About Us

The Department of Buddhist Studies was established in 1957 as follow up to the action initiated by the Government of India on the occasion of the celebration of 2500 years of Buddhism on 24 May 1956. The department was established with the primary objective of conducting research at the advanced level in various subjects related to Buddhist Studies. As part of this initiative, a Chair of Buddhist Studies was created. Professor P.V. Bapat, a scholar of international repute, was the first scholar to occupy this chair. Professor Bapat initially began his work of organizing the Department of Buddhist Studies under the overall supervision of the Department of Philosophy which was headed by Professor N.V. Banerjee at that time. Post 1962, the Department started to function as a full-fledged, independent department of the University of Delhi. The Department began to admit full-time Ph.D. research scholars from the year 1962 onwards. In 1979, the two-year full-time M.A course in Buddhist Studies was introduced. In 1981, M.Litt. was replaced by M.Phil. course. The Department has now acquired sufficient technical and infrastructural facilities and functions as an academic institution of excellence. The Department takes pride in having internationally known academic staff.

Area of Excellence

Buddhist Studies Pali Language and Literature Tibetan Language and Literature Chinese Language and Literature Buddhist Philosophy Buddhist History Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit

Research Capability and Focus Area

Apart from within India, students of as many 37 different nationalities have studied and/or done research in Buddhist Studies at the Department. A large number of the alumni of this Department hold positions of eminence in different parts of the world.

Academic Facilities

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