Tradition in Transition

In November 1992 with the blessings of HH the Dalai Lama, the new Chagpori Medical College - now known as Chagpori Tibetan Medical Institute (CTMI) - was inaugurated at Darjeeling, India, in commemoration of Chagpori, Lhasa, Tibet.

Dr. Trogawa Rinpoche had spent many years waiting for this day.
He had originally hoped to establish the new Chagpori in Nepal, but despite the expenditure of considerable time and money it was impossible to achieve. In 1989 his brother Tashi resigned from his job in order to help. Rinpoche took students into the family house in Darjeeling in 1990, and in 1992 the school came a step closer when it moved for three years into Hawk’s Nest, a property of one of the Board members, also in Darjeeling. Even after the CTMI was officially established and formally recognised, Rinpoche continued looking in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri and Sikkim and finally, after consultation with other high lamas, the present location at Takdah was chosen.

Today, CTMI has fully-functioning college facilities in Takdah, including a small area for plant growing, clinics in Darjeeling town, Takdah and in Kurseong. In the next phase of development, all the departments of the college will be united on one site at Salugara, in Siliguri, West Bengal.