By — Dilip Guha
Dr Kaynat Kazi is recognized as India’s first female solo traveller, and she has collected an impressive one lakh memories through her photographs. Over the past five years, she has travelled approximately three lakh kilometres in India and abroad. Kaynat is a photographer, travel writer, and blogger, but she prefers to define herself primarily as a solo female traveller, as travelling is her true passion. While photography serves as her hobby, her love for literature and research has further enriched her passion for exploration.
Her coffee table book titled “The Monasteries of Bodh Gaya-Adobe of Cultural Amalgamation of South Asia.” (English & Hindi), launched on December 6th, 2024, at the Madan Mohan Malviya Auditorium, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, New Delhi. Through this book, children will get a chance to learn about the cultural heritage and history of Bodh Gaya.
The launch event was a collaboration between the literary society of Hansraj College and the Bougainvillea Art Foundation. The book was launched by Mrs Sudha Murty, Trustee, Murthy Trust & Member of Parliament, and the session was chaired by Mrs Vanathi Srinivasan, National President- Mahila Morcha, BJP & member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Sri. K K Mohammed, Renowned archaeologist and Padma awardee, Dr Sachidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, New Delhi, and Prof. (Dr.) Rama, Principal, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, New Delhi was also present on the occasion
On this occasion, Mrs Sudha Murty said many things related to Lord Buddha and Bodh Gaya. She said that Buddha was a person who established peace.
Highlighting the inadequacies in historical documentation, Mrs. Murty stressed that India should not be defined solely by Bollywood or its software industry but should also be celebrated for its rich and diverse culture. She said
“If the youth of India does not know the history of their country, they will not know the future. Indian history has not been documented properly, so many important facts are not in front of us today. We learn a lot from our history. India mustn’t be known only for Bollywood and software but also for its great culture to be recognized all over the world.”
Bodh Gaya is unique for several reasons. First and foremost, it is the most significant location in Buddha’s life, as he attained enlightenment there under the Mahabodhi Tree 2,600 years ago. The entire region serves as a testament to Buddha’s path to enlightenment, and the historical and cultural remnants can be observed throughout Bodh Gaya. Situated in Bihar, about 100 km from the state capital Patna. The Mahabodhi Temple complex of Bodh Gaya is famous for Buddhist temples. The earliest temple in the complex dates back to the 3rd century BC. It was built by Emperor Ashoka in 700 AD and after that many temples were built here.
The book provides an accurate cultural record of forty monasteries located in Bodhgaya. These monasteries reflect the various civilizations of South Asian countries. Through this work, the author captures the true essence of the place while documenting the cultural legacy of these nations.
As a cultural conservationist, the author is dedicated to preserving heritage for future generations, following in the footsteps of great travellers and archaeologists from the past.
Author Kaynat has had a distinguished academic career, working for nearly a decade at Shiv Nadar University and managing the Center for Culture and Arts at the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies. She conducted significant research on cultural documentation and contributed to cultural mapping in Uttarakhand under the IGNCA’s National Cultural Mapping Mission. She holds a PhD in Hindi Literature and has authored eleven books.
Her travel writings have earned multiple awards, including the Paryatan Ratna Samman and the ABP News Best Hindi Blogger Award. She is the founder of Rahagiri, India’s first Hindi travel photography blog, and her work has been showcased in photo exhibitions.
A seasoned writer, Kaynat has written extensively on tourism and culture for major Hindi newspapers. She currently leads the Bougainvillea Art Foundation, focusing on the preservation and promotion of India’s cultural heritage.
This book penned by her offers visual joy, inner peace, and intellectual enjoyment. Bodhgaya has never seen anything like this before.
The book available in English and Hindi languages is the result of cultural documentation at 41 monasteries in Bodhgaya. The goal of this project is to conserve our country’s heritage and make it accessible to all. As a cultural conservationist, she strives to preserve the heritage for future generations in the same way that previous great travelers and archeologists did.
She said, “We feel that knowledge distribution is vital, and we are working to share it as much as possible by making a soft copy available in the country’s libraries for students and scholars to use freely”.
“The book emphasizes Bodh Gaya as a must-see destination. The English and Hindi versions of the e-books can be viewed and downloaded for free from the Bougainvillea Art Foundation website. It is a collaborative effort of like-minded individuals to promote Indian culture and history and expect more and more students to benefit from it.”
