Dharamshala: The two-day 8th All India Tibet Support Groups Conference concluded with a valedictory session held at 2:30 p.m. at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts on 13 March 2026. The valedictory session brought together key advocates and supporters from across the subcontinent.

The two-day 8th All India Tibet Support Groups Conference concluded with a valedictory session held at 2:30 p.m. at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts on 13 March 2026. The session brought together key advocates and supporters of the Tibetan cause from across the Indian subcontinent.

Other distinguished guests included R.K. Khrimey, National Convenor of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India; Dr Anand Kumar, Patron and National President of the India-Tibet Friendship Society (ITFS), Shri Surendar Kumar, National Vice-President of ITFS and Regional Conveners of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India—Lobsang Genchen, Amit Jyotikar and others, as well as presidents and general secretaries of regional Tibet support groups.

Today’s valedictory session featured an address by Chief Guest, Ven Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of Tibetan Parliament in Exile. Special Guest, Kalon Norzin Dolma, Minister of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), and Shri R.K. Khrimey, National Convenor of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India and Shri Lobsang Genchen, Regional Convener of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India.

Other distinguished guests present at the inauguration of the two-day seminar included Shri Anand Kumar, National President of the India-Tibet Friendship Society, Shri R.K. Khrimey, National Convenor of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India, Jigme Jugney, Representative of the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi, Tashi Dickey Dekyi of Delhi-based India Tibet Coordination Office and DIIR’s  TSG Liason Officer Tenzin Palmo.

Distinguished dignitaries in attendance included Shri R.K. Khrimey, National Convenor of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India; Shri Pankaj Goyal, National General Secretary of the Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch (BTSM); Jigme Jugney, Representative of the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi; Shri Anand Kumar, National President of the India-Tibet Friendship Society; Shri Arvind Nicose, Joint Vice-President of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India; and Shri Tarh Tarak, President of the Arunachal Pradesh Tibet Support Group.

As well as regional and national convenors of the Crore-Group for the Tibet Cause in India, and presidents and general secretaries of regional support groups. The two-day conference was convened by the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India and facilitated by the India Tibet Coordination Office based in Delhi.

The closing session was moderated by Regional Convener Surendra Kumar. Regional Convener Amit Jyotikar delivered the welcome address, followed by Dr Amit Jyotikar, Regional Convener of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India (CGTC-I).

The 8th All India Tibet Support Groups Conference commenced with brief remarks by Shri R.K. Khrimey, National Convenor of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India, who summarised the objectives and discussions of the conference.

Addressing the valedictory session as the Special Guest, Kalon (Minister) Norzin Dolma of DIIR expressed her appreciation to the organisers of the All India Tibet Support Groups Conference. On behalf of the Tibetan people, Kalon Norzin Dolma thanked the Government and people of India for their decades of kindness and hospitality. She observed that the widespread presence of Tibet Support Groups across the country is a testament to the deep solidarity Indian citizens feel toward the Tibetan cause. She expressed confidence that continued collaboration with parliamentarians, civil society, and media outlets would further strengthen the movement.

Kalon extended her gratitude to the organisers for the successful execution of the conference. She underscored India’s “extraordinary generosity” in providing sanctuary to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans following the Chinese occupation. She remarked that India has evolved into the “cradle of the Tibetan way of life in exile,” providing a fertile ground for Tibetans to nurture democratic values such as equality, liberty, and justice.

Reflecting on the movement’s history, she paid tribute to the prominent Indian leaders who stood with Tibet as early as 1959, including Jayaprakash Narayan, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, B.R. Ambedkar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and George Fernandes.

Speaking on Tibet’s historical status, the Kalon asserted that Tibetans possess a distinct language, culture, and identity, having enjoyed peaceful relations with neighbouring nations until the invasion by government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). She described the exile community as a living testimony to a difficult history marked by military occupation, cultural destruction, and systemic policies of assimilation. Reaffirming the stance of the Central Tibetan Administration, she stated that the Tibetan leadership remains fully committed to a peaceful resolution of the Sino-Tibet conflict through dialogue and the Middle Way Approach, as envisioned by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

“While history cannot be rewritten,” the Kalon Norzin Dolma emphasised, “Tibetans will not allow their history and identity to be erased. We will continue to strive for a solution that ensures dignity, freedom, and the preservation of Tibet’s unique cultural and spiritual heritage.”

