Mission
Founded in 2021, Dharma & Letters is an independent research initiative based in Bangalore, dedicated to exploring Buddhist literature and its intersections with contemporary literary scholarship.
From India's technology and education hub, we bring a modern, interdisciplinary approach to Buddhist studies. Our team includes scholars trained at leading Indian universities who have conducted extensive field research in Dharamshala, Sikkim, Ladakh, and other Buddhist centers across the Himalayas. This unique positioning allows us to combine academic rigor with on-ground cultural insights, creating accessible yet scholarly content for students, researchers, and curious readers worldwide.
Why Bangalore?
Bangalore offers an ideal base for our work—a cosmopolitan city with:
- Access to major academic libraries and institutions
- A thriving intellectual community spanning technology, arts, and humanities
- Excellent connectivity to Buddhist heritage sites across India
- A diverse, international perspective on cultural studies
- Digital infrastructure supporting our online research platform
While our editorial office is in Bangalore, our research spans Buddhist sites across India, from the historical grounds of Sarnath and Bodh Gaya to the vibrant Tibetan communities of Dharamshala and the monasteries of Sikkim.
Focus Areas
Research Approach
Our work combines traditional textual analysis with contemporary critical frameworks. We regularly travel to conduct field research, interview scholars and translators, and access rare manuscripts in Tibetan libraries. This hands-on approach, combined with Bangalore's academic resources, allows us to produce research that is both deeply informed and critically engaged.
Our Team
Dr. Sharma holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from Bangalore University, specializing in Buddhist influences on modern Indian literature. After completing his dissertation on Buddhist themes in postcolonial writing, he spent two years at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath. His research has appeared in journals of postcolonial studies and Buddhist scholarship. When not writing, he conducts research trips to Dharamshala and Sikkim.
Based in Bangalore, Priya holds an MA in English Literature from Christ University. She focuses on translation studies and Tibetan refugee narratives, having conducted extensive field research in Dharamshala, Bylakuppe, and Mundgod Tibetan settlements. Her work bridges literary criticism with ethnographic observation, bringing fresh perspectives to diaspora studies.
A native Tibetan speaker and scholar, Lhamo bridges traditional Buddhist texts with contemporary English literary studies. She trained at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath before joining our Bangalore team. Her translations and commentaries on classical Tibetan poetry have been widely praised for their scholarly precision and literary sensitivity.
Collaborations & Network
While based in Bangalore, we maintain active research partnerships with:
- Tibetan Library and Archives, Dharamshala
- Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath
- Buddhist studies departments at Indian universities
- Independent translators and scholars across the Himalayas
- Tibetan settlement communities in Karnataka and beyond