lama choedak

The first interest of the study of Tibetan language in the West was perhaps motivated by Christian
missionaries. Some took crash courses in Tibetan and translated the Bible with the help of some
Tibetan scholars and wrote Tibétan Grammar in English giving most of the examples from the
translation of the Bible. The first Tbetan printing ress in Kalimpong was primarily run and owned
by Khunu Tharchin, a Tibetan speaking Christian from Spiti in Jammu. Some hastily compiled
Tibetan English dictionaries appeared as early as mid nineteen century.·