago as the subsequent research and study has thrown many facts and developments which would certainly enrich the research and study of the subject for the benefit of the coming generations.  His thanks giving exercise is demonstrative of his net-working and harmonious qualities to make friends and involve them in his activities. Harmesh is magnanimous and liberal in recognizing these associates and friends in writing and publishing the book. He is magnanimous to a fault when he mentions my name in the narration in this regard. The color photos of some of these personalities, cream la cream, of the community, is an added feature of the book. The foreword of the book has been written as ‘Bhoomika’ by an erudite scholar and intellectual of Indian culture, tradition in its historical and contemporary parlance, Dr. Surinder Ajnat. Ajnat Sahib has rightly termed the book as ‘an all-inclusive’

and comprehensive narration on the subject. He has further said that Harmesh Jassal’s book was is the only distinguished book in Punjabi on the subject. Fully supplementing and supporting the treatise of the author, Surinder Ajnat has clearly stated that it was all the more possible and feasible the Lord Buddha might have visited and travelled through Punjab on the way to his journey to Taxila. He has also noted that how the Buddhist Kings like Ashoka the Great among others had spread Buddhism in Punjab and beyond. He has also raised an obvious question on the possibility that the Dalits were Buddhists before they were subjugated into Hinduism.

In the Part 1 of the book, 12 Chapters give all the details pertaining to geo-political and administrative scenario from the ancient times. It contains very useful and informative material for the research scholars and historians. The question of Lord Buddha’s visit and travel to Punjab, the core subject of the book, has been discussed in Chapter 2 – Tathagat Buddh Da Punjab Aagman (Lord Buddha’s travels in Punjab). As a layman, what I could gather is that there are still many conjectures on the visits of Tathagat Buddha to Punjab. The details on the ruling dynasties who tried their best to spread Buddhism in the Northern region including Punjab are listed in detail. It seems the author has done an in-depth study of these matters. In Part 2 of the book, the author has given all the details of archeological findings related to Lord Buddha and Buddhism spread over throughout Punjab. Harmesh Jassal personally visited these places to study and find all the relevant details for the benefit of the scholars and historians and also common man. The Tribune of February 26, 2026 carried a story by Journalist Aparna Banerji ‘Author Harmesh Jassal charts forgotten Buddhist history’ which gives some more observations on the book.

Punjab Da Boddhi Itihas is a well-researched book. It will be an asset for the research scholars and historians. Author Harmesh Jassal has done a wonderful job. He himself has written in the Lekhak Balon:-

Jis Din Se Chala Hoon; Meri Manzil Pe Nazar Hai,

Aankhon Ne Khabi Meel Ka Pathar Nahin Dekha.