Darjeeling: India Tibet Coordination Office (ITCO) organised a meeting with both the local and Tibetan communities of Darjeeling at Manjushree Center of Tibetan Culture on 30 August 2023. The meeting was attended by prominent figures from the local community in the gracious presence of Chief Guest Shri Surendra Kumar, National Co-Convener for the Core Group for Tibetan Cause – India (CGTC-I), and Special Guest Shri Soumyadeep Dutta, Regional Convener for CGTC-I, Shri Sonam Lhundup Lama, Secretary of Himalayan Committee for Action on Tibet (HIMCAT), Siliguri, and former Regional Convener of CGTC-I; along with newly appointed Darjeeling Tibetan Settlement Officer Pema Tsering Dhenmatsang among others.
Shri Gyurmey T. Bhutia, President of the Local Tibetan Freedom Movement introduced the attendees about the program and coordinated closely with ITCO in organising the event.
Chief Guest Shri Surendra Kumar provided insights into the India-Tibet Friendship Society (ITFS) and the Core Group for Tibetan Cause – India. He emphasised the importance of raising awareness and garnering support, particularly from the local Himalayan communities. Highlighting the ITFS’s role in advancing the Tibetan cause, he mentioned their appeal to the Government of India to support the Tibetan issue and confer the Bharat Ratna upon His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Shri Surendra Kumar also brought attention to the Core Group’s recent press conference in Delhi, outlining its 5 demands ahead of the G-20 summit in New Delhi.
Special Guest Shri Soumyadeep Datta approached the Tibetan movement from a spiritual and cultural perspective. He stressed the necessity of spreading information in various regional languages and ensuring the movement reaches grassroots levels. He also introduced the public to “Free Tibet – A Voice from Assam” and highlighted the potential threats posed by the Brahmaputra (aka Yarlung Tsangpo or Siang) river project due to the massive development of dams in Tibet.
Shri Sonam Lhundup introduced about the HIMCAT and its activities. He stressed the need for more coordination among various Tibetan non-government organisations (NGO’s).
ITCO Coordinator, Thupten Rinzin, shed light on ITCO’s purpose and the rationale behind establishing the ITFS Darjeeling chapter. He stressed the importance of strengthening and revitalising support for the Tibetan cause. Thupten highlighted the historical relationship between Tibet and the Himalayan states, and made it evident that the resolution of Indo-China issues is intrinsically linked to resolving the Tibetan issue. He also brought attention to the dire situation in Tibet, including self-immolations, heavy surveillance, and communist residential schools threatening Tibetan culture, religion, and language. He appealed to the local community for increased support, citing ITFS-Darjeeling as a platform for community involvement.
The event featured an unveiling of reprinted book of the ardent Tibet supporter, late Prof. Krishna Nath, titled “Tibbat Mukti Sadhana Aur Bharat-Chin Sambandh”.
This event marked the historic formation of the ITFS-Darjeeling chapter. The newly appointed board included Shri Sendup Dukpa as President, Shri Subhamoy Chatterjee as Vice President, the Tibetan Settlement Officer as Vice President, and eleven other board members. A group discussion was also held after the main program where ITFS Vice President Shri Surendra Kumar advised and guided the newly formed committee about their role and responsibilities followed by Q&A session.
Shri Surendra Kumar and Shri Gyurmey T. Bhutia, General Secretary of ITFS-Darjeeling also interacted with the local press after the event.
On the following day, similar program was organised in the auditorium of Sambhota Tibetan School, Darjeeling exclusively with the local Tibetan community where Shri Surendra Kumar introduced the public about the ITFS, CGTC-I and historic support enjoyed by the Tibetans.
Pema Tsering Dhenmatsang, the Darjeeling Tibetan Settlement Officer, delivered a brief introduction to ITFS and ITCO’s background. She extended her well wishes to the new executive committee and felicitated them with khataks.
ITCO Coordinator Thupten Rinzin elaborated on the necessity of bolstering the Tibet support groups in India, especially within the Himalayan communities. He delved into the reasons behind the formation of the ITFS-Darjeeling chapter and its potential impact on increasing support for the Tibetan cause within local communities. He appealed to the local Tibetan community and Tibetan NGOs to actively participate and support the activities of ITFS-Darjeeling.
Shri Sendup Dukpa, First President of ITFS-Darjeeling, appealed for cooperation and support from local Tibetan community and expressed plan to hold a meeting with representatives of various local Tibetan NGO’s to understand and explore for future collaboration. He emphasised that ITFS Darjeeling would try its best to further the interests of the Tibetan issue.
“I would like to wholeheartedly thank Mr. Gyurmey T. Bhutia, President of Local Tibetan Freedom Movement and Ms. Pema Tsering Dhenmatsang, Tibetan Settlement Officer for their cooperation and support in making the program a resounding success.” said Thupten Rinzin, ITCO Coordinator.
“Darjeeling program is a part of our broader efforts to strengthen and revitalise Tibet support groups in Sikkim and North Bengal. I am confident that it will create more awareness among the local community” said Tenzin Jorden, Deputy Coordinator of ITCO.
The meeting ended with the rendition of Indian and Tibetan national anthem. The dignitaries departed for Kalimpong later in the afternoon.
-Report filed by ITCO, New Delhi