She further called on international supporters to continue advocating for Tibet-related legislation in their respective countries. Such laws, she said, help counter misinformation about Tibet, promote human rights, and oppose attempts by the government of the PRC to interfere in the reincarnation process of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  Additionally, she drew attention to the importance of Tibet’s environment, the Tibetan Plateau as the “Water Tower of Asia.” She explained that Tibet is the source of ten major rivers that sustain more than a billion people across South and Southeast Asia. Warning about China’s large-scale dam construction and water diversion projects, as such developments pose serious ecological and geopolitical risks for downstream countries, including India. Protecting Tibet’s fragile ecosystem, she emphasised, is therefore vital for the environmental security of the entire region.

While acknowledging the close relationship, Kalon Norzin Dolma expressed the best hope that the Government and people of India will continue to stand by the Tibetan cause when the situation demands. She also reaffirmed the commitment of the Central Tibetan Administration to maintain responsible governance and serve the Tibetan people in exile until a negotiated resolution to the Sino-Tibet conflict is achieved.

Concluding her remarks, she said the Tibetan freedom movement continues to draw strength from the resilience of Tibetans inside and outside Tibet, as well as from the solidarity of Indian supporters and the international community. Expressing deep gratitude to the Government and people of India for decades of support and hospitality, she said Tibetans look forward to the day when His Holiness the Dalai Lama can return to Tibet in freedom and dignity and when they can welcome their Indian friends to a free Tibet.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Shri Lobsang Genchen, Regional Convener of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India.

In the two-day seminar, the participants deliberated on major key topics, including India’s role in the Sino-Tibet conflict, focus on reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama, the rights and freedom of Tibetans in Tibet, the significance of Tibet’s ecology for downstream countries, called for a synergised effort to strengthen the Tibetan movement, and adopted a declaration and Action Plan.

On the final day of the 8th National Convention, participants unanimously adopted a declaration outlining nine key resolutions issued during the conference, reaffirming solidarity with the Tibetan people and support for the Tibetan cause. The declaration reads as follows:

DECLARATION

8th All India Tibet Support Groups Conference on 12th and 13th March 2026 at Dharamshala.

The 8th All India Tibet Support Groups Conference brought together representatives of Tibet Support Groups across India to reaffirm their solidarity with the Tibetan people and their aspirations for freedom and ancient cultural preservation.

Conference recalled the historic support extended by the Indian people to Tibet since 1950. Late Sardar Patel, in 1954 by Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar and in 1959 All India Tibet Convention initiated by Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan reaffirmed the civilizational, spiritual, and cultural ties between India and Tibet.

Conference expressed serious concern over the continued occupation of Tibet by the People’s Republic of China and the ongoing policies that threaten Tibet’s unique cultural identity, religious traditions, language and fragile environment.

Conference condemned the reported human rights violations in Tibet, including restrictions on religious freedom, mass surveillance, the expansion of colonial-style boarding schools for Tibetan children and attempts to annihilate Tibetan identity.

Conference demand for the recognition of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the legitimate representative of Tibetans.

Conference called for the resumption of dialogue between representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama/CTA and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to peacefully resolve the Sino-Tibet conflict and appeal the Government of India to raise the Tibet cause on International Platform in support of resumption of dialogue.

Conference expressed appreciation for the lifelong contributions of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in promoting world peace, compassion, non-violence, environmental awareness and the revival of Nalanda tradition of Buddhism.

Conference rejected China’s claim over the reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and uphold the century old tradition on reincarnation by Gaden Phodrang Trust.

Conference congratulates His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama for receiving Grammy award this year which also coincides the year of compassion marking the 90th Birth Anniversary of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Conference resolved to strengthen Tibet Support Groups across India, promote awareness through academic programs, social media campaigns, organize cultural and environmental initiatives and encourage greater participation of youth, women and civil societies.