The chief guest Ven. Geshe Lhakdor inaugurated the e-textbook.

Dharamshala: The Department of Religion and Culture (CTA) launched a digital textbook of compositions by Kasur Kirti Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin on Friday, 29th October 2021. The e-book was compiled by Ven. Redo Sangay, a professor at Kirti monastery, and was made readily available due to its digital nature by Ven. Saru Dhargey and Ven. Zoetsang Loden, director and staff at the computer section of Kirti Monastery.

The chief guest at the launch ceremony was Geshe Lhakdor, Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA). Other guests Secretary Chime Tseyang of the Department of Religion and Culture.

The e-book titled “The Necklace for Intelligent Students” by Kriti Rinpoche has already been published in hardcopy and distributed to various monasteries and schools last year. However, as Secretary Chime Tseyang said during the event, due to difficulties in accessing hardcopies by students abroad, the newly introduced digital textbook could be helpful for them as it could easily be downoaded and printed from the Department’s website.

Ven. Redo Sangay, who assembled the compositions, introduced the objectives of Kirti Rinpoche for composing the textbook and the purpose of the textbook during the event. He pointed out that the contents of the textbook were neither biased based on religious schools nor does it include any politically sensitive content to make it applicable for every Tibetan belonging to the different religious schools and for Tibetans residing both inside and outside Tibet. 

Ven. Redo added that Kirti Rinpoche’s formulation of the textbook for primary and secondary students was intended to preserve the Tibetan language and traditions. Hence, attempts were also made in distributing the book inside Tibet which, unfortunately, was deterred by Chinese officials.

Following the introduction made by Ven. Redo, the Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture presented ceremonial Tibetan scarves to the team.

Chief Guest Ven. Geshe Lhakdor emphasised the need to preserve the Tibetan language and tradition in the face of growing annihilatory policies imposed by the Chinese government.

Ven. Redo Sangay introducing the digital book.

A glimpse of the e-book launch event