In 1874, the brilliant civil engineer Sarat Chandra Das was recruited by the British as a spy in Darjeeling. The Empire wanted to train local agents to gather in-depth intelligence about Tibet--a mysterious kingdom closed off to all outsiders for years--in order to consolidate their position in South Asia and outplay Russia in the Great Game. Equipped with hidden compasses, hundred-bead rosaries (to discreetly measure distances), and an excellent knowledge of Buddhism and the local language, Das set out into the harsh early winter of 1881, through the snow-filled passes of Sikkim and Nepal on his second foray into Tibet. Though an agent of its enemy, Das fell in love with the land of his mission. He stayed at the Tashilhunpo monastery for five months transcribing ancient Buddhist texts, studying the language and teaching English to the Panchen Lama. In his diary, he noted the various customs of dress, cuisine, architecture and the local politics throughout his journey. He also wrote about ordinary village life as he saw it--the extortion of the common people by the Chinese, and the ravages of smallpox in places with little or no medical help. When he finally reached Lhasa, he was struck by the grandeur of the city's ancient shrines and the monasteries dotting its mountains. He even managed an audience with the thirteenth Dalai Lama, then an eight-year-old boy with 'rosy cheeks'. Journey to Lhasa is the account of a treacherous yet illuminating adventure, which paints an intimate portrait of a people and a place that today exist only in memory.
Tibetan-English-Dictionary is useful for the Tibetan students and particularly to assist European scholars in the through exploration of the vast literature of Tibet, which besides indigenous works, comprises almost all the Buddhist religious works of India, including the great collections of the Kahgyar and the Tangyur.
A Journey to Lhasa and Central Tibet is a record of explorer Sarat Chandra Das travels through Sikkim into Tibet during the years 1879 1881. Das is considered as one of the greatest pioneering travellers who ever entered Tibet. This marvelous primary resource later edited by W.W. Rockhill covers Das journey from Darjeeling to Tashilhunpo, his residence there, on to Dongtse, and his onward journey to Lhasa via Tashilhunpo and Yamdo Samding. From his time at Lhasa, he gives details about the government of Lhasa, their customs, festivals, and culture. He records his return journey to Tashilhunpo and Ugyen-Gyatso s visit to the Bonbo Sanctuary of Rigyial Sendar. He describes in detail the funeral of Panchen Rinpoche, his visit to the Great Lamasery of Samye and to Yarlung. His visit to Sakya is also recorded, and his subsequent return to India, where he explored the idea of social divisions, marriage, funerals, medicine and festivals of Tibet. This book is a witness to Sarat Chandra Das tremendous work, and is an example of what a travelogue should be.
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