EVENTS

Abstract          

Tabo Monastery situated in the village of the same name lies at 3280 meters in Spiti valley in District Lahoul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. Spiti has remained quite secluded even in relation to other Himalayan border lands - the valley is a semi desert with its own cultural heritage along Spiti river and is encompassed between mighty Kunjum la (4590m) in the west and a junction of Spiti river with thunderous Sutlej in the east. The journey to Tabo can begin either from Kullu/Manali (275 Km) or Shimla (366 km). It may be surmised that the monastery was built in A.D. 996 and renovated in 1042. It is believed to be the oldest and still continuously functioning monastery conclave in India and in Himalayas, with its original decorations and iconographic paintings, sculptures, inscriptions and extensive texts intact which, cover every inch of the wall space and have survived climate and human ravages for a millennium. The walled temple complex blends itself with surrounding village of mud and wooden beam buildings. The modest exterior of the monastery hides the splendor of murals and scriptures that are preserved inside. It is of singular importance not only for its beauty of its art, but also of its role in transmission of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and culture in 10/11 century to Ngari region in Western region. Keeping in view the immense archaeological importance, Tabo Monastery is a monument of national importance now under the care and control of Archaeological Survey of India since 1972. The mud and wood lend itself to threats in conservation which are intensified with phenomena of climate change. Rain and snow are not rare phenomena which were not seen in the dry desert till few decades back though adjoining Kinnaur and Kullu-Manali are forested due to the wet climate. Recent study of precipitation at Lahoul and Spiti have shown increasingly wet conditions during the 20th century, which are found to be consistent with other long- term precipitations reconstructions due to global warming. Some effect on the wall paintings and fragile mud structure has started appearing at the ancient monument of great heritage. It needs to be taken in all seriousness by national and international scholars and concerned authorities.

About the Speaker

Col. Virendra Sahai Verma is a veteran from Indian Army with combatant service of 34 years, which include Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971 and tenures in Kashmir, Ladakh, Spiti, Sikkim and Tawang. He is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Willington, and and a post-graduate in Commerce, defence studies. He also has completed his Master’s in Business Administration. Col. Verma has published more than 32 papers in national/ international newspapers and periodicals. He has presented 44 papers in seminars in India and 23 countries abroad. His writings are on geo-strategic issues with China and Pakistan and on people of Sino –Indian border regions. Col Verma is a peace activist and social worker. He is one of the founders of India Pakistan Soldiers Initiative for Peace and has visited Pakistan couple of times on peace missions. Serving as the President of Kulshrestha Kalyan Samiti, an philanthropic NGO providing financial aid for sustenance to poor, disabled and widows, scholarships to poor students and awards to meritorious and emergency medical aid, to about more than 100 families for the last ten years. He is a Fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies Delhi, and his works include India China border dispute, Tibet and Indian Ocean.