14th February 2020, Bengaluru: Being one of the prestigious colleges of Bengaluru that has imparted education to many eminent personalities including Sri Ravi Shankar and Kenneth Anderson witnessed a program that was solely based upon understanding about India and Tibet’s relation.

The program was organised under the banner of Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India with joint efforts from the Department of Sociology, St.Joseph College, Bengaluru. Mr. Jacob David, the Regional Convener for South Eastern Region outlined the basic inputs of the event, it’s thought of designing the heart like pamphlets that resemble not only love between India and Tibet but its’ centuries-old sacred relation. 

Coinciding with Sh. Sandesh Meshram’s 4th Bharat Janjagaran Cycle Yatra at Bengaluru, he was invited to share his experience of his yatra with fine questions to reckon with. He stressed the need for further awareness of this relation and its reasons worthwhile.

It was then followed by sharing insights upon the basic human rights situation prevailing inside Tibet under Chinese occupation with the personal encounters of Mr.Tashi Wangdu. Being formerly served in Central Tibetan Administration in various departments including Secretary at Office of Tibet, Pretoria, South Africa for almost two decades, Mr.Wangdu touched upon existing realities of Tibetan people inside Tibet during his visit to Tibet with his parents. He pointed out how Communist China has been systematically wiping out Tibetan culture that has its roots in its distinctive language. From the ratio of the existing population, unlimited exploitation of mineral resources, differences of job opportunities and excessive control over movement are some of the serious concerns that have now enveloped Tibetan people towards an alarming and unseen challenge of their survival.

Ms.Cynthia Stephan, having experience in working for the rights of downtrodden communities including women and child rights, minority rights, Dalits and physically challenged rights spoke about the existence of Tibetan settlements particularly in the state of Karnataka. She narrated the hardships of the elder generation in sustaining its cultural repositories and keeping the hopes alive for a definite return for Tibet. While laying out different stakeholders behind this journey of six decades of Tibetans into exile she shared about the role of Myrada that has played phenomenal support in these Tibetan settlements in making positive changes in their lives. She underlined the role of NGO that can play equally significant for bringing out parallel efforts in developing a better society and creating a self-reliant entity.

It was then steered by Mr.N.Jayaram, a freelance journalist, who has spent 15 years in Hongkong, began his address with connecting what has recently erupted in Hongkong against unconstitutional law framed by Hongkong government with invisible hands behind with Tibetan’s right to self-determination under Chinese rule of governance. He also pointed out how the Chinese government playing vehemently behind expanding its control undermining regional autonomy not only in Hongkong but also in Taiwan.

Being the last speaker, Coordinator of ITCO, reiterated upon the significance of ties that has deeply rooted in many layers of fabric that India and Tibet can be. He told the gathering about why Sh. Sandesh may have thought not for one or two times but for continuously four times of undertaking this journey of Bharat Janjagaran Cycle Yatra. He lamented upon the proximities that India shares with Tibet, not with China and lauded the faculty of the Department of Sociology, St.Joseph College for making this day happen where His Holiness the Dalia Lama also graced this institution with his presence in 2011.

Dr.Berin Lucas, HoD of the Department of Sociology has been instrumental in making this event possible. More than 300 hundred students attended the event which concluded with a cultural performance by Nivedita, a student of St. Joseph College followed by felicitation of souvenirs for Speakers by Sh.Niranjan U, ITFS Secretary, Bengaluru chapter. A Q&A session was held with Sandesh Meshram.

Filed by ITCO, New Delhi