Ven. Professor Geshe Ngawang Samten Ven. Professor Geshe Ngawang Samten (b. 1956) is presently the Vice Chancellor of Central University of Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi, and has been Professor of Indian Buddhist Philosophy at the University before assuming the high office. He is educated both in the modern system as well as in the Buddhist and Tibetan Studies in the monastic mode. He has such important publications to his credit, as a definitive critical edition of Ratnavali with commentary, Abhidhammathasamgaho; Sanskrit and Tibetan versions of the Pindikrita and the Pancakrama of Nagarjuna; Manjusri, an illustrated monograph on Tibetan Buddhist scroll paintings, and co-authored The Ocean of Reasoning, (Oxford University Press, New York) an annotated English translation of the commentary on Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamaka Karika by the Tibetan master-philosopher Tson-Kha-Pa. And scores of papers in various learned anthologies published in India and abroad. He has been Visiting Professor in various Universities and colleges in USA and Australia. He has also been instrumental in promoting Buddhist Studies in India. Various Indian Universities have sought his guidance and advice in the matter of formulating their syllabi of Buddhist philosophy and researches. He strongly advocates to make the education system instrumental in transforming the students through inculcation of value along with development of skills in various fields. He is on numerous academic bodies, Universities within and outside India, and expert committees of the Ministries of Government of India. In 2008, he was decorated with Padma Shri by the President of India in recognition of his distinguished services in the fields of education and literature.