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Prajnananda Mahathera is a socially engaged Buddhist monk in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh.[1]
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Prajnananda Mahathera | |
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| 𑄛𑄳𑄢𑄧𑄉𑄳𑄉𑄚𑄧𑄚𑄴𑄘𑄧 𑄟𑄧𑄦𑄗𑄬𑄢𑄮 | |
The founder and chairman of Banophool Adibashi Green Heart College and Banophool Adibashi Education Foundation Trust | |
| Born | February 1, 1952 |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Education | University of Chittagong and Dhaka University |
| Occupation | Buddhist Monk |
| Known for | Contribution in education, social reform in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) |
| Website | prajnananda |
Prajnananda Mahathera was born on 1 February 1952 at Babuchara Village under Dighinala Upazila in Khagrachari district of present-day Bangladesh. His family name is Balendra Dev Chakma. His father's name was Narendra Lal Chakma and his mother's name is Indrapati Chakma. Mahathera is the youngest of their 4 sons. His father passed away when he was one year old. Mahathera's family was difficult, however, he persuaded to succeed in study. He became teacher in his village after passing class five to support his family's finance.[2]
Mahathera completed his primary education at a primary school in his village. After completion of his primary education his family was unable to continue his education due to poverty. He continued his education with some money he earned by tutoring small children near to his home. Thus he completed his Junior School Certificate. In 1965, at the age of 17 he went to Parbatya Chattal Bouddha Anath Ashram (Chittagong Hill Tracts Buddhist Orphanage) at Boalkhali, Dighinala built and managed by its Chief Abbot Jnanashree Mahathera. During his stay at this orphanage he completed his Secondary School Certificate examination from Dighinala High School in 1968. In the same year he ordained higher ordination as Bhikkhu.
In 1969, he went to Mirzapur Shantidam Vihara in Chittagong for higher education. He studied his Higher Secondary School Certificate at Nazirhat Degree College and then Hathazari College from where he successfully completed his HSC degree in 1972. In 1977 and 1978 he successfully completed his BA(Hons) and MA in Bengali Literature from the University of Chittagong. He also did M.A. in Pali Literature from the Dhaka University in 1980.[3]
In 1974, while he was studying in the University of Chittagong, he took the charge of General Secretary of the Parbatya Chattal Bouddha Anath Ashram (PCBAA). In the same year, he began to establish another orphanage at Rangapani of Rangamati named Moanoghar with guidance and advice of his preceptor Jnanashree Mahathera, the founder and Chief Abbot of the Boalkhali Dashabal Raj Vihara and the Parbatya Chattal Bouddha Anath Ashram, and in consultation with some monks and lay devotees.[4] To provide modern education to the orphan and destitute children he established the Moanoghar High School in 1980.
The Moanoghar NGO and Moanoghar Children's Home are situated in Rangamati Municipality. The Moanoghar Children's home is an institution developing human resources in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Mahathera served as the general secretary of this children's home from 1974 to 2008. He served as the general secretary of the Parbatya Chattal Bouddha Anath Ashram from 1974 to 1986. In 1980, he founded Moanoghar Onath Ashram Abasik Bidyalay ("Moanoghar Residential School") in Rangapani, Rangamati and Anath Ashram Abasik Uccha Bidyalay ("Orphanage Residential High School") at Boalkhali under Dighinala Upazila in the Khagrachhari District of Bangladesh. He served as the Chairman of the Managing Committee of the Schools from 1986 to 2008.[5]
Besides, Mahathera founded Jnana and Prajna Charcha Pathagar (Library for the Practice of Wisdom and Knowledge), Rangamati and Buddha Dharmiya Anchalik Pathagar (Regional Library of Buddhism) at Ananda Vihara.
Parbatya Bhikkhu Sangha Bangladesh is the Supreme Sangha Council and the oldest religious organization of the greater Chittagong Hill Tracts. The objective of this organization is to promote and spread the teachings of the great Buddha in Chittagong Hill Tracts as well as in the country for the "happiness and well-being of many". This organization has been playing a unique role in preaching Buddhism and religious reform in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Mahathera served as the general secretary of this organization from 1978 to 1988. He also served as the president of Parbatya Bhikkhu Sangha since 2011 to 2014.
The Parbatya Bouddha Sangha Bangladesh is a Dhaka-based NGO. He took over the charge of the President of this NGO in 1987. He served as its president from the year 1987 to 1995, 1998 to February 2013.
 | This section may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. (December 2018) |
Mahathera visited many countries including the India, France, UK, United States, Thailand, Canada, South Korea, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, as the general secretary and chief representative of Moanoghar and Parbattya Chattal Buddhist Orphanage in between 1980 and 1997. Besides, he jointed several international peace conferences-
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