26 June 2023, New Delhi : Bharat Tibbat Samanvay Sangh (BTSS), one of the Tibet Support Groups in India organised its summer national executive meeting called “Chintan 2023” in Sonepat, Haryana from 24th – 25th June, 2023. Under the leadership of BTSS Haryana Prant, the meeting was held at Prajapati Brahmakumari Retreat Center located at Murthal in Sonepat, Haryana.
On 24th June, the inaugural session of the meeting was graced by the presence of Shri Om Prakash Dhankar, State President, BJP Haryana as the Chief Guest and Smt. Kavita Jain, Former Cabinet Minister, Haryana Government as the Guest of Honour.
Shri Dhankar in his address said that the sentiments of the people of India are with the Tibetans in the struggle for the liberation of Tibet and that is why the Government of India has taken the side of Tibet many times in international forums. He said that India’s thinking is of democratic and cultural nationalism, while China’s thinking is of imperialism. He said that India is incomplete without Tibet as India and Tibet share historical and cultural aspects since ancient times.
Further, Shri Dhankar mentioned that he has great respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the global leader of peace and compassion and the nonviolent struggle for the cause of Tibet. He also said that he is fond of Tibetan writings, especially the poem of His Holiness the 6th Dalai Lama where it depicts the urge to return to one’s motherland. As the main objective of Bharat Tibbat Samanvay Sangh is to liberate Tibet, which was annexed by China in 1959, he dreams of a Free Tibet with all celebrating in Lhasa.
At the invitation of BTSS, India Tibet Coordination Office (ITCO), New Delhi’s Coordinator (Acting) Tashi Dekyi and Program Officer Choney Tsering attended the meeting joined by Regional Tibetan Women Association, Delhi President Phurbu Dolma.
Tashi Dekyi, first and foremost, introduced the significance of India Tibet Coordination Office, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). She gave an overview of current situation inside Tibet, over exploitation of natural resources, environmental degradation and sinister policies by CCP to wipe out Tibet from the world. Chinese forceful policy of “consolidating the sense of single Han national Identity” which aims the extermination and Sinicization of the Tibetan identity (culture, religion, language, etc.,) Any expression (peaceful demonstration) against the Chinese authorities was considered separatism and punished with harsh sentences(death) throughout which led Tibetans inside Tibet to self-immolate as a form of peaceful protest and cry for justice inside Tibet. Unfortunately, 158 Tibetans have self-immolated in the last 15 years. The policy of colonial boarding schools in Tibet where children as young as 4 years of age are separated from their families and forcefully taught in Mandarin; the DNA collection of Tibetans to monitor the whole generation of families are being carried out in Tibet by the Chinese government.
She further emphasised the significance of Tibet for India. When Tibet was independent, there was never a constraint in India-Tibet border affairs instead both the nations effortlessly co-existed. It was only after the occupation of Tibet by the CCP, the tensions at the border has erupted which is incurring huge expense for the Indian government to secure the border. Also, Tibet is the source of major rivers in South Asia which are the lifeline of many South Asian countries. The environmental destruction in Tibet by the Chinese government with damming and diversion of rivers is a serious concern, especially for India. With this, she expressed thanks to BTSS and sought their continued help and support for Tibet and the Tibetan cause.
Smt. Kavita Jain in her address extended her solidarity with Tibetan brothers and sisters. She said that she got to know more details about Tibet after attending the meeting and listening to all the speakers. She shared that she used to visit Tibetan markets in hill stations where she found the Tibetans to be very hardworking and peaceful people. She assured her support for Tibetan struggle and prayed for the liberation of Tibet from the Chinese regime swiftly.
BTSS National President Prof. Prayag Dutt Juyal, BTSS Women President Prof. Sumitra Kukreti, BTSS Women National General Secretary Dr. Rukmesh Chauhan and RTWA Delhi President Phurbu Dolma also addressed the meeting.
On 25th June, the closing session of the two-day national executive meeting was graced by BTSS Youth Wing National President Shri Neeraj Singh, who is the son of Hon’ble Defence Minister of India Shri Rajnath Singh ji, as the Chief Guest. He was joined on the stage by BTSS National President Prof. (Dr.) Prayag Dutt Juyal, BTSS Women National President Prof. Sumitra Kukreti, BTSS National Working President Dr. Vivek Guru, BTSS National Convener Hemendra Pratap Singh Tomar, ITCO Coordinator (Acting) Tashi Dekyi and RTWA Delhi President Phurbu Dolma.
The two-day national executive meeting reviewed the activities and programmes of BTSS chapters for the last six months since the national executive meeting “Manthan 2022” held at Ranchi, Jharkhand. The meeting further discussed action plans and programmes of BTSS for the coming six months to work for Tibet and strengthening the Tibetan cause. During the meeting, resolutions were passed including the preparation of Indo-Tibetan calendar to carry out the activities accordingly, BTSS Youth Conference and Women’s Conference in 2024, BTSS Members’ directory publication, book publication on Tibet, introduction of Tibetan language course in Doon University, pledge for the liberation of Kailash Mansorovar and to remind Indian MPs of 14th November, 1962 resolution to get back the Indian territories annexed by China during the Sino-India war.
The meeting also discussed and appointed new executive members at national, regional, state and district levels to reach every corner of the country and strengthen the work of the organisation for Tibet and Tibetans.
At the conclusion, ITCO Coordinator (Acting) Tashi Dekyi along with RTWA Delhi President Phurbu Dolma offered ‘khatak’ traditional Tibetan sacred scarf to BTSS National Executives and all the members for their support and work for Tibet. The Organising Committee of the meeting including the Members of Prajapati Brahmakumari Retreat Center also felicitated the Tibetan representatives with scarves and souvenirs.
More than 150 Members of Bharat Tibbat Samanvay Sangh from all over India participated in the two-day national executive meeting.
–Filed by ITCO, New Delhi