Editor,
In the serene highlands of Tawang and West Kameng, where the clouds gently kiss the peaks and rivers sing through pine forests, lives a community that has held on to its traditions with quiet strength – the Monpas.
For centuries, our people have lived in harmony with the land, with one another, and with the teachings of the Buddha. While many tribal groups in the Northeast have gradually drifted from their ancestral beliefs, the Monpas remain deeply rooted in their culture, drawing strength and guidance from the dharma.
For us, Buddhism is not just a set of rituals or a weekly prayer. It is our everyday way of living. From how we greet a neighbour with folded hands to how we sit down for a simple meal, every act reflects our respect for life and compassion. Our elders say that the dharma lives not in books alone but in how we treat each other, in the silence of the mountains, and in the ringing of the monastery bell each morning. This spirit is what we call lam chok, the noble path.
At the heart of our spiritual life is the majestic Tawang monastery, the second largest in the world. Perched like a golden crown above the valley, it is more than just a religious site. It is our cultural anchor, our school of wisdom, and our community’s guiding light. Young boys who feel the calling are sent to the monastery not just to learn prayers but to understand discipline, humility, and service. The lamas are respected not because of their robes, but because of the calmness in their words and the kindness in their eyes. In times of joy and sorrow, it is the monastery we turn to for strength.
In a world rapidly changing around us, where modernity pushes its way into every corner, the Monpas have managed to walk the middle path. Roads have reached our villages, smartphones light up our homes, and our children dream of professions once unheard of. Yet, our festivals are still celebrated with the same devotion, our monasteries are still full of chanting voices, and our elders still tell stories of Guru Padmasambhava and the sacred relics of Tawang with the same passion.
Why have the Monpas held on so tightly to their roots when others have lost theirs? Perhaps it is the strength of our spiritual line, the dharma zing, passed down from one generation to the next like a thread that never breaks. Or maybe it is because we never felt the need to choose between progress and faith. We embraced education, governance, and technology, but never let them erase the wisdom of our ancestors. Our children study in schools and colleges across the country, but when they return, they do not forget to light the butter lamp or bow before the altar.
Our leaders too have played a role. Pema Khandu, our chief minister, is one of our own. He walks with the monks, supports village rituals, and ensures that our heritage is preserved. Under his leadership, our traditional festivals like Losar, Choskar, and Torgya are celebrated with even greater pride and participation. These are not just events on a calendar. They are living expressions of who we are.
When we look around the region, we see how easily cultures can fade when not nurtured. In some communities, traditions have been reduced to costumes worn for tourists. In many parts of the Northeast, ancestral beliefs are remembered only during festivals, in the form of dances and costumes meant more for tourists than for the soul. But in our villages, a grandmother still teaches her grandson how to tie a prayer flag. A young girl still knows when to offer a khata to a lama. These small acts carry forward the soul of our identity.
This does not mean we reject modern life. We welcome progress. But we walk forward with our values in hand. That is our strength. As our elders say, a person without roots is like a tree without soil. And so, we remain rooted.
The Monpa community is a reminder that change does not have to mean loss. That culture and modernity can grow together. That faith is not weakness but strength. And that as long as the mountains stand, so will the spirit of the Monpas – steady, silent, and full of light.
Tenzing Wangdi,
Bomdila