Dr, Tenzin Sherab. Our Ex- Principal.

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SHRI TENZIN SHERAB, Ph.D.

(Headmaster: 1983 to 1991 & Principal: 1991 to 2003)

Educator, Administrator, Organisation Leader, Reformer & Social Worker

FORMER PRINCIPAL OF SERA JE SECONDARY SCHOOL (Affiliated to CBSE, India)

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION & LEADERSHIP IMPACT

 

CITATION

Former Principal, Shri Tenzin Sherab, Ph.D. has played a pivotal role in the massive development and transformation of Sera Je Secondary School, the first and the only Tibetan Monastic School affiliated to CBSE. He was the architect and driving force behind the successful accomplishment of the sought-after prestigious Affiliation to CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education, under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. His expertise in administration and organizational leadership and unassuming considerate, and gentle nature has had an immensely positive effect on all the stakeholders, support organizations, the students and staff, which had enabled SJSS to emerge as one of the leading CBSE Affiliated Monastic Schools and the first of its kind in the History of Tibetan Monastic Education System.

On 20 th October, last year, Sera Je Secondary School celebrated Silver Jubilee Year of CBSE Affiliation. It was graced by India’s youngest Chief Minister, Shri Pema Khandu, Honorable Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, as the ChiefGuest and Ms. Rinchen Lhamo, Honorable Member, National Commission for Minorities, Govt. of India.

Dr. Tenzin Sherab took charge of Sera Je School first the Headmaster/ Administrator in early 1983, at a time when Tibetan Monastic Communities were facing numerous challenges due to shortage of funds and financial supports. The Main Monastic Administration did not have qualified personnels. It was the time thousands of monks did not even have proper accommodation to live, proper meals to survive, centralised community Meal was a dream and individual monks had to provide for themselves. Infrastructure was at barest level. Philosophical Classes were held in open grounds or in crammed Quarters of the Teachers. As a direct result of his organisational and socio-educational leadership spanning  over more than 20 years, between 1983 to 2022, not only a total 3373 children have received completely free boarding and quality Secondary Education under CBSE pattern grounded in traditional Nalanda Buddhist Monastic Education, but also the main Monastic Community, Sera Jey Monastic University for Advanced Buddhist Studies and Practice, which has over 4000 resident Monks witnessed unprecedented infrastructure development which includes multi-storied Class-rooms, science Labs, digitally equipped Computer Class Section, separate spacious new library stocked with rich and varied titles and books. In addition to that we also have separate block of staff quarters and Guest House, etc. All this reflect consistent efforts in educational innovation and globalisation, putting our Institution on a firm self-sustaining system ensuring continued sustenance, progress and excellence in education.

The greatest beneficiaries in both the Sera Je Secondary School and Sera Jey Monastery are the people from Buddhist Himalayan Regions, predominantly from Ladakh in the West to Tawang in the East. Most of the monk scholars in the Sera Jey Monastery and students of SJSS are Monpas from Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakhis from Ladakh. We also have Buddhists from Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Northeast regions, and ethnic Tibetans from India-Nepal Border areas. Under Dr. Tenzin Sherab’s leadership, all above students not only received free education, but also free three times  nutritious meals. Impact of his leadership and pioneering contribution towards socio-educational development, religious and communal harmony and national integration had been outstanding and path-breaking.

As a committed follower of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, through his educational, organisational and social work, Dr. Tenzin Sherab had succeeded in fulfilling His Holiness’s vision to a large extend. Both Sera Je Secondary School and Sera Jey Monastery have had the supreme honour of receiving His Holiness’s blessings and visit several times since

1994. His Holiness has time and again expressed His happiness and admiration for the ground-breaking educational work SJSS has been doing during the last few decades. His contribution to social educational development and communal harmony and national integration was also recognised by India International Friendship Society, New Delhi with the conferment of “Bharat Jyoti’ Award and “Gold Medal” from former Governor of Tamil Nadu, His Excellency Shri Bhishma Narian Singh. Several other leading civic and religious organisations including Indo-Tibet Friendship Society,

Bylakuppe Chapter; JSS Mutt, Mysore, and Tehsildar Office had felicitated Dr. Tenzin Sherab.