Ladakh Culture Center:

The Tibetan Youth Congress in Ladakh had, some years ago discussed about the need for a Tibetan Cultural Centre in Ladakh. Considering the manpower and financial requirement for such a venture, the views expressed by the Tibetan Youth Congress there could not be put into a practical shape.

During the visit of the Men-Tsee-Khang Director August end, 1996, to inspect the clinics there, he had a meeting with the key settlement people, heads of the various organization etc. to explain Men-Tsee-Khang services and to seek material suggestions for improvements. Mr. Ngodup Wangdue, the Director of SOS Tibetan Children's Village explained the need for a Tibetan Cultural Centre in Ladakh. He explained that part from the Tibetan Children's Village, there is no Tibetan Centre in Ladakh. He explained that apart from the Tibetan Children's Village, there is no Tibetan Centre in Ladakh to promote our ancient culture. The scope for a Tibetan Cultural Centre is vast because many western tourists visit Ladakh every year for 5/6 months from April/May. Moreover, the Cultural Centre will be of great benefit to the local people there. The other key people who attended the meeting endorsed the idea of a cultural Centre there and had requested Men-Tsee-Khang to establish one unit there.

For the past many centuries, the Indian people of the Himalayan states had a strong religious and cultural contact with Tibet. Even in exile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama strongly feels that we should render maximum help to the Himalayan states in religious and cultural matters.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama had blessed the idea of a Tibetan Cultural Centre in Leh and said that such a Centre would be of great value in the region in the near future, provided Men-Tsee-Khang can take care of the financial requirements. He also advised that rather than going for rented premises in Le, it would be a good idea to raise constructions.

In late November 1996, Men-Tsee-Khang requested Dr. Daito Sadamitsu of Dana International Centre (DIC), Hiroshima, Japan to finance the project fully or partially. The DIC had earlier financed the construction of Bhandara Settlement Clinic and staff quarters. In May 1997, Dr. Daito Sadamitsu mentioned that the DIC might support the project entirely, but the members of the DIC will decide after the visit of Dr. Daito Sadamitsu to Ladakh.

As a special consideration for Men-Tsee-Khang, Tibetan Children Village (TCV) offered to sell the property for Rs. 1.5 millions. In June 1997, the Men-Tsee-Khang Governing Body discussed on the project as a whole, the offer given by TCV, future need for such a Centre etc. and had resolved to take the TCV property.

Scope of the Centre

The Tibetan Cultural Centre in Ladakh will emphasis more on Tibetan Medical and Astrological tradition. Besides, it will pay attention to include those aspects of Tibetan Religion and Culture, which are unique and attracting great attention by scholars, researchers and historians.

For 5 to 6 months in a year starting from April, Ladakh has heavy and increasing inflow of western tourists, many of whom have great interest in Tibetan medicine and Astrology and other aspects of Tibetan Buddhism and Culture.

The Centre will have Museum, Library, Lecture Hall, and Clinic.

Museum

The museum will house a varied and impressive collection of items mainly relating to Tibetan medicine, astronomy and astrology. It exhibits will include the following items, many of the manufacture of medicines, including salts, rocks, minerals, metals, fossils, coral shells, berries, nuts, seeds, pulses, rCTAs, herbs, flowers, wood and bark, a variety of pills and the tools and medical instruments used to manufacture medicines etc.

Astrological items such as - parka text; and astrological text containing information about the almanac; the wheel of sa dbag Ho phye (the begging for land); sa-gshong (a traditional Calculating Board), Icags smyut (an iron rod), a thruma for measuring time, a mandala of the four elements representing the formation of the universe, the wheel for determining the ascendant sign at birth, a protective amulet, graphical charts (the aspects of the nine planets), the planetary paths, Tibetan almanac etc.

There will be many medical and astrological thankas, such as the medicinal tree illustrating the allegorical and diagnosis trees, a thanka illustrating the nerves and how they interact with the body, a thanka illustrating the number of bones in the body, the thanka of protection, Gola (the thanka of Universe Formation/Mandala of four elements, the thanka of Kalachakra etc.

Besides the exhibits in medical and astrological fields, there will be other religious and cultural exhibits, which are unique and are of great interests to the scholars and tourists.

Library

The library will stock books on Tibetan Medicine and Astrology, Tibetan Buddhism and Culture, Tibet and Tibetans and those relating to the Himalayan regions, especially Ladakh. Ladakh attracts many tourists from different western countries, most of whom know and wish to know more about Tibet and Tibetans.

There are many Tibet related periodicals and magazines, both priced and unpriced in various languages, notably English, French, German, Spanish etc. The library will include some dailies and periodicals published by various organizations.

According to the list provided by the Libray of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, there are nearly 200 Foreign Language periodicals and magazines related to Tibet and Tibetans. The Ladakh Centre will endeavor to include most of these by way of subscriptions, donations, exchange basis etc.

Lecture Hall

A Lecture Hall, having a seating capacity of 40-50, will be well equipped to give lectures and courses by modern methods. In order to facilitate maintenance, storage and transportation, one-piece plastic chairs, the hall will have teaching aids such as White Board, Flip Chart Stand, Over-Head Projector, facilities for screening video films, sound systems etc.

A series of lectures, short term courses, sermons etc., especially relating to Tibetan medicine and astrology will be one of the important activities of the Centre, especially during the tourist season from April to September. All lectures, short-term courses will be charged at a nominal rate. However, sermons by lamas, may not be charged.

Apart from lectures and short-term teachings in Tibetan medicine and Astrology, there will be similar lectures in other aspects of Tibetan culture. Social and Political issues relating to Tibet and Tibetans will also be encouraged.

Clinic

Choglamsar, which has the maximum Tibetan population, has a clinic with a resident Doctor. But it is important to have a clinic in the Centre. It is more convenient for the people of Agling Tibetan Settlement to come to the Choglomsar clinic or wait for the medical team to come to Agling on a weekly basis. The Cultural Centre is very close to the Leh Civil Hospital and hence many patients may want to take advantage of the Tibetan medicine. May western tourists are now taking Tibetan medicine and a clinic in the Centre will be great benefit to the tourists, those using our library, those coming for the course/lectures etc. The Centre is much more closer and convenient for those residing in Leh, proper.

With regard to staffing, the Director will assess and co-ordinate the different and seasonal medical services in Ladakh - Choglamsar clinics, weekly visits to the Agling Tibetan Settlement, mobile clinic to the Jangthang region and clinic in the Tibetan Cultural Centre. The Mobile Clinic in Jangthang region and the clinic in the Centre are seasonal.