Nagarjuna and Mulamadhyamakakarika

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Born in India in 1964, Geshe Dakpa Kalsang received ordination and became a monk in 1972 in Drepung Loseling, South-India. Followed by it, he completely studied the five major volumes of teachings and soon for twenty- four years. After securing the first position in the Geshe Lharampa examination in 1996, Geshe La continued special study on tantra in the Gyudme Tantric Monastic Institution for about one and half years. Thereafter, on behalf of the monastic institution, he made a trip to U.S.A. for one and half years, and delivered lectures on Buddhist philosophy in several institutions and universities. In 2002, he got a permanent job in the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh on the post of lecturer. In 2010, he was upgraded to the post of Reader in the same institution. Apart from editing a book titled "Mahayana-Uttaratantra: A Commentary on Madhyamika", Geshe La also attended a number of national and international conferences and submitted papers which are also published in different journals and books.

Born in a middle class family in West Bengal, Professor (Dr.) Sanjib Kumar Das was educated at Chandpara Nimna Buniyadi Vidyalaya (Amtala) and then in Gobardanga Khantura High School. Meanwhile, due to some family problems, he fled away from his home and worked as a waiter in several hotels and sweet shops for about two years in Kolkata. Later, he went to Darjeeling and took shelter in a Buddhist Monastery where he also worked as a helper of mason for about a year. In 1996, he was admitted in its branch school where he studied upto standard VIII. Subsequently, he was sent to Varanasi in 1989 in order to get admission in the CIHTS, Sarnath for higher studies. Getting admission, he obtained M.A., pursuing upon Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan Language and other modern subjects. In 1998, he was awarded with the Kashi Naresh Gold Medal for being the best student of 1998. After completing M.A., he started doing his Ph.D. which he completed in 2002. In 1999, he was invited to Taiwan where he stayed for about five months working as a translator. In 2002, he got a temporary job in the Translation Department in the CIHTS, Sarnath and simultaneously a permanent in CIBS, Leh where he worked for about six years. In 2008, he got a new job in Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan where he is working now on the post of Professor in the Department of Indo- Tibetan Studies. In 2022, he was awarded with the 'Bharat Siksa Puraskar'. Prof. Das translated, edited, restored, compiled and composed more than twenty-five books which have been published by different universities, institutions and publishers in India. Similarly, more than thirty research papers are published in different national and international journals as well as Bengali translations of more than hundred articles on Buddhist Studies are uploaded in a website (studybuddhism.com). He also completed three Translation Projects sponsored by FMT (USA) and 84000 (USA). Apart from translation, compilation, restoration and editing work, Dr. Das attended numbers of local, national and international seminars conferences, and presented papers.

I feel fortunate to be born as a human being, the most intelligent and skillful one among the six kinds of sentient beings. I feel fortunate to be born in India, the noble country, also called the Guru-Country of the Tibetan Buddhists, who founded the Buddha Dharma. I feel fortunate to be born in Bengal, which was once one of the main seats of Buddhism where discussion, debate, and practice of Buddhism was done by many eminent adepts and practitioners. I feel fortunate to be born in a Bengali family, which gave birth to several notable Buddhist masters like Atisa Dipankara, Chandragomin (Chandragomi), Trailokyachandra and so forth who set the banner of the precious Dharma that has kept on wavering for the wellbeing of innumerable beings. I feel fortunate to have been brought up in a Buddhist community that has given birth to many outstanding Mahayana Buddhist masters and Lotsawas who contributed their strenuous energy for disseminating and preserving the precious Buddha Dharma, particularly the Mahayana Buddha Dharma. I feel fortunate to have been brought up in a Buddhist Monastery in Darjeeling that has been preserving the commissioned lineage commenced from Buddha Vajradhara. I feel fortunate to be able to give little contribution in the field of preserving the precious teachings of Śakyamuni Buddha and his doctrine-holders through translating, editing, composing etc.