Tezpur: In the follow up of program from Guwahati, Tezpur till Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh for emboldening the protest, dissemination of information upon the draconian vision of Communist Chinese Government especially with regard to recent face off at Ladakh and Pangong Tso in June and August respectively, the Core Group for Tibetan Cause – India, headed by National Co-Convener, Sh. Surendra Kumar; Regional Convener for Assam and Meghalaya, Sh. Soumyadeep Datta and Regional Convener for North Bengal and Sikkim, Sh. Pema Wangda Bhutia addressed the Press Conference at Tourist Lodge, Prashanti, Tezpur on 18th November 2020.
A brief outline of Press Conference and onward journey of Core Group Members till Tawang was presented by Coordinator for ITCO during which he highlighted the urgency of awakening of people’s awareness and support for Tibetan cause, India’s national security, ecological sustainability and cultural preservation of Indo Tibet relations. In addition to this, he reminded the historic event of Tezpur, Assam where His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed the international media and press for the first time after coming into exile through Chuthangmo and Tawang, then part of NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) on 18th April 1959 –enroute to Mussoorie, then part of Uttar Pradesh. Along with this, he introduced the apex body of all India Tibet Support Groups which is represented by Core Group for Tibetan Cause – India.
Sh. Surendra Kumar, in his address, reminded the media and press about Guru and Chela relationship between India and Tibet – culturally and spiritually. He added that the past border between India and Tibet – safe and friendly – where no any passport, visa or documents required to visit between these two places. Whereas today, India being a developing nation, burdens the expenses the crores of rupees per day upon the security and its management. He reminded that the path of Tibetan cause is synonymous with Ahimsa of Mahatma Gandhi that diminished the colonialism of British raj and ushered India into an air of Swaraj. He reaffirmed that Core Group for Tibetan Cause – India remains strongly committed for the reassurance of Tibet MuktiSadhana with regard to Middle Way Approach of Central Tibetan Administration.
Sh. Kumar lauded the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in India and his approach of Universal Karuna and Maitri. He underlined that the people of India is certainly indebted to His Holiness for rekindling the lights of wisdom that Indian civilization has given in the past in the form of ‘Unity amongst Diversity’. He called upon all the concerned organizations and individuals to urge Government of India to bestow Bharat Ratna to His Holiness the Dalia Lama for his words, deeds and his contribution for the entire mankind.
Sh. Soumyadeep Datta, hailing from Assam with its fragrance of flora and fauna, culture and tradition, drew out the essence of Tibetan Freedom and its relation with India particularly with North Eastern Region including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. He thanked the media and press representatives for showing up their concern with their pen and cameras but also urged that India and Tibet’s relation – the story of Guru Padmasambhava and Acharya Shanti Deva’s journey to Tibet, Rahu Sankrityayan adoption of Buddhism and Bharata’s Oxford of Takshila and Nalanda University must be retold amongst the youth of India to connect them with their roots and to enrich themselves with these treasures of Indian values.
He also hinted upon the cultural destruction of Tibetan Buddhism inside Tibet that was revived and practiced from India yet how it is being still preserved in India under the spiritual leadership of His holiness the Dalai Lama after his coming to exile since 1959.
Sh. Datta specifically pointed out that the lifeline for Assamese people – Brahmaputra that originates from Tibet, passes through Arunachal Pradesh and enters Assam remains today under huge threat with the unnatural and forced modification of its flow being diverted and dozens of hydro projects being constructed upon this. He pointed out that these implementations are being exercised with no regard to Water Treaty or MoU upon the rivers and its course between India and China. He himself being a wildlife activist, urged the media and press to amplify this issue and public to generate more awareness upon this subject before the future generation may hold them the responsibility for its delay.
Tezpur, Assam, being the gateway to the state of Arunachal Pradesh, the venue for Press Conference at Tourist Lodge, Prashanti was found to be smaller with more than 30 representatives, both from print and electronic, regional to national news participated in the session that went on for almost two hours.
-Filed by ITCO