Hi there,
There was a very heavy snowfall in the lower Ladakh region of Sham which has brought the temperatures much low. Some tourists are still there enjoying the harsh weather conditions here now?
The second fortnight of October had been rather very hectic for the family and friends of ‘Tookchupa’ family as the local government headed by its Chairman, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Leh and region’s sole Member Parliament supported the idea that there be a meaningful and an elaborate commemoration to felicitate the legacy of Ladakh’s foremost Scholar Late Sh. Tashi Rabgias.
Besides he also a Poet, Historian, Dramatist, Lyricist and authority on Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist Studies and a genuine thinker or Philosopher who breathe his last on October 28, 2020 at family’s residence at Sankar, Leh.
The little more than a week’s events began with the celebration of his 95th birth anniversary at his ancestral home in Tookchu, Serthi (Sakti) which was graced by Ladakh’s Member Parliament also Chairman, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (L.H.A.D.C) Leh.
Besides, some of the retired colleague scholars friends from the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (C.I.B.S) Choglamsar and the councilor of Serthi, Surpanch and members of the public of Chemsak close relatives and well wishers of Late Sh. Tashi Rabgias and children of the Council model School, Serthi.
During their deliberations both Chairman and M.P Ladakh stated that Late Sh. Tashi Rabgias really inspired many generations of Ladakhis through his writings and his activism.
He was a multi-faceted personality having basis of the both the traditional Ladakh’s Cultural Heritage also having read about modern western Philosophers and writers. He enjoyed fully what he did and also shared what he knew without any reservations.
In a surprise announcement the Chairman, L.A.H.D.C declared October 17th his birthday to be observed as ‘Ladakh Literary Day’ also on the eve of 17th Oct the District library was name after him. This gesture of the local Government has been appreciated by all sections of the society.
Late Sh. Tashi Rabgias my father was a very simple and a humble human being. He knew almost everything be it politics, history, economy, literature, science, Tibetan and other languages such as Urdu and English.
He was gifted with the virtue of memory and would recite anything of any poet or writer be it a Tibetan master or a western Philosopher appropriate for the occasion. He never talk lose or made any slander, he was so to say ‘No Nonsense Person’.
It was Helena Norberg Hodge the linguist and the author of the now famous book ‘Ancient Future’ who mentioned him as Ladakh’s Philosopher before that he was also being mentioned as a ‘Walking Encyclopedia’ in Leh of 1980s.
Our own local people would call him as a ‘Trupthop’ or a Yogi and of very recent I saw John Bray a very old friends of Ladakh mentioning him as ‘Sage Scholar’ in a social media posting and a very appropriate one as these goes with his personae.
Towards the end of his life Late Sh. Tashi Rabgias eventually matured into a sincere Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist practitioner treading the great ‘Zogchen’ path mastering all internal failings thus receiving the last title of ‘Baspe Naljor’ (or a hidden Yogi). Bye for now! (to be continued)