Commemorating the 31st Anniversary of Enforced Disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama

On 17 May 2026, marking the 31st year since the enforced disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who was only six years old when he was abducted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), The Tibet Museum organised an activity-based learning programme for children. The programme focused on the story of the Panchen Lama with the objective of helping children become more aware of this important event and date.

The activities began with an engaging presentation that briefly introduced both the 10th and the 11th Panchen Lama. This was followed by a bingo game in which the questions were based on the presentation, and a snakes-and-ladders activity where students had to answer questions correctly in order to move ahead in the game. The programme also included a colouring activity for the children.

At the end of the day, the students sang a remembrance song for Panchen Rinpoche, also known as the “Song of Longing.” A total of 34 students enthusiastically participated in the activities. According to The Tibet Museum, “We hope that the children who were previously unaware of the situation gained a better understanding of it, while those who already knew about the Panchen Lama were able to develop a deeper insight into the issue.”