Students and faculty members of Sanskrit College and University, Kolkata. 

Kolkata: The UN, EU, and the Human Rights Desk along with The Tibet Museum of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) began its 11 days-long speaking tour along with an exhibition on Indo-Tibet relations spanning four cities of Kolkata, Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Gangtok across the states of West Bengal and Sikkim. The officers of the desk, Mr. Tenzin Kunkhen and Ms. Lobsang Kyizom spoke about the current human rights situation in Tibet and Tibet’s significance to India and the world. Over 40 students and faculty members of the Sanskrit College and University attended the seminar.

Among the four panelists for the seminar are Ruby Mukherjee, president of Ganasamnnay, Kolkata; Dr. Mausumi Sen Bhattacharya, Associate Professor at the Sanskrit College; Tenzin Kunkhen, and Lobsang Kyizom, Central Tibetan Administration.

Advocate Ruby Mukherjee, the former regional convenor of Core Groups for Tibet who helped organize the seminar was one of the four panelists. During her talk, she highlighted the ties that bind India and Tibet together historically and how it is the moral duty of the Indians to support the just cause of Tibet.

Tenzin Kunkhen, staff at the DIIR’s Human Rights Desk, introduced the Central Tibetan Administration and gave a brief background of China’s occupation of Tibet. He further talked about the various human rights violations inside Tibet including the ongoing crackdown and demolitions in Drakgo, Chinese colonial-style boarding schools in Tibet, ‘Patriotic Reeducation’ and crackdown on Tibetan intellectuals.

He stated, “In order to legitimize their occupation of Tibet and fulfil its political agenda, the Chinese government in Tibet disregards the fundamental human rights of Tibetans”.

Lobsang Kyizom, DIIR’s Research and Communications Officer, discussed the significance of Tibet to India and explained why Tibet should be a key factor to consider when it comes to India’s security concerns and called for a reassessment of India’s Tibet policy. She said “Tibet, as well as its neighbors, will be gravely affected if the PRC government’s current policies are not challenged.”

Prior to the seminar, the Tibet Museum staff set up the exhibition at the university hall which attracted interested students and answered their questions about the exhibition.

The DIIR team will visit the Raiganj University in Siliguri  for the talk and exhibition on 19 September.

–Reported by UN, EU and the Human Rights Desk, DIIR

Tenzin Kunkhen, staff at the DIIR’s Human Rights Desk, introducing the Central Tibetan Administration and giving a brief background of China’s occupation of Tibet at Sanskrit College and University in Kolkata. 

Ms. Lobsang Kyizom, DIIR’s Research and Communications Officer, giving a presentation on the significance of Tibet to India and explaining why Tibet should be a key factor to consider when it comes to India’s security concerns and called for a reassessment of India’s Tibet policy at Sanskrit College and University in Kolkata. 

A group photo with seminar attendance at Sanskrit College and University in Kolkata.

Tibet Museum exhibition at Sanskrit College and University in Kolkata.