Sikyong Addresses Closing Ceremony of Tibet Festival in Guwahati

[Source: tibet.net]
February 8, 2014 1:13 pm

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay speaking at the conclusion of Tibet Festival in Guwahati. Photo/ Tempa Gyaltse

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay speaking at the conclusion of Tibet Festival in Guwahati. Photo/ Tempa Gyaltsen




Guwahati: Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay addressed the closing ceremony of Tibet Festival which was held from 2 to 6 February 2014, in Kalashetra, Guwahati. Other dignitaries present during the ceremony were Pema Khandu, Minister of Tourism and Rural Work Development of Arunachal Pradesh, Gaurav Gogai, Director and co-founder of the farm 2 food foundation and son of Assam Chief Minister, Guru Tulku abbot of Tawang Monastery and Mr Passang, MLA of Menchuka, Arunachal Pradesh,

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay in his address thanked honorable Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogai for kindly inaugurating festival of Tibet and the government of Assam for facilitating and hosting the festival in the state. He also thanked members of the organizing committee, participants and volunteer for making this festival a success.

In his address, Sikyong Dr. Sangay, spoke about Tibet’s cultural relationship with India before the Chinese invasion of Tibet, rich Tibetan culture and civilization, destruction caused by Chinese occupation on Tibetan culture and civilization and current situation inside Tibet including self-immolation. He said that “the Communist Government of China, they want Tibet as a territory for exploitation and don’t want Tibetan people. Hence, Tibetan are repressed, Tibetan language are discouraged, Tibetan culture are discouraged.

A rampant environmental destruction is taking place inside Tibet, which will have a direct ramification on environment and economy of the downstream countries including India, particularly the diversion of Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) to the Chinese territory. Tibet referred as third pole, has largest number of glacier in the world after North and South poles and is the largest repository of the fresh water in the world. More than billion people from downstream countries rely on the fresh water of Tibet. Hence, Tibet’s is vital for the world climate and river. Deforestation and environmental destruction inside Tibet will have a direct ramification on thousands of people who survive on agriculture and fisheries in India.

He said, through festival of Tibet, we have exhibition about the political conditions in Tibet, about the environmental destruction and the history of Tibet. And also through the cultural performances, I am sure you got the glimpse of Tibet and Tibetan civilization. And it ought to be protected; it ought to be promoted, because Tibetans we don’t want to be museum piece, because Tibetan civilization is one of the oldest civilizations in the world and we deserve to thrive, like any other civilization.

Hence the success of the Tibetans will be success of Ahimsa. Success of Tibetans will be success of Indian people. When that happens, it will be best stories of the twenty first century. And we do believe it will happen soon. When that happens, instead of witnessing festival of Tibet here in Guwahati, you will have living civilization, living culture and living human beings with their basic dignity and identity restored in Tibet. Till then do march with us, be with us, because you will be supporting not just supporting Tibetan people, but you will be supporting truth and justice.

Before the ceremony, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, Minister Pema Khandu, Guarav Gogai and Guru Tulku visited the Tibet Museum photo exhibition held at AC Art Gallery in Kalashetra. The exhibition features Tibet historic photo before Chinese occupation, results of Chinese occupation and current situation inside Tibet including self-immolation and its background information with textual presentation in Tibetan, English and Hindi.

Report filed by: Tashi Phuntsok, Tibet Museum

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay explaining the current situation inside Tibet to the dignitaries at Tibet Museum’s exhibition

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay explaining the current situation inside Tibet to the dignitaries at Tibet Museum’s exhibition. Photo/Tempa Gyaltsen