WELCOME TO HIMALAYAN CULTURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION

Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation -HCHF is a registered community-based, non-government organization, devoted to promote and conserve indigenous, natural and historic heritage of Himalaya by working directly with the different mountain communities and strengthening and supporting community based institutions. More than anything, we lay great stress on trainings and workshops that ensures more practical and beneficial outcomes both in terms of learning and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Himalayas.

The main objective of the foundation is to promote and preserve rich Himalayan cultural heritage which includes built, cultural and natural heritages, art and crafts skills, folk traditions, community based management of cultural and natural resources and language and literature. Another important aim is to encourage scientific research and documentation on the impact of climate change on these mountain cultures with the aim of developing sustainable solutions to mitigate these impacts. The HCHF programs are being continued in Ladakh and gradually be expended to other parts of Himalayas.

Founder

Abiding by the promise made to the most Ven. Late Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, after completion of my doctorate degree I decided to come back home leaving every lucrative job opportunity to serve my own people and society. Today, I feel extremely fortunate to be appointed as tutor to the 20th Bakula Rinpoche who, in his previous life sent me to Sri Lanka for higher studies.

Born in the village of Khardong Rongjuk, in Nubra valley, until the age of 11 years, I was fully engaged in the family farming business, to watch the sheep and goats. Up to that time I had never been to school. My elder brother, however, recognized that I was gifted and arranged for my enrolment at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) in Leh, the capital of Ladakh where I studied Buddhist Philosophy, Tibetan, Hindi, English and other modern subjects. To my good luck, soon I received a scholarship through Ven, the 19th Bakula Rinpoche to study Buddhism in Sri Lanka based on my excellent results at the CIBS. In 1991, I travelled to Sri Lanka where I studied Buddhist Social Philosophy at the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka and received my B.A. (Hons) degree from the same university in 1996.

This distinction gave me immediate access to the University of Delhi to pursue M.A. degree. In the meantime, I received Diploma in Tibetan Language and Literature, English and Journalism and also qualified National Eligibility Test (NET) which qualified me for teaching in any University in India. I received research fellowship from University Grant Commission (UGC) for pursuing doctorate studies on “Origin and Development of Sakya Tradition in the Western Himalaya with Special Reference to Matho Monastery in Ladakh” and in 2006, I was awarded with doctorate degree from the Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi.

To make the best use of my knowledge, I began my work as a researcher/programme co-ordinator for Namgyal Institute for Research on Ladakhi Art and Culture and worked on two major projects. One, Inventory of Cultural Resources in Ladakh funded by Ford Foundation and second, Revival of Monastic Art Crafts funded by UNESCO. In the meantime, I attended seminars and workshops in several countries and even received invitations to give lectures in foreign universities.

It was my concern and love for cultural heritage of Himalayas that in 2009, I founded the Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation-HCHF with the aim of promoting and preserving Himalayan indigenous cultural heritage. After working as Ladakh Liaison Officer for International Association for Ladakh Studies (IALS) from 2009 to 2011, presently I’m appointed the Hon’ble Secretary for IALS based on my research works, experience, dedication and service.

Today, I’m a contented human being with whatever I’m doing, may be on small scale for my society. My belief in life is to perform every task with perfection and dedication. Going with this belief of mine, my endeavour would be to give my best in preserving and promoting the culture and heritage of Ladakh in particular and Himalayas in general using HCHF as the commencing platform.

GET INVOLVED

Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation appreciates donations, contributions and volunteers to support different activities initiated by HCHF. Our foundation relies on the generosity of philanthropic individuals like you in preserving cultural heritage in the Himalayas and educating people about the importance