‘Thank You India’ Program Begins in Orange City of India, Nagpur

NAGPUR: The third leg of ‘Thank You India’ program organised by the Central Tibetan Administration began today at the Dragon Palace Temple in Kamptee, Nagpur on 9 October. Around 500 people gathered at the venue to mark the program.

A lighting of lamp and brief prayer ceremony was conducted at the beginning of the program to pay condolence to the 144 Tibetans who have self-immolated for the cause of Tibet since 2009.

The chief guest at the event was Shri R K Khrimey, National Convener, Core group for Tibet Cause and Shri Arvind Nikose, National Co-Convener and Shri Sandesh Meshram, Regional Convener of Maharashtra. Other guests include Mr Karma Gelek, Members of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Mr Karma Dhargyal, Tibetan Settlement Officer of Norgyeling, Bhandara, Mr Jigme Tsultrim, Coordinator, India Tibet Coordination Office, staff of Tibet Museum and researchers of Tibet Policy Institute, Central Tibetan Administration.

In his introductory remarks, Shri R K Khrimey, National Convener of Core group for Tibet Cause said that ‘the arrival of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in India was a blessing for Buddhists in India’.

He further elaborated on the peaceful border shared by Tibet and India prior to 1959, the subsequent brutal occupation of Tibet by China in 1959 and the escalating border tension between India-China over the years as a result of the Chinese occupation of Tibet. “Crores of rupees are spent for the security of these borders these days,” he said.

The first day program featured two sessions of talk series by several speakers, photo exhibitions on the titles ‘Indo-Tibet Relations’ and ‘A Long Look Homeward’. A special stall focusing on Sowa Rigpa, a traditional Tibetan healing science was opened by the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute’s branch clinic based in Bhandara.

The first session of the talk series was moderated by Shri Amruth Bansood, General Secretary, Indo-Tibet Friendship Society of Bhandra, Maharashtra.

Researcher at Tibet Policy Institute Zamlha Tempa Gyaltsen spoke in great detail about the ‘Ecological importance of Tibet’. He explained the significance of the Tibetan plateau, the current environmental situation in Tibet and its global implications particularly the increasing frequency of natural disasters as a result of excessive damming on Tibetan rivers.

TPI Researcher Mr Tenzin Tsultrim, gave a presentation on the ‘Militirisation of Tibet’ leading to an arms race along the Indo-Tibetan border.

Professor Shyam Nath Mishra, Department of Political Science, Government College, Khetri, Rajasthan spoke about the ‘Human Rights Situation inside Tibet’.

Dr Puran Meshram, Registrar, Nagpur University gave a presentation on ‘Tibet’s Role in Sino-India Relations.

Advocate Sandesh Bhalekar, Translator and activist, Tibet Support Group, Nagpur shared his opinion and knowledge about Tibet to the participants.

The second session of the talk series was moderated by Shri Sachin Ramteke, Organising Secretary, Indo-Tibet Friendship Society, Maharashtra. Dr Bhau Lokhande, Head of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chair; Nagpur University spoke on ‘Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s thought upon Tibet’.

Ven Mehar Singh Negi, Ph.D, Central University of Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh gave a talk on ‘Buddhism in Tibet and its relation to Nalanda Tradition’ followed by Q&A session.

As a mark of gratitude to the People and Government of India for their genuine support and concern to the Tibet cause, Central Tibetan Administration has organised a ‘Thank You India’ program at various cities of India such as O.P Jindal University in Sonipat, Haryana, and Malabar Palace in Calicut, Kerala in the past few months. The same will be organised in the cities of Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the upcoming days.