Paris, June 17 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condoled the death of American Buddhist scholar and academic Robert AF Thurman, remembering him as "a distinguished teacher and a lifelong friend of India" who helped popularise Buddhist thought globally and strengthened cultural understanding between nations.

In a post on X, PM Modi paid tribute to Thurman and recalled a meeting with him in New York in 2023.

"Deeply saddened by the passing of Mr Robert AF Thurman, an eminent scholar of Buddhism, a distinguished teacher and a lifelong friend of India. Through his works, he popularised Buddhist thoughts globally and also built enduring bridges of understanding between cultures. I fondly recall our meeting in New York City a few y...