The Battle for Jambudvīpa
Pseudohistory in Sri Lanka
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15848/hh.v18.2257Keywords:
Concept of history, Historical Knowledge, IndiaAbstract
This study critically examines contemporary efforts to reinterpret Jambudvīpa by relocating key Buddhist sites from their historically recognised locations in India to Sri Lanka. Analysing the works of selected Sinhalese authors and organisations demonstrates how such claims, often framed as expressions of cultural pride or nationalist revival, contradict well-established archaeological, textual, and epigraphic evidence. Although presented in patriotic terms, these narratives lack scholarly credibility and advance ideological agendas aimed at reshaping national identity through religious history. The current study underscores the importance of rigorous, evidence-based historiography in countering pseudohistorical claims and promoting a balanced understanding of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heritage.
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