Goa: On the evening of 21 August 2025, Chief Representative Officer (CRO) Jigme Tsultrim of South Zone held a meeting with the President and members of the Goa Tibetan Welfare Market Association. The discussion focused on recent challenges surrounding land availability and security for Tibetan businesses in the region. CRO provided an update on the latest developments and assured the association of continued administrative support. He urged the Members to remain proactive by regularly meeting with local officials and working to strengthen relationships within the local community, fostering goodwill and support for their initiatives.

On the morning of 22 August 2025, CRO Jigme Tsultrim and his team visited Dr Anita Kamat Dhundhre to strategise for the upcoming 10-day event in Goa, commemorating His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 90th birth anniversary, observed globally as the ‘Year of Compassion’. The planning session covered key components for the event, including cultural exhibitions, educational outreach, and community participation to highlight Tibetan values and the significance of compassion. The meeting was also attended by Kalsang (living more than three decades in Switzerland, presently staying in Dharamsala in summer and Goa in winter), along with Members of the Tibetan Market association of Baga and Calungute, being attended by Tashi Rabten and Nyima Tsering.

Later in the morning, the CRO-led delegation visited the Department of Social Science at Goa University. They met with Prof. Joanna Coelho and engaged with university students in an interactive session. CRO Jigme Tsultrim shared compelling stories about the Tibetan experience of forced exile and the difficulties faced when adapting to life in India, aiming to raise awareness and foster empathy among the students.

During the session, Miki Enoki, Associate Professor at Konan University, Japan, shared her perspective on Tibet’s unique culture and values as viewed from a foreigner’s standpoint, emphasising the universal relevance and urgent need for compassion in today’s world in particular to the practice of democratic values. The delegation also met with Prof. Ganesh Sommaya Ji, Head of the Department of Social Science.

Tenzin Thakpo, Sustainable Development Officer of Reimagining Doeguling, addressed the students about Tibet’s ongoing importance in global affairs and described how Doeguling Tibetan Settlement is actively integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level, furthering sustainable development within the community.

These meetings reflected a coordinated effort to strengthen Tibetan representation, build alliances, and share meaningful stories and values with the wider society in Goa.

-Report filed by Chief Representative Office, South Zone