A YOUNG LADAKHI MONK’S INITIATIVE · Jigmet Basgo Jigmet was a part of the ‘Internship...
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Jigmet Basgo Jigmet was a part of the ‘Internship Program’ at Asia Plateau, Panchgani (Centre of ‘Initiatives of Change’ - a world- wide movement committed to social change starting from oneself) from February to May, 2010. During his time there he had an inspired thought of taking the ideas of change & change starting from oneself, to the youth of Ladakh. This entire outreach was an outcome of his adherence to this conviction of his. He believes that this is the first of many such initiatives in Ladakh. Jigmet is currently the President of the Ladakhi Students’ Union, Varanasi. This initiative would never have taken shape without the strong support of the union. nnn Ladakh, crowning the north of India, is perched in the perilous heights of the Himalayas. It is just one very high step away from the Roof of the World, Tibet. Here the first Bmer has to slow down to adjust to breathing in this oxygen sparse atmosphere at 3000 metres and above. Remote and opened to the world in 1974, this year the 236539 Ladakhi populaBon (mainly TibetoBuddhist and Muslims largely from the Kargil district) hosts 100,000 tourists drawn by the staggering rugged beauty of the terrain and the aSracBve gentle way of life and values of its people. A 24–year old Ladakhi Buddhist monk, Jigmet Basgo, this year’s President of the Ladakhi Students Union in Varanasi, took the iniBaBve to organize a twoday IniBaBves of Change (www.iofc.org ) workshop – very likely the first ever on June 89 for students in Leh. A YOUNG LADAKHI MONK’S INITIATIVE ‘L ADAKH - I C ARE ’ 9 J U N E 2 0 1 1 , L E H
Transcript of A YOUNG LADAKHI MONK’S INITIATIVE · Jigmet Basgo Jigmet was a part of the ‘Internship...
Jigmet Basgo Jigmet was a part of the ‘Internship Program’ at Asia Plateau, Panchgani (Centre of ‘Initiatives of Change’ - a world-wide movement committed to social change starting from oneself) from February to May, 2010. During his time there he had an inspired thought of taking the ideas of change & change starting from oneself, to the youth of Ladakh. This entire outreach was an outcome of his adherence to this conviction of his. He believes that this is the first of many such initiatives in Ladakh.
Jigmet is currently the President of the Ladakhi Students’ Union, Varanasi. This initiative would never have taken shape without the strong support of the union.
nnn
Ladakh, crowning the north of India, is perched in the perilous heights of the Himalayas. It is just one very high step away from the Roof of the World, Tibet. Here the first Bmer has to slow down to adjust to breathing in this oxygen sparse atmosphere at 3000 metres and above.
Remote and opened to the world in 1974, this year the 236539 Ladakhi populaBon (mainly Tibeto-‐Buddhist and Muslims largely from the Kargil district) hosts 100,000 tourists drawn by the staggering rugged beauty of the terrain and the aSracBve gentle way of life and values of its people.
A 24–year old Ladakhi Buddhist monk, Jigmet Basgo, this year’s President of the Ladakhi Students Union in Varanasi, took the iniBaBve to organize a two-‐day IniBaBves of Change (www.iofc.org) workshop – very likely the first ever -‐ on June 8-‐9 for students in Leh.
A Y O U N G L A D A K H I M O N K ’ S I N I T I A T I V E
‘LADAKH - I CARE’
9 J U N E 2 0 1 1 , L E H
“I am impressed by these students who use their holidays to talk about moral values to inspire other students. We see hope for Ladakh.” said the Chief ExecuBve Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Rigzin Spalbar, opening this “India, I Care!” workshop for about 125 students of six schools -‐ three Buddhist and one Muslim and two government schools.
Shri Spalbar is the administraBve head of the whole of the Leh region of Ladakh, a relaBvely recent post since power over the region shided from Srinagar to Leh.
“I am worried for the next generaBon,” he conBnued. “They go to Delhi, Chandigarh etc to study and get spoilt. They are first generaBon learners. They are forgeeng moral values.
“In the light of that, this workshop will go a long way in preserving our moral values and in protecBng our culture and our language.
Therefore, the role of the Ladakhi Students’ Union of Varanasi in organizing this is commendable.
“It is good you have called these facilitators to inspire you. I thank them for taking the trouble to come here. I appreciate you and support you. That is why I phoned the Hoteliers AssociaBon, Taxi Union, Truck Union, the Travel Agents to help.
Rigzin Spalbar
Even if you achieve 10% of what you speak of, it is worth it. This is a ray of hope for us.”
The Ladakh Buddhist AssociaBon Youth Wing President, Tsewang Thinles whose associaBon also gave a financial contribuBon for the workshop said: “We are proud that we have unity between religions in Ladakh. This kind of workshop is very helpful for the welfare of our society. And we will make a special provision and project for such future workshops in Ladakh.”
The monk, Jigmet Basgo, the chief organizer of the workshop appealed to the students: “Let’s live an era of dialogue. Let’s live posiBvely – Buddhists and Muslims. We have the power to
make a difference. Let’s avoid intolerance and casteism. You have the strength to make change.”
Both Leh’s Chief ExecuBve Councillor and the Ladakh Buddhist AssociaBon head have asked for more IniBaBves of Change workshops in the future and will write in budgetary allocaBons for them.
Tsewang Thinles & Jigmet Basgo
