Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India - This morning His Holiness the Dalai Lama was invited to Eliezer Joldan Memorial (EJM) College, a government degree college in Leh. He was welcomed at the door to the auditorium by the Principal Deskyong Namgyal and escorted to his seat on the stage.

More than 1500 students and staff sat before him on the carpeted floor. After students had sung a song that began with taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and went on to praise His Holiness, the Principal formally welcomed him for his first visit to EJM College.

He explained that the College was first set up in 1994 and offers degree courses in science, arts and commerce. In 2004 the Jammu & Kashmir Government decided to name the College after Eliezer Joldan, who, coming from a Christian family, was the first trained graduate to teach in Ladakh. President Otsal Wangdu told His Holiness how honoured the students and staff of the College were to receive him, assuring him of the College’s interest in combining modern education with ancient Indian knowledge.