DHARAMSHALA: The Upper Tibetan Children Village (TCV) school began yesterday its 53rd founding anniversary celebrations. More than a thousand Tibetans gathered at the school to witness the opening ceremony. The three-day celebration include athletics meet, art exhibitions, debates and cultural shows.
 
Chief guests at the inaugural ceremony was His Eminence Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje Rinpoche and Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay. Other dignitaries include Chief Justice Commissioner Ngawang Phelgyal Gyechen, two justice commissioners, Speaker Penpa Tsering of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, members of the standing committee of the Tibetan Parliament, members of the Kashag and, secretaries and heads of Tibetan governmental and non-governmental organisations.
 
In his address, Sikyong/Education Kalon Dr Lobsang Sangay said that as per the advice and wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the 14th Kashag prioritises education as one of the most important component of its policies, urging Tibetan students to pursue excellence in studies.

 
He also said that Tibetan students have dual responsibility of performing well academically for success as well as to serve the nation.  It is time for us to go beyond people having more degrees. Therefore, the Central Tibetan Administration is providing scholarships and funding to nurture high quality human capital in diverse fields.  And students should grab this opportunity, he said.
 
Speaking on the situation inside Tibet, he said that Tibetans inside Tibet continue to suffer under the failed polices of the Chinese government. Recent incidents in Driru, Zatoe and other Tibetan areas have depicted that Chinese policies have never benefited local Tibetans, he said.

He also said that it is our duty to alleviate sufferings of the Tibetans inside Tibet. The only way through which we can do that is through dialogue with the Chinese government. Therefore, the Middle Way Policy of the Central Tibetan Administration is the only realistic solution to achieve that goal, he added.

Speaker Penpa Tsering, in his address, spoke about the modest beginnings of the Tibetan Children Village and how it evolved into one of the premier institutes of education and child welfare. He said, Late Tsering Dolma Takla, the elder sister of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, established this school to look after and provide education to the hundreds of destitute and orphaned Tibetan children.

“The parents of most of these children used to work in road constructions in the early 1960s and there was no one to take care of them. Therefore, TCV, first under the inspiration and guidance of Late Tsering Dolma and then after Kasur Jatsun Pema, have worked wholeheartedly to serve the Tibetan Diaspora community,” he said.

The upper Tibetan Children Village was established in 1960 with an initial 51 children who had arrived from the road construction camps in Jammu. Since then, more than 6000 Tibetan children have passed through this school. Many of these children are now serving the Tibetan community in various  capacities in the Central Tibetan Administration and various other Tibetan organisations.