Kolkata: Prominent Congress politician and religious leader Arya Kumar Gyanendra has been elected as vice president of Maha Bodhi Society of India.

Gyanendra was elected in the International General Council of Mahabodhi Society, which met here on Saturday.

The All India Mahabodhi Society was founded by 127 year ago by Bodhis Anagarika Dharmapal in Cylone, the erstwhile Sri Lanka.

The Maha Bodhi Society of India was founded by Anagarika Dhammapala in May, 1891 in Cylone, the erstwhile Sri Lanka, for the purpose of resuscitation Buddhism in India and of restoring the ancient Buddhist shrines at Buddha Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinara. Having its Headquarters in Kolkata in India its main attention has been paid in the restoration and revival of the glory and sanctity of Buddha Gaya.

Gyanendra has been dedicatedly working for the Odisha chapter of Society for over the last four decades. He is also involved in the religious and cultural activities of organisations like Arya Samaj, Dibya Jiban Singha, Puri Sri Gobardhan Pitha, Sishu Ananta Ashram of Baba Bali and Satya Seva Ashram of Baba Baikunthanath.

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