TODAY -

Understanding SOWA - RIGPA - Part 2

Ranjan K Baruah *



In our last edition we have published about Sowa Rigpa as career option. Many students and guardians have communicated as they were not aware of this field. Interested students may also visit the website of Ministry of Ayush for getting information related to courses in Sowa Rigpa. This Tibetan medicine draws on centuries-old techniques such as blood-letting, cupping, and moxibustion - burning herbs on energy points of the body - to try to heal ailments.

The practise draws on aspects of traditional Chinese medicine and India’s Ayurvedic system as well as its own unique theories and treatments. It also features spiritual practises including meditation and Buddhist prayer and it attracts devotees from all over the globe, hoping for help with conditions from back pain to degenerative diseases.

Given the modern social and educational system, some institutions are imparting the education at par with the modern system in terms of time with packages to be completed within a limited duration. Presently, after 10+2 grate the students are selected on entrance test merit basis.

The nomenclature of this six years course is sMenpa kachupa which is equivalent to Bachelor of Sowa Rigpa (Tibetan Medicine) . This course is presently conducted in following four Institutions in India: Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh (under Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India), Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute, Dharamsala HP of his Holiness Dalai Lama, Central University for Tibetan Studies, Saranath UP (under Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India), Chagpori Medical Institute Darjeeling (W.B).

In most of Himalayan regions Sowa-Rigpa is practiced in traditional way with community support with an sMenpa in every village. But since the last two decades this scenario has been changing, adopting some of the administrative elements of modern hospital system in educational Institutions, dispensaries, hospitals and pharmacies etc.

Nevertheless, still there are all together around 1000 practitioners of Sowa-Rigpa in India catering health care in harsh Himalayan regions and other places. Dharamshala in Himanchal Pardesh and Ladakh region of J&K are the main Centers for Sowa-Rigpa Institutions in India.

National Research Institute for Sowa-Rigpa, Leh: The National Research Institute for Sowa-Rigpa, Leh is a peripheral Unit of Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India. It was established in 1976 in Leh-Ladakh for Research and Development of Himalayan art of healing “Sowa-Rigpa”, popularly known as Tibetan or Amchi medicine. Since its inception this Research Institute has been doing considerable work for preservation and promotion of Sowa-Rigpa in India.

Updates: Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships: Japanese Government Scholarships for Undergraduates 2018-19 invites applications from class 12 pass out students. The scholarship aims to provide fully funded education to deserving candidates in the universities of Japan. The scholarship is been provided by the Government of Japan. An applicant must-Have passed class 12 and willing to pursue a bachelor’s degree from a University in Japan in the fields of Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Science. Aspirants may apply before 15th June.

Fulbright Nehru Master’s Fellowships 2019-20: The United States-India Educational Foundation invites applications for Fulbright Nehru Master’s Fellowships 2019-20 from highly motivated graduates and post-graduates who have at least 3 years of professional work experience, to study at selected the U.S. colleges and universities. Aspirants may apply before 15th June.


* Ranjan K Baruah wrote this article for The Sangai Express
The writer is a career mentor and can be contacted at bkranjan(AT)gmail(DOT)com for any career related queries
This article was posted on June 07, 2018.


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