New Delhi, June 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow on Thursday over the passing of Robert A.F. Thurman, a Padma Shri awardee. He described Thurman as a prominent Buddhist scholar, a distinguished teacher, and a lifelong friend of India.
In a post on the social media platform X, PM Modi wrote, “Through his work, Thurman popularized Buddhist thoughts globally and established strong bridges of understanding and dialogue between diverse cultures.”
The Prime Minister added, “I am deeply saddened by the demise of Robert A.F. Thurman, a renowned scholar of Buddhism, a distinguished teacher, and a lifelong friend of India. His contributions made Buddhist ideas well-known worldwide and fostered understanding among various cultures. I fondly remember our meeting in New York a few years ago, where we had a wonderful conversation. My condolences are with his family, friends, and admirers during this time of grief.”
Professor Robert Thurman, one of the leading international scholars of Tibetan Buddhism, was honored with India’s highest civilian award, the Padma Shri. He was a long-time friend of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Tibet House US announced on Wednesday that he passed away at the age of 84.
A statement read, “We are deeply saddened to inform you that Robert A.F. Thurman, a renowned American Buddhist scholar, co-founder of Tibet House US, author, and translator, passed away on Tuesday morning, June 16, in Woodstock, New York. The Thurman family requests privacy at this time.”
PM Modi met Professor Thurman in New York on June 21, 2023. During their meeting, they shared thoughts on how Buddhist values could guide solutions to global challenges.
According to a statement from the Indian government, they also discussed India’s efforts to preserve its Buddhist heritage and engagement.
The Consul General of India in New York expressed sorrow on X, stating, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Professor Robert Thurman, one of the world’s foremost scholars of Buddhism and a great friend of India.”
The Consul General further noted, “Professor Thurman’s lifelong dedication to Indo-Tibetan Buddhist studies helped convey the enduring wisdom of the Buddha to generations worldwide and deepened the understanding of India’s rich spiritual heritage. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Nena Thurman and her grieving family.”
According to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), headquartered in this hill station in Himachal Pradesh, Professor Thurman authored, edited, and translated numerous books on Tibetan Buddhism.
Professor Thurman, the father of actress Uma Thurman, held the title of J. Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University. He also served as the president of Tibet House US and the American Institute of Buddhist Studies. He translated the Vimalakirti Sutra from the Tibetan Kagyur into English.
Renowned for his translations and interpretations of Tibetan Buddhist religious and philosophical texts, Professor Thurman was named one of the 25 most influential Americans in 1997. In 2006, New York Magazine recognized him as one of the “influential people” in religion.
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