Father of Cambodian Buddhism dies

News that will sadden many people in Cambodia and across the globe is the death of Maha Ghosananda, a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated monk who was a major factor in the rebirth of Buddhism in Cambodia after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. He passed away in the US, where he'd been a frequent visitor since the late '80s. Born in 1929 in Takeo, he was elected a Supreme Cambodian Buddhist Patriarch by fellow monks in 1988 for his tireless efforts to revive Buddhism, human rights and for peace. In advocating the latter, he led a series of 'Dhammayietra' peace walks in Cambodia in the '90s and received four Nobel Peace Prize nominations for his efforts. Tributes have been flowing in already for the 'Father of Cambodian Buddhism' and his wisdom, patience and understanding will be sorely missed in his mother country, where he was held in such high esteem.

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The arrival of Weyreap's Battle in London at the end of this month, courtesy of Phnom Penh's Royal University of Fine Arts (Rufa), Cambodia's National Theatre and Amrita Performing Arts, and already advertised in this blog, has been nicely documented by Robert Turnbull in The Independent newspaper in the UK. You can read his report of the forthcoming performance from 30 March to 1 April at The Barbican Theatre in London here.