(TibetanReview.net, Jan28’21) – India is to equip its officers with knowledge in Tibetology to be better able to handle its border situation and issues, reported the timesofindia.com Jan 28. The focus will be on Tibetan history, language and culture on both sides of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and International Boundary, the report said.
The move was stated to be part of measures to counter the spread of influence by China.
The measure was reported to have been proposed in the Army Commanders’ conference in October and to be currently under further analysed by the Shimla based Army Training Command (ARTRAC) on the instructions of Indian Army Chief, General M M Naravane.
ARTRAC was stated to have identified seven institutes for training the officers. These included the Department of Buddhist Studies (Delhi University), Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies (Varanasi), Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Bihar), Visva Bharati (West Bengal), Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education (Bengaluru), Namgyal Institute of Tibetology (Gangtok) and Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies (Dahung, Arunachal Pradesh).
The report said Army officers could go on study leave to these centres or could also be sent for small capsules on Tibetology.
There are a very few officers who understand China; and when it comes to Tibetology, the numbers are even smaller, the report said.
Army officers are generally well versed with Pakistan; similar knowledge of China and Tibetology is needed, the report added.