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CTA hosts second consortium conference on Tibetan Digital Library

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Department of Religion and Culture Hosts Second Second Consortium Conference on Tibetan Digital Library in Dharamshala (Photo/tibet.net)

Tenzin Nyidon 

DHARAMSHALA, Jan, 15: The Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is hosting a two-day Second Consortium Conference of the Tibetan Digital Library beginning Wednesday. This initiative is part of the three-year “Strengthening Cultural Resilience of Tibetan Communities” program, aimed at preserving and promoting Tibetan cultural heritage.

The conference brought together approximately 80 participants, including representatives from 58 monasteries and Tibetan cultural institutions, to discuss progress and strategies for the systematic preservation and maintenance of old Tibetan documents and Buddhist manuscripts since the project launch in November 2023. 

Addressing the media, Dhundup Tsering of the Department of Religion and Culture elaborated on the project’s objectives and progress. “Under the Department of Religion and Culture, we participated in and led the second consortium conference of the Tibetan Digital Library’s concurrent meeting. This is a three-year project funded by an American aid organization, focusing on the ‘Strengthening Cultural Resilience of Tibetan Communities’ in the exile community.”

He highlighted the project’s primary goal of systematically preserving and maintaining old Tibetan documents and Buddhist manuscripts. Launched in November 2023, the project involves collaboration with experts and institutions such as Wadhwani AI, Monlam ITRC, and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. “In terms of technical aspects, we have made comprehensive plans to create a catalog for the Tibetan Digital Library and develop its website architecture, focusing on high-quality standards,” Dhundup Tsering stated.

The initiative began by surveying and documenting materials in various Tibetan monasteries and cultural institutions within the exile community. “This was considered an important first step,” he noted. To ensure effective implementation, the project organises annual meetings with religious and cultural institutions to introduce the project, gather input, and facilitate dialogue and collaboration.

During the first year, the project reached 20 religious and cultural institutions, primarily in southern regions and Dharamshala. Training sessions were conducted over two days at each institution, involving both senior and junior monks. “The total scope of our three-year project includes 58 locations; eight cultural institutions and 50 monasteries. We’ve planned to work with 20 institutions in the first year, another 20 in the second year, and the remaining 18 in the third year,” he explained. 

For the second year, the project will focus on religious institutions in the north-eastern India, including nine monasteries, as well as institutions in northern areas like Dehradun. These phased efforts are designed to ensure thorough implementation and engagement across all participating locations.

The consortium conference serves as a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, share best practices, and coordinate efforts to ensure the project’s success. By leveraging modern technology, the Tibetan Digital Library aims to make invaluable resources accessible to scholars, practitioners, and the global community, while fostering cultural resilience among Tibetan communities in exile and beyond. 

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