Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay inaugurates new redesigned Tibet Museum

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay accompanied by DIIR Secretary Tashi Phuntsok and Director of Tibet Museum, cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the new re-designed Tibet Museum

DHARAMSHALA: Coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the Tibet Museum, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people, inaugurated the new re-designed and updated permanent exhibition of the Tibet Museum, located in the premise of Tsuglagkhang (Main Temple) in Mcleod Ganj on 30 April 2015.

The museum is redesigned with new modern technologies including touch screen panels, enlarged photos with higher resolutions, and a completely new section dedicated solely to the wave of self-immolations inside Tibet and human rights in Tibet. Pictures of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugurating the Tibet Museum in 2000 and visit of many well-known people to the Museum was also put on display as a part of temporary exhibition section.

Speaking at the inauguration, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay lauded Tibet Museum’s tireless efforts towards the preservation of Tibetan history and culture in the form of pictures.

“The Tibet Museum is one of the most visible platforms where we exhibit the photographs, artifacts and videos of Chinese occupation and oppression in Tibet. Over the years, the Tibet Museum has also undertaken various traveling exhibitions, which have helped create more awareness on the Tibet issue,” Sikyong said.

Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, DIIR Secretary for Information, gave the concluding remarks of the inaugural ceremony. He said the redesign of the Tibet Museum is an innovative step taken by the department to connect with the public, Tibet supporters and others interested in the Tibet issue.

Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, Director of Tibet Museum, who coincidentally has the same name as that of the DIIR Secretary, read out a brief report of Tibet Museum.

“We have tried our best to compile all the relevant information on Tibetan history, Tibetan culture, exile Tibetan community, and the critical situation inside Tibet including the wave of self-immolations, in our new re-designed museum,” he said.

“We have also made entry to the Tibet Museum free of cost from March 2013 onwards, to attract more visitors, as per the direction from Kashag. On an average, over 50,000 tourists and Tibet supporters visit the museum annually. The traffic is slated to increase even more after this re-design,” Tashi Phuntsok added, enthusiastically.

Dignitaries present at the inauguration include Health Kalon Dr. Tsering Wangchuk, Kashag Secretary Ven. Yuthok Karma Gelek, DIIR Secretaries Mr. Sonam Norbu Dagpo and Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, Finance Secretary Mr. Trinley Gyatso, Health Secretary Mr. Tsegyal Dranyi, Audit Secretary Mr. Rigzin Choephel and DIIR Additional Secretary Ms. Yeshi Wangmo.

The Tibet Museum, an undertaking of the Department of Information and International Relations, was established in 1998, to serve as a remembrance of the loss of Tibetan culture and lives and present the hopes and aspirations of the Tibetan people through collected photographs and life histories.

Tibet Museum comprises of a permanent exhibition, traveling exhibition, photographic archive and an online exhibition on the history of Tibet, the Tibetan community in exile and various Tibet related issues.

The Tibet Museum’s redesign project is funded by Central Tibetan Administration, National Endowment for Democracy and Rowell Fund for Tibet.