The Journal of the Maha Bodhi Society (abbreviated at times as MBJ, and later adding the subtitle and united Buddhist World) was established by Anagarika Dharmapala (born Don David Hewavitharana) to facilitate communication in South Asia among the Buddhists, theosophists and supporters of Maha Bodhi cause, and till 1902 Dharmapala took active part in its editorial decisions. Although the initial issues were named Journal, functionally it served the same ends that of a periodical, or a newsletter; and it is not before the 1980s the term Journal was conceived in an academic sense. While the Journal did have a target readership in mind, it generated interest among the English-learned gentlemen of Calcutta, prompting the Journal to publish book reviews and book advertisements, alongside continuing to publish news regarding the developments of the ‘united Buddhist world’, official correspondences, treatises for the philosopher-universalists as well and philosophical, social and spiritual commentaries. It is noteworthy that Dharmapala continued to edit the Journal using the name H. Dharmapala, the ‘H’ possibly corresponds to his family name at birth, and no other official usage of this name are currently known. EAP1546 will continue to digitise the extant issues of the Journal till 1950s, all of which are bound in hardback volumes, in cases without retaining the original cover.
Extent: Around 25 hardbound volumes corresponding to Journals from 1892 to 1950.
Condition of original material: Restored using acid-free paper, printing ink fading at times, tears and insect-eaten portions obscure text.
Custodial history: As of the present historical records are concerned, it is quite difficult to ascertain whether Anagarika Dharmapala, the founding President of the Maha Bodhi Society was at all interested in preserving past issues of the Journal which was edited by him. Therefore, Devapriya Valisinha, the second president to Maha Bodhi Society, who was primarily responsible for its organising structure, is accredited for the institutionalisation of the same. Extant copies of this Journal may also be present from the Offices of Maha Bodhi Society at Sarnath.
Arrangement: The collection consists of chronologically arranged volumes, and each volume corresponds to roughly 20 to 25 issues of journals published within the course of two years. Earlier volumes, including the inaugural one, carried at times just 8 pages, and as the Society continued to increase its stakehold in the reading circles of Calcutta, the number of pages continued to increase, resulting in fewer number of journals per volume. Presently, the collection is maintained by a Librarian who serves as a voluntary member of the Society.
Author(s)/Creator(s): Following the traditions of Anagarika Dharmapala, the serving presidents have been the editors of the Journal.
Publisher(s): Maha Bodhi Society of India.
