DHARAMSHALA: Tibetans offered their heartfelt greetings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as he turned 76 yesterday, and His Holiness has promised to live up to the age of 113 as envisaged by the state oracle.

Braving heavy rain in the morning, a motley crowd of thousands of Tibetans and well-wishers throng the main temple with great enthusiasm to celebrate His Holiness’ 76th birthday.

The Kashag, on behalf of Tibetans both in and outside Tibet, expressed its deep gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his remarkable steps toward complete democratisation of the Tibetan polity, particularly the devolution of all his powers to the elected Tibetan leadership, which will represent the six million Tibetans living in and outside Tibet.

“His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s democratisation of the Tibetan polity has given the Tibetans the opportunity to make the issue of Tibet more global and strengthened the legitimacy of the exile administration,” Kalon Tripa said in his address.

“At this time when important changes are taking place in Tibetan political system, the exile community by abandoning regionalism and sectarianism, and by following democratic principles took active part and succeeded in electing a well-qualified new Kalon Tripa with immense majority support. This is a matter of pride and happiness as it signifies the unity among the Tibetans and it shows their political maturity,” Kalon Tripa said.

The Kashag urged the Tibetans to uphold their spirit and determination by not being deterred by these political changes and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s devolution of all his powers, and should further work hard to carry forward the empowerment of Tibetan polity.

On the Sino-Tibetan dialogue, Kalon Tripa said the Tibetan side is firmly committed to continue the talks even though the present Chinese leadership has no desire to give any meaningful consideration to the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People and Note on the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People..

“Moreover, we have already formulated a clear stand and a firm base to carry forward the dialogue in accordance with any future change that may take place in the People’s Republic of China,” Kalon Tripa said.

The Kashag expressed deep concern over the situation of Tibetans in Nepal and said efforts were made to appoint Nepalese citizen as a voluntary liaison to look after the welfare of the Tibetans living there.  “We hope that he can solve some of the immediate problems that Tibetans living there face. We request the Tibetans there to cooperate with him as and when needed in accordance with local situation,” Kalon Tripa said.

Kalon Tripa said, Tibetans in exile stand in solidarity with their brethren inside Tibet in their non-violent campaigns against the just cause of Tibet, and pray for all those who are imprisoned and those who are being persecuted.

On a more pleasant note, Kalon Tripa said, the state oracle envisaged that His Holiness the Dalai Lama was promised to live till the age of 113. It is a matter of immense happiness for us that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has time and again accepted to have a long life.”

“However, the state oracle stated that it depends upon the deeds and conduct of the Tibetan people. Thus, the Kashag would like to urge all Tibetans to engage in actions that will not breach the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and at the same time to work hard in preserving our traditional values,” Kalon Tripa said.

The Tibetan Parliament in Exile, in its statement, praised His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s extraordinary contribution towards the Tibetan struggle and the humanity’s well-being through his message of love, compassion, forbearance and universal responsibility.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Speaker Lopon Tenphel said the Chinese government uses heavy-handed approach to stifle the voices of Tibetans inside Tibet demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet. The Chinese authorities employ extremely inhumane policy to torture, arrest and impose death sentence on Tibetans, he said.
The Parliament called on the Tibetans to maintain and strengthen unity and determination more than ever before until truth and justice prevails in Tibet.

The traditional song and dance performances by artists of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and schoolchildren added great fanfare to the occasion.

Kalon Tripa honoured four civil servants – Mr Chimme Rigzin Choekyappa (Secretary to His Holiness the Dalai Lama), Mr Tsering Wangchuk (Additional Secretary, Kashag Secretariat), Mr Kunga Tashi (Joint Secretary, Office of Tibet, New York) and Mr Norbu Tashi (Joint Secretary, Department of Religion and Culture) – for their twenty-five service in the Central Tibetan Administration.

Kalon Tripa launched two books on the history of Tibetan monasteries in exile, the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon religion, published by the Department of Religion and Culture.