2017 Nalanda Award recipient – Datuk Charlie Chia from Petaling Jaya.

On 1 July 2017, Nalanda Institute Malaysia had the honour of conferring the ‘2017 NALANDA AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP INTEGRITY’ to Datuk Charlie Chia.  In the 1970’s and 80’s, he played a vital role in the formation and development of several Buddhist organisations in Malaysia, including the Buddhist Missionary Society Youth Section, the Buddhist Society of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kota Tinggi Buddhist Society, Mettā Lodge Johor Bahru, and Kuantan Buddhist Association.

In addition, Datuk Charlie was a pioneer member of Buddhist Gem Fellowship, and a former President of Bandar Utama Buddhist Society.  He is also a key figure in supporting the development of Mahābodhi International Meditation Centre in Ladakh, India.

Datuk Charlie is an experienced speaker who has inspired many people with his logical and practical way of presenting the Dhamma.  All these achievements demonstrate his hard work, good planning, and most importantly, the element of integral leadership.  Without sound leadership, not much can be accomplished even with the best ideas, intentions, and available resources.

We therefore salute the achievements of Datuk Charlie Chia, and compliment his noble services rendered to the Malaysian Buddhist community as well as to Mahābodhi Ladakh, for the past three decades.  We record our appreciation to him and his family for their sacrifices all these years.  Very often, words of thanks may have been left unsaid, but your kind deeds and noble services have not gone unnoticed.  Sādhu ānumodanā!