(From top left – Guest lighting the lamp, Group photos of the dignitaries, ITCO coordinator and staff with Mrs. Asha Kumari Jaswal and ITCO coordinator and staff with Sardar Harjit Singh Grewal Ji)

Chandigarh: The North Regional Conference commemorating the Silver Jubilee of Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch (BTSM) convened at Chandigarh’s Law Bhawan on October 6, 2023. Esteemed attendees included Shri Pradeep Joshi Ji, a senior leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS); Dr. Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri Ji, former Vice Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh Central University, and current Vice Chancellor of Haryana Sahitya Sanskriti Academy; Shri R.K. Khrimey Ji, Convener of the Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India (CGTC-I); Sardar Harjit Singh Grewal Ji, a National Executive member of BTSM; and Tenzin Lekshay, additional secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) at CTA.

In addition to these distinguished guests, Thupten Rinzin, Coordinator of India Tibet Coordination Office (ITCO), Tashi Dekyi, a staff member from ITCO, BTSM leaders, prominent local figures, and over three hundred BTSM members and community representatives attended the occasion.

Shri Vijay Sharma Ji, National Vice President of BTSM, provided a comprehensive overview of BTSM’s background and elucidated the purpose behind hosting the event.

Shri Pradeep Joshi Ji emphasised the imperative to mend the wounds suffered by Tibetan brothers and sisters and relieve their agony by liberating Tibet from Chinese occupation. Dr Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri underscored the global significance of Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism as proponents of peace while lamenting China’s malevolent intentions that disrupt this tranquillity. He called for decisive action against China to secure Tibet’s liberation.

Additional Secretary Tenzing Lekshay expounded upon the India-Tibet relationship and the inevitable responsibility of the government and people of India to support the Tibetan cause.

In his address, Shri R.K. Khrimey Ji recalled the 1962 war, asserting that India, in 2023, stands as a robust nation capable of addressing China on its own terms.

Sardar Harjeet Singh Grewal, National Executive member of BTSM, characterized China as an expansionist threat to peaceful, democratic nations across the world.

The India Tibet Coordination Office (ITCO) contributed to the event by distributing Tibet-related books and brochures and inviting the newly established Chandigarh Men-Tse-Khang clinic to raise awareness about their products and services and members of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) to present a traditional Tibetan dance to the audience. Documentaries about Tibet were also screened. The event facilitated networking opportunities for like-minded individuals and organizations to engage in discussions about Tibet on the sidelines.

-Reported by India Tibet Coordination Office (ITCO), New Delhi

(From top left- Shri Pradeep Joshi, Sardar Harjit Singh Grewal, Shri R.K. Khrimey, Dr. Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri, Tenzin Lekshay)

Attendees.