New Delhi: The Himalayan“Kung Fu Nuns” of the Drukpa Order of Buddhism have been honoured in Europe for their heroic work – from curbing human trafficking, to fighting for gender equality, to mobilizing for disaster relief. It was one of the three finalists for the prestigious Václav Havel Human Rights Prize.
“This past year, the nuns also fought on the frontlines against COVID-19 in India and Nepal, providing remote villages with food, medical supplies, PPE, and hygiene education,” a spokesperson from the Live to Love said adding the nuns focused on empowering the women of those villages to become exemplars and educators of safety during the pandemic.
The more-than five hundred Kung Fu Nuns, many of whom are teenagers, sparked an inspirational movement in the Himalayas when they took up martial arts to empower themselves to become stronger community leaders.
Hailing from India, Nepal, Bhutan and regions across the Himalayan belt, these Drukpa nuns are now known for their fierce acts of kindness: they teach self-defense to young girls, cycle thousands of kilometres to speak out against human trafficking, and risk their lives by bringing humanitarian aid to remote villages following natural disasters – very often in regions that NGOs and government agencies neglect due to dangerous conditions.
“We are so thankful for this acknowledgement. Sometimes older people will tell us we should just stay in the temple and read, or stay in the kitchen. So being a finalist for this award makes us feel very encouraged,” said nun Jigme Konchok Lhamo. “Helping others is our religion.”
