30th July 2016: A Day for Tibet program was organised at KJ Somaiya Center for Buddhist Studies, Vidyavihar, Mumbai. The center was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 6 December 1993, with an emphasis upon learning different traditions of Buddhism and to engage more in constructive analysis of Indian traditions which is incomplete without knowing the essence of Buddhism.
The program started at 2:15 pm conducted by Mrs Kiran Sharma and welcome remark by Dr Pallavi Jambhale. It was then, Shri Jigmey Tsultirm, Coordinator, India Tibet Coordination, introduced the objective of the program – to outreach Indian masses particularly Indian Youth, sharing with them the experiences of exiled Tibetan people in India since their arrival in 1959, the enormous facilitation that they have received in exile, the grievous prevailing situation inside Tibet and policies being implemented by Central Tibetan Administration.
With short documentaries being screened upon the life and engagement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama highlighting his three main objectives, it was then followed by the presentation of Ven Geshe Dorji Damdul whose profile was introduced by Dr Animesh Prakash. Geshe Dorji Damdul underlined the composite learning of Buddhism and ways to approach for its understanding. He relates essence of Buddhism to theory of relativism with that of Albert Einstein, the great German-born theoretical physicist. As every sentient being possess of nature of Buddhahood, it is indeed significant to contemplate upon how this can be cultivated and why this must be analysed – was also one of the component which was touched by the eminent Buddhist scholar. He appreciated the enormous work being done by the institution towards restoration and research upon the ancient Indian studies including Buddhism, Jainism and so forth.
During question hours, to one of the questions related to the self-immolation taking place inside Tibet since 2009, Geshe Dorje Damdul defined the acts as desperate and last resort in expressing the unbearable situation and injustices being implied upon Tibetans inside Tibet. He urged, through this program, to the larger audience to look into this reality and requested them to express their solidarity with Tibetans.
Dr Supriya Rai extended her gratitude towards Geshe Dorji Damdul for his presentation and also for being a constant source of learning for many years. Vote of thanks was given by Dr Bhagyashree Bavare to all the participants for taking part in the program despite continuing heavy downpour in Mumbai.
– Report filed by ITCO, New Delhi –
