New Delhi: CTA president Dr. Lobsang Sangay addressed the National Convention on Tibet organized by Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, a national Tibet Support Group at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi on 22 September 2019.
The program was also presided by Shri Indresh Kumar, Senior RSS leader and founder of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, Shri Manoj Tiwari, Member of Parliament Lok Sabha and Delhi BJP President, Shri Harijit Singh Grewal, Commissioner, Punjab Khadi Udyog and Working President of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, Shri R. K. Khrimey, National Convener of Core Group for Tibetan Cause – India, Kasur Gyari Dolma and other dignitaries.
At the outset, the program began with the lighting of lamps before the statue of Lord Buddha, portraits of Bharat Maata and His Holiness the Dalai Lama by Dr. Lobsang Sangay accompanied by Shri Indresh Kumar and other guests.
Some classical dances depicting the culture of India were presented before the guests and the audience.
Dr. Lobsang Sangay in his address foremost paid his namaskar and greetings to the large crowd gathered and congratulated Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch on the completion of 20 years. He offered his heartful thanks to all BTSM activists gathered from all over India for the service rendered to the Tibetan movement.
Dr Sangay mentioned that 60 years ago, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel wrote a letter to Pandit Nehru telling about the danger of Chinese occupation of Tibet and its consequences. “It is a reality now. India is facing the danger and threat of China due to the occupation of Tibet. There are tensions on borders. Lots of money are spent on border security. If Tibet has been free, there was no need for such expenses. Instead, all this money could be used for the development of the country.”
“Today, you all are here talking about freedom for Tibet because there is no freedom in Tibet. Millions of Tibetans had been killed, thousands of monasteries had been destroyed and this is still going on. Larung Gar and Yachen Gar, where thousands of monks and nuns study, is being demolished. According to the Freedom House Report, the least free nation after Syria is Tibet. Therefore we need the world’s support and your support, that is India.”
He further said, “Nowadays India talks about Made in India. But I will tell you the original Made in India is the Tibetan movement. Buddhism came to Tibet from India. Tibetan democracy is adopted from Indian democracy. We have drunk India’s water. We have been taught by Indian teachers. In fact, His Holiness the Dalai Lama calls himself ‘a son of India’. So the original Made in India are us. If Made in India has to be a success, Tibet has to succeed. I believe under the leadership of Shri Indresh Kumar, Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch and other Tibet Support Groups in India, Tibet will be free.”
Shri Indresh Kumar said that India and Tibet are the strength of Himalayas. No one can break that bond. Speaking on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation, he strongly condemned the Chinese interference in the Tibetan reincarnation tradition. He said, “China has no right to decide on His Holiness’s reincarnation. China’s immoral, illegal and unethical interference in religious matters is unacceptable.”
He mentioned that His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself has said that the decision about his reincarnation solely lies on him. His reincarnation will not be born in China. There is a possibility that the next Dalai Lama may be born in India or any Asian countries where there are no shades of China’s presence, he added.
The goondagardi and dictatorship of China will not last. Tibet will be free and His Holiness the Dalai Lama will return to Tibet at Potala Palace, he concluded.
The National Convention was attended by Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch activists from all over India in large numbers. India Tibet Coordination Office, Delhi Coordinator Mr. Jigmey Tsultrim with staff, Tibetan representatives from Samyelling Tibetan Settlement, Majnukatilla and a large number of Tibetans from and around Delhi also attended the program.
-Filed by India Tibet Coordination Office