A brand new IT Centre funded by the Government of India was opened at the Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University, Battambang (SBUBB), on Wednesday.
Dr Devyani Khobragade, Ambassador of India to Cambodia, inaugurated the centre which was built with a donation from India’s Quick Impact Project (QIP) under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC).
The MGC is an initiative by six countries – India and five other Asean countries, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – for cooperation in tourism, culture, education, as well as transport and communications.
The event, attended by senior monks, began with the ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by Buddhist prayers.
Venerable Vy Sovechea, president of SBUBB, in his opening remarks, thanked the Embassy of India for establishing the IT Centre at SBU.
“India and Cambodia share a centuries-old relationship, and the ancient Gurukula or Monastic education system also connects India to Cambodia. We are still following the monastic system of education,” he said.
“Many Cambodian scholars travelled to India for studies and the most popular scholar is Maha Ghosananda, one of the spiritual patrons of SBU Battambang Branch.”
Maha Ghoshananda received his PhD from Nav Nalanda University in the north Indian state of Bihar; and has spent 20 years of his spiritual journey in India.
India and Cambodia not only share cultural ties but philosophical views and knowledge also.
“This IT centre at SBU Battambang Branch will not only be beneficial for young Buddhist monks, but also the girl students and others from far-flung areas. Besides, computer literacy is very important for the students in this era,” Ven Sovechea added.
During her speech, Dr Devyani Khobragade congratulated the entire team at SBUBB, for successfully establishing the IT Centre in record time and expressed her delight that this project has been completed during her tenure.
“SBUBB and the Embassy of India are closest partners in the field of education and research and taking forth our common goals of spreading the ideals of Buddhism, which is one of the strongest bonds between India and Cambodia,” she said.
“SBU Main branch and Battambang branch, thus, played a very important role in promoting India-Cambodia relations in modern contemporary times. India and Cambodia have been maintaining close civilizational and cultural links from ancient times.”
The Ambassador said the relationship has stood the test of time with India always standing with Cambodia through its political and development journey.
She added that it is the ideals of Buddhism, especially the principle of taking a middle path, that guides the Government of India in its contemporary political relations with Cambodia, and regionally and globally as well.
She added that the inauguration of the IT Centre under the QIP scheme is another fruitful project which will contribute towards improvements in learning, academic performance, higher student enrollment, as well as facilities for teachers.
Mekong-Ganga Cooperation was launched in 2000 in Vientiane, Laos.
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