Dharamshala: In a vibrant display of community spirit and environmental awareness, several organisations and public volunteers gathered at the Bhagsu riverside to kick off a series of events prepared to celebrate World Rivers Day on Sunday morning.
The theme for World Rivers Day 2024 is “Waterways of Life,” which underscores the crucial role rivers play in sustaining life and nourishing ecosystems. The event was organised collectively by the Tibet Policy Institute (CTA), Students for a Free Tibet—India, Clean Upper Dharamshala Programme, International Tibet Network, and Tibetan Youth Congress—Dharamshala. The day began with a successful mass cleanup event at the Bhagsu riverside, followed by an interactive seminar held at the Tibet Policy Institute.
To show gratitude and appreciation for the natural beauty of rivers, around 30 participants gathered for the cleanup drive at the Bhagsu riverside at 10 a.m., wearing white shirts to symbolise the clarity of their intentions. Two teams were formed, each assigned to different targeted areas in an attempt to clear the entire span of the Bhagsu River visible from the elevated public footpath, starting from the waterfall. The cleanup continued until noon, resulting in the collection of over 50 bags of garbage, which were properly disposed of in a pickup jeep from the Dharamshala Municipal Corporation (DMC).
The celebration continued in the afternoon with a seminar titled “At the Tipping Point: The Ecological Crisis of the Rivers of Tibet and the Himalayas,” organised by SFT-India in the TPI seminar hall. Six diverse speakers from different states in India were invited to discuss the significance of rivers originating from Tibet, particularly the “Yarlung Tsangpo” or “Brahmaputra,” and its tributaries to Tibet and India’s northeastern states. The seminar provided an interactive platform for learning and discussion, fostering a network of human resources including human rights defenders, advocates, and community workers from Tibet, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Sikkim.
As organisers and participants reflect on the day’s accomplishments, there is renewed hope and commitment to future collaborations aimed at raising awareness not only for the town’s local river but also for the rivers of Tibet and the Himalayas. This collective effort will help ensure the protection and preservation of these vital ecosystems, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and advocacy for the health of our waterways for generations to come. This collaboration among different Tibetan organisations and institutions is the result of an agreement reached during a strategic meeting organised by the Tibet Policy Institute in Delhi (20-22 August 2024), to shape and create an atmosphere for collaboration for the next five years. The aim was to form a common goal and collaborative approach for a more effective environmental works in the future.
-Report filed by Tibetan Settlement Office, Dharamshala
