Over the past 10 years the number of monks that escape from Tibet to study at the Drepung Gomang Monastery in South India has more than quadrupled. From the original 59 monks the college has grown to 1300. Every year an average of 150 new monks arrive having great difficulties adjusting to the very hot climate and suffering from diseases unknown in Tibet.
Many monks have a bleeding stomach ulcer caused by the bad water quality.
Malnutrition, tuberculosis and dysentery take their toll. The monastery cannot provide enough food, shelter and medical care for all the monks. Nearly 200 of them are under the age of 18. Many of the children are orphans.