Lumbini Buddhist University

Brief History of Lumbini Buddhist University !

The first World Buddhist Summit held in Lumbini from 30th November to 2nd December,1998 proposed to establish a Buddhist university in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, to impart standard education on Buddhist Philosophy, Literature and Culture, and the Lumbini Declaration, issued at the conclusion of the Summit, requested the Nepal government to take immediate action in this direction. Accordingly, the Lumbini Development Trust constituted a seven-member Preparatory Committee with Prof. Tulasi Ram Vaidya as convener and Ven. Sudarshan Mahasthavir, Ngawang Hoser Lama, Pt. Badri Ratna Bajracharya, Prof. Mohan Prasad Lohani, Prof. Tri Ratna Manandhar and Mr. Min Bahadur Shakya as members. Finally, on 14th Marga 2061 B.S. (29th November 2004), Lumbini Buddhist University was formally established with the promulgation of an Ordinance. Later in 2006, the Parliament approved the Ordinance with modifi cations as Lumbini Buddhist University Act (Lumbini Bauddha Vishwavidyalaya Ain 2063).

Following the People's Movement of 2006 (2062 - 63 B.S) the Legislative assembly Adopted an Act relating to the establishmentn of LBU, Lumbini in 2006 ( 2063 B.S).

The Act provides for the Prime Minister of Nepal as Chancllor of LBU and the Minister of Education, Nepal as Pro - Chancellor. The University's Vice Chancellor acts as Chief Executive who is assisted by the Registrar in financial and general adinistration and the Dean in academic programmes.

Appointment of the VC, Registrar and Dean

After the promulgation of the Lumbini University Ordinance, the government of Nepal appointed Prof. Tulasi Ram Vaidya as the fi rst Vice Chancellor on 4 August 2005. Similarly, Mr. Kedar Shakya was appointed as the Registrar on 31st August 2005. Upon the resignation of the latter, Prof. Khadga Man Shrestha succeeded him as the Registrar on 26th November 2007. As the university started working, Prof. Shanker Th apa of Central Department of History, Tribhuvan University was appointed as the Dean of LBU on 6th February 2009. Th enafter, University Council, Executive Council and the Academic Council were also constituted under the Act. With the implementation of Lumbini Bauddha Vishwavidyalaya Niyam -2067 (Lumbini Buddhist University Rules - 2010), a Research Committee was formed in July 2010 to regulate research programmes conducted by the university.

After the retirement of the fi rst Vice Chancellor, a selection committee was formed by the Chancellor to recommend a new VC for appointment. Consequently, Prof. Tri Ratna Manandhar, former Professor of History, Tribhuvan University, was appointed the second Vice Chancellor of Lumbini Buddhist University. Prof. Manandhar was formerly Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tribhuvan University and also worked in various capacities including a member of the National Curriculum Council, and also a member of the Royal Nepal Academy (Prajna Sabha). Prof. Manandhar joined the University as the Vice Chancellor on 12th March 2010.

After completion of tenure as Registrar of LBU, Prof. Khadga Man Shrestha was succeeded by Dr. Pitambar Lal Yadav as third Registrar of the LBU from 22nd Falguna 2068. Dr. Yadav was associated with Mahendra Vindeswori Multiple Campus, Rajbiraj. Subsequently Dr. Bhadra Ratna Bajracharya was appointed as the Dean of LBU with effect from 23rd Magh 2069 after completion of tenure of Prof. Dr. Sankhar Thapa as the Dean of LBU. Dr. Bajracharya was associated with Lotus Academic College, Lalitpur.

After completion of tenure of Prof. Dr. Tri Ratna Manandhar, as the second Vice Chancellor of LBU, The Chancellor at the recommendation of the selection committee, appointed Prof. Dr. Naresh Man Bajracharya as the third Vice Chancellor of LBU. Prof. Bajracharya was the founding Head of Central Department of Buddhist Studies, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. Associated with various Buddhist organizations, Prof. Bajracharya was a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence 2009-2010, in USA. He was also Member-Secretary of "Proposed Lumbini International Buddhist University Main Preparatory Committee 2061". He joined the University as the Vice-Chancellor on 9th November 2014.