DHARAMSHALA: Ven Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, attended the 32nd founding anniversary of Tibetan Women’s Association as the chief guest on Saturday, 10 September. The anniversary function was held at Club House, Mcleod Ganj.

Other guests at the function include Ms Rinchen Khando, former Kalon and adviser to the association, Mr Ajai Singh Mankotia, President of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, Mr Dawa Rinchen, Tibetan settlement officer and Ms Yeshi Dolma, member of Tibetan parliament. The function was also attended by representatives of Tibetan non-governmental organisations, institutes and monasteries.

In his address, Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, spoke in detail about the evolution of the Tibetan women’s movement, beginning from the 10th and 12th March 1959 uprising against the Chinese government in Tibet. He heaped praises on the association for its rich service towards the preservation of Tibetan culture and particularly towards social causes since its inception in exile.

The Deputy Speaker also reminded the association to be mindful of rules and regulations to be maintained, explaining that all organisations including the Central Tibetan Administration must strictly adhere by a set of rules to ensure the organisation’s effectiveness and survival in the long run.

He further emphasised the importance of contributing towards the larger Tibetan movement by every Tibetan individual and highlighted His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s five decade long effort to steer the Tibetan movement towards a peaceful resolution.

Tibetan Women’s Association, the largest women’s group in the Tibetan community, was originally founded on 12 March 1959 in Tibet. On this day – known as Women’s Uprising Day – thousands of Tibetan women in Lhasa gathered together to protest against the illegal occupation of Tibet by Communist China. Protesting peacefully outside the Potala Palace, hundreds of these women suffered brutally at the hands of the Chinese troops. They were arrested, imprisoned, tortured and beaten without trial.

However, a period of transition for the women’s association followed this uprising when many Tibetan women were forced to flee Tibet to live in exile in India. Finally, after about two decades, the Tibetan Women’s Association was officially reinstated with 12 branches throughout India on 10 September 1984, with the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Today, the women’s association has over 16,000 members and 57 branches worldwide including branches in: India, Nepal, Europe, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, the United States of America and Canada.