DHARAMSHALA: Education Kalon Dr Pema Yangchen attended the 5th non-sectarian Geshe and 17th BA graduation ceremony of College for Higher Tibetan Studies based in Sarha near Dharamshala. The ceremony also marked the conclusion of the 10-month training of prospective Tibetan civil servants at the institute.
Besides Kalon Dr Pema Yangchen, other dignitaries at the graduation include Kashag Secretary Topgyal Tsering, Religion and Culture Secretary Tenzin Lungtok, and Passang Tsering, Principal of College of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarha.
The graduation ceremony began with opening remarks by Geshe Kalsang Damdul, the General secretary of Institute of Buddhist Dialectics (IBD), followed by the release of a book on the life of Jetsun Lobsang Gyatso, founder of College of Higher Tibetan Studies.
Secretary Tenzin Lungtok from the Department of Religion and Culture presented the certificates to the newly graduates of 5th non-sectarian Geshe degree and Kashag Secretary Topgyal Tsering presented the training-completion certificates to the new CTA recruits. Kalon Pema Yangchen presented the certificates to the new graduates of 17th BA degree.
In her address, Education Kalon paid tributes to Jetsun Lobsang Gyatso, the founder of CHTS, who she described as a devout follower of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and expressed admiration at the achievements of the college that he has founded. She called the college as a pivotal center of Tibetan religion and culture, and an institute of high academic standard.
She talked about the richness of Tibetan history and language, and lamented the lack of academic knowledge of these subjects in students of other disciplines. Therefore, she said that the students of the college has an added responsibility to preserve Tibetan language and the rich narrative of Tibetan history. She further urged the students to carry on researching and studying to excel in their line of study.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Tenzin Miley, secretary of the college.