~It is with deep sorrow that I have learnt of the passing away of the Venerable Kushok Bakula.

He was a highly respected Buddhist Lama who had contributed immensely to the political, social and religious life of his native region of Ladakh, his state of Jammu and Kashmir and in maintaining the age-old traditions of religious harmony and brotherhood in India. He had served with great distinction as our Ambassador to Mongolia from January 1990 to February 2000. He was instrumental in deepening religious and cultural ties and overall relations between India and Mongolia. It was in recognition of his multi-faceted services to the nation that the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on him in 1987.

With his passing away India has lost a noble soul who had wholeheartedly worked for the welfare and progress of his people. I am sure that his contributions will be long remembered.~