Bangalore: A two-day seminar programme was jointly organised by V.E.T. First Grade College, Bangalore and Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, in collaboration with Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society, Bangalore. The seminars were successfully conducted at V.E.T First Grade College on 26 September 2025 and at Mount Carmel College on 27 September 2025.
The theme of the programme was “India’s Border Security, the Historical Relationship between India and Tibet, and the message of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on Peace and Compassion.” The objective of the seminars was to provide students and participants with a deeper awareness of issues relating to India’s border security, India-Tibet relations, and the universal message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for fostering peace, compassion, and human values, and a large number of students of the college have attended the seminar program.
The programme was attended by Jigmey Tsultrim, Chief Representative Officer of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), who attended as the Chief Guest. Brigadier (Retd.) Ravi Muniswamy delivered a special lecture on “India’s Border Security,” while Lhamo Kyab, Assistant Professor at the Department of Forensic Science, NVJ College of Science, Bangalore, presented on “The Historical Relationship between India and Tibet and the Message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Peace and Compassion.”
In addition, the Principals, Professors, and senior faculty members of the respective colleges attended the programme and extended their full support throughout the event.
Brigadier (Retd.) Muniswamy delivered an insightful presentation on India’s border security. He emphasised the strategic importance of the Himalayan frontier, and he clarified that historically, India shares its border with Tibet, not directly with China. He shared his vast experiences of serving the nation in various operational roles and highlighted the significance of safeguarding India’s sovereignty.
In addition to security aspects, Brigadier Muniswamy also touched upon the life and contributions of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the resilience of the Tibetan refugee community in India. His address left a deep impact on the audience, particularly the students, as it combined both military insights and humanitarian perspectives.
Assistant Professor Lhamo Kyab addressed the gathering on the historical relationship between India and Tibet, highlighting the centuries-old spiritual, cultural, and civilisational ties between the two nations.
He spoke on the timeless message of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on peace, compassion, and non-violence. His presentation further elaborated on the historical relationship between India and Tibet, emphasising the deep-rooted spiritual bond through Buddhism. He also highlighted that the original Tibetan script was derived from India and recalled the contribution of the 17 great Indian masters who travelled to Tibet and laid the foundation of its spiritual and scholastic traditions.
In addition, he covered the essence of the Four Noble Truths as emphasised by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, underlining their practical application in daily life as a path toward inner peace and collective well-being. Lhamo Kyab shared a deeply moving personal account of his own journey from Tibet to India at the age of four. Having studied at TCV Suja, Himachal Pradesh, and later pursued higher education, he reflected on how his life challenges were shaped by growing up in exile as a Tibetan refugee, and how opportunities made possible through the grace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Children’s Village School, and the Central Tibetan Administration in exile gave him the resilience and determination to move forward in life.
He also expressed the pain of exile, describing the profound tragedy of being separated from his parents in Tibet while striving to build a meaningful future in India, always with the hope of one day returning to his homeland in Tibet. Lhamo Kyab concluded by stating that his choice of academic specialisation in Forensic Science was guided by the hope that, in a free Tibet of the future, his knowledge and skills would contribute meaningfully to the process of nation-building.
At Mount Carmel College, students actively engaged with the speakers through a question-and-answer session. One of the students posed a significant question regarding the successor to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. In response, Jigmey Tsultrim, Chief Representative Officer, addressed the query in detail. He explained the spiritual and traditional process concerning the institution of the Dalai Lama, as well as the official position of the Central Tibetan Administration on the matter. His response provided clarity to the students and generated a deeper understanding of Tibetan religious and political traditions.
The respective Professors and officials of the colleges also attended the sessions and actively interacted with the resource persons. They expressed their appreciation for the enlightening presentations and encouraged students to learn from the experiences shared by the speakers.
The seminars at both V.E.T. First Grade College and Mount Carmel College were highly successful in fulfilling their objectives. The interactive sessions encouraged active participation and left the students with a deeper understanding of both geopolitical issues and universal human values.
The seminars were attended by Sr. Albina, Director and Secretary of Mount Carmel College; Dr. George Lekha, Principal of Mount Carmel College; Dr. Alice Mathew, HOD of the Department of Political Science of Mount Carmel College; Dr. George Dimitrov, Assistant Professor of Mount Carmel College; Dr. Priyanka Mallick – Assistant Professor of Mount Carmel College; Rimpi Borah – Assistant Professor of Mount Carmel College; Shri Narayanswamy, Vice Principal of VET First Grade College
The program concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the organising faculty, who conveyed their heartfelt gratitude and profound respect to the Chief Guest, guest speakers, and all participants. The dignitaries were felicitated by the organisers in recognition of their valuable contribution.
On behalf of the organisers, Niranjan, General Secretary, Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society, Bangalore, expressed his sincere gratitude to the college management, professors, resource persons, and all participants for their wholehearted support in making the programs meaningful and impactful.
-Report filed by Chief Representative Office, South Zone
