Sarat Chandra Das

In 1874, the brilliant civil engineer Sarat Chandra Das was recruited by the British as a spy in Darjeeling. The Empire wanted to train local agents to gather in-depth intelligence about Tibet--a mysterious kingdom closed off to all outsiders for years--in order to consolidate their position in South Asia and outplay Russia in the Great Game.Equipped with hidden compasses, hundred-bead rosaries (to discreetly measure distances), and an excellent knowledge of Buddhism and the local language, Das set out into the harsh early winter of 1881, through the snow-filled passes of Sikkim and Nepal on his second foray into Tibet.Though an agent of its enemy, Das fell in love with the land of his mission. He stayed at the Tashilhunpo monastery for five months transcribing ancient Buddhist texts, studying the language and teaching English to the Panchen Lama. In his diary, he noted the various customs of dress, cuisine, architecture and the local politics throughout his journey. He also wrote about ordinary village life as he saw it--the extortion of the common people by the Chinese, and the ravages of smallpox in places with little or no medical help.When he finally reached Lhasa, he was struck by the grandeur of the city's ancient shrines and the monasteries dotting its mountains. He even managed an audience with the thirteenth Dalai Lama, then an eight-year-old boy with 'rosy cheeks'.Journey to Lhasa is the account of a treacherous yet illuminating adventure, which paints an intimate portrait of a people and a place that today exist only in memory.

A Tibetan-English Dictionary: With Sanskrit Synonyms is a comprehensive reference book that was first published in 1902. Written by Sarat Chandra Das, a renowned scholar and linguist, this dictionary is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the Tibetan language, culture, and history.The book contains over 20,000 entries, including words, phrases, and idioms in Tibetan, along with their English translations. Additionally, the dictionary includes Sanskrit synonyms for many of the Tibetan words, providing a deeper understanding of the linguistic and cultural connections between these two ancient languages.The entries in the dictionary are organized alphabetically, with each word accompanied by its pronunciation, part of speech, and a brief definition. The book also includes a comprehensive introduction that provides an overview of the Tibetan language, its grammar, and its unique writing system.Overall, A Tibetan-English Dictionary: With Sanskrit Synonyms is an essential reference book for anyone studying or working with the Tibetan language. Its comprehensive coverage, clear organization, and detailed explanations make it an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and anyone interested in the rich cultural heritage of Tibet.This Is A New Release Of The Original 1902 Edition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.