Mundgod: The Kalon of the Department of Religion and Culture (DoRC), Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi, commenced his official visit to the Mundgod Doeguling Tibetan Settlement in Karnataka, Dehradun in Uttarakhand, Dolanji Tibetan Settlement (Bonshi), and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh from 16 August to 1 September 2026. During the visit, he is scheduled to visit monasteries, seek audiences with revered Lamas, and meet members of the Tibetan communities in the respective regions.
On the morning of 16 August at 9:30 a.m., the Kalon was warmly welcomed by representatives of 26 local government and non-governmental organisations in front of the Mundgod Doeguling Settlement Office. He subsequently toured the Settlement Office and its various sections before visiting the office of the Regional Tibetan Freedom Movement.
The Kalon then visited the Local Tibetan Assembly, where the 12th session was underway. The Chairman of the Local Tibetan Assembly welcomed him and acknowledged his presence, following which the DoRC Kalon briefly introduced himself.
The Kalon explained that his visit to the Mundgod Doeguling Settlement followed the longstanding tradition of the DoRC, under which the Kalon undertakes visits to Tibetan settlements after assuming responsibility. He further noted that the engagements in the settlement included audiences with Kyabje Ganden Tri Rinpoche and Kyabje Shartse and Jangtse Chojey Rinpoches, and visits to monasteries within the settlement.
In response to the Settlement Officer’s remarks on the strong spirit of cooperation and harmony among the Local Settlement Office, members of the Local Tibetan Assembly, the Cooperative Society, and other sectors of the settlement, the Kalon commended this spirit and encouraged all concerned to uphold and preserve it.
Following this, the Kalon paid obeisance to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s humble residence in the settlement and then visited Doeguling Multipurpose Primary Rural Agriculture Cooperative Society Ltd, where he met with the staff members. The Vice President of the Society presented a report on the current status and activities of the Doeguling Multipurpose Primary Rural Agriculture Cooperative Society Ltd. The Kalon expressed appreciation for the work being carried out by the Cooperative Society, particularly its management and activities that directly benefit community members, as highlighted in the report. He encouraged the organisation to continue carrying out its responsibilities with dedication and commitment.
Kalon Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi subsequently visited the settlement’s Shiwatso Library, the office and auditorium of the Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, and the sewing centre. He also inspected the Reimagining Doeguling Tibetan Settlement (RDTS) Office. Following a briefing by the concerned staff on the RDTS, its activities and the work accomplished so far, a summary of its annual report was presented.
Commending the Doeguling RDTS Project for its notable efforts towards the welfare of the community, the Kalon encouraged the organisation to continue undertaking similar initiatives in other areas. He also stressed the importance of creating greater awareness among young Tibetans in the settlement about preserving the Tibetan language and culture in the modern context, particularly in view of China’s ongoing efforts to severely undermine Tibetan identity inside Tibet.
The Kalon then attended a luncheon hosted by the Regional Tibetan Women’s Association and the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress in his honour and further visited the local Opera troupe, Youth Association, Ex-Servicemen Association, and the Mundgod Branch of the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute (Men-Tsee-Khang). During these visits, he held informal discussions with the heads and staff members of each organisation.
