Protect Himalayan Culture through Education

During a field visit, we had the privilege of speaking with Mr Dogah. He first came to the The Indo-Tinetan school in 1964 and describes the lineage he became a part of and how that magic lives on in the present day.

"I was a student here first. I came from Tibet. Because of the change in climate I had ill health and couldn’t continue my studies. Dhardo Rinpoche, the founder of the school, sent a few students to learn Tibetan music and dance by a known Tibetan artist here. So then I started teaching dance here.  

Dhardo Rimpoche was very extraordinary. He cared for others. He had love for Tibetan language and tradition. He helped so many refugee children and so he decided to serve his whole life to this school. I was inspired because Rimpoche used to say whatever you know you can teach and you are serving  the Tibetans.  

Tibet has a variety of dances. Many folk dances and classical dances. There are so many different dances which I only realized after meeting Westerners so I formed a dance company.  Before, many Tibetans did not pay attention to their culture and Dhardo Rinpoche felt it was important because of his experience in this school and because so many students have gone on to teach these arts.  For example, there is one boy who was an orphan and later on he joined a famous performing arts school in Dharmasala. And now he is in the USA. And in the USA he teaches the Tibetan children.  

During the early days I used to teach in a mud hut with a tin roof. With very crowded classes and insufficient conditions. When Karuna gave funding the school was rebuilt and now it is much easier with sufficient classes. And on top of that the standard of the school is raised. Now there is respect for the school. The school improved year by year because of Karuna’s help.” 

Mr Dogah has handed over the teaching of traditional dance to his son, though the snow leopard handmade and used in performances, continues to be the one he made decades ago.