LAHDC confers Ladakh dPal rNgam Duston Award 2025
Leh, Aug 06: Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena was conferred with the Ladakh dPal rNgam Duston Award 2025, the highest civilian honour awarded by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), in a grand ceremony marking the Union Territory Declaration Day of Ladakh. The award recognises his lifelong dedication to humanitarian work, spiritual service, and community development across the region.
The ceremony, held amidst vibrant celebrations in Leh, saw LAHDC Chief Executive Councillor Adv. Tashi Gyalson presenting the award to Bhikkhu Sanghasena. In his address, Gyalson hailed Sanghasena’s decades of unwavering commitment to social welfare, inclusive education, and the promotion of inner values through the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC). He described the spiritual leader as “our very own, most precious,” and lauded his work as a lasting source of inspiration for generations in Ladakh.
Receiving the award, Bhikkhu Sanghasena expressed heartfelt gratitude to LAHDC and dedicated the honour to the Mahabodhi family—volunteers, staff, and supporters—who have been central to his humanitarian journey. He offered emotional tributes to the pioneers of Ladakh’s autonomy movement, recalling figures such as Ven. Lobzang Tsondus, Tashi Angchuk, and Tsering Stobdan, who, he noted, laid the foundations for Ladakh’s current status.
He further acknowledged the support of national and local leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for elevating Ladakh to Union Territory status and enabling fresh pathways for growth and unity. Sanghasena also extended warm greetings to the newly appointed Lt. Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta.
Over the years, Bhikkhu Sanghasena has garnered widespread recognition for his efforts in peace-building, interfaith dialogue, and social transformation, making this latest accolade a continuation of a distinguished public life rooted in service. His work through MIMC has spanned across borders, earning admiration both nationally and internationally.
The Ladakh dPal rNgam Duston Award serves not only to honour an individual but to celebrate a vision of collective progress, resilience, and compassion—values Bhikkhu Sanghasena has embodied throughout his life.
