Sarat Chandra Das

Born in Chittagong in 1849, Sarat Chandra Das was an Indian scholar, teacher, and explorer whose name is closely tied to the study of Tibet. He was educated in Bengal and later served as headmaster of the Bhutia Boarding School in Darjeeling, where he deepened his knowledge of Tibetan language and culture.

Das is most remembered for two journeys to Tibet, in 1879 and 1881–1882. These travels gave him firsthand knowledge that shaped his writing and research, and they helped introduce many readers to places, people, and traditions that were little known outside the region at the time.

He went on to publish important works on Tibetan language and culture, including a Tibetan-English dictionary and travel writing based on his experiences. He died in 1917, but his books and scholarly work remain an important part of the history of Tibetan studies.