26 April 2023, New Delhi: Tibet Support Groups in India commemorated the 34th Birth Anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, on 25 April 2023. The TSGs in solidarity and support with Tibetan brethren organised various programs and events, and attended programs commemorating the day at their respective places.
In Delhi, Bharat Tibbat Samanvay Sangh (BTSS) joined the Tibetan brothers and sisters in commemorating the day at Samyeling Tibetan Settlement, Majnukatilla organised by Regional Tibetan Women Association (RTWA). BTSS National President (Women’s Department) Prof. Sumitra Kukreti, National General Secretary (Women) Sandhya Singh, Province President (Women) Promila Malik, Province Vice President Parul Gupta, Province General Secretary Rekha Jhingan, Province Coordinator (IT Division) Ajit Dubey and other members attended the program. They prayed for the good health of the 10th Panchen Lama and demanded for his immediate release from the Chinese custody. A book “Tibbati Aparat Balak” published by Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR), Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) about His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama was distributed to all the members.
BTSS members also participated to commemorate the day at Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement, Dehradun.
In Bihar, India Tibet Friendship Society (ITFS) in association with Radhekrishna Goenka College, Sitamarhi commemorated the day by organising a seminar on the theme “Tibet Mukti Sadhana and Release of the 11th Panchen Lama”. Inaugurating the program, ITFS National Vice President Surendra Kumar spoke about the trilateral relations between India, Tibet and China explaining in detail about the annexation of Tibet by China and violation of all international norms and said that this situation is detrimental to India’s security and global peace. Dr. Brajesh Kumar Sharma, ITFS Bihar Vice President told that Tibet was not under China at any point in history, its expansionist policies are not in the interest of a peaceful world and India. ITFS Bihar President Dr. Harendra Kumar said that the freedom of Tibet is in the interest of India. There is a direct issue related to security and from all directions including the northern border India is facing threat from China. Dr. Renu Thakur, HoD, English Department read out the statement on the 34th birth anniversary of 11th Panchen Lama issued in English by DIIR, CTA and accordingly translated it in Hindi. All the members chanted prayers for the safety and good health of His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama and at the same time, it is worth mentioning that they demanded for the immediate release of him along with his family members.
In Bhagalpur, ITFS commemorated the 34th birthday of 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima at Gandhi Peace Foundation Centre. ITFS Bhagalpur President Uma Ghosh presided over the program. On the occasion, Prakash Chandra Gupta spoke about the importance of Tibet stating that Jayaprakash Narayan kept the idea maintaining Tibet as a buffer state between India and China. Professor Dr. Umesh Prasad Neeraj told about the India-Tibet cultural relations, Tibet’s strategic importance and underlining the environmental importance of Tibet. The members prayed for the good and healthy life of His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama and demanded his immediate release from the Chinese captivity.
In Jharkhand, ITFS Hazaribagh commemorated the 34th birth anniversary of 11th Panchen Lama at Bada Bazar in Jain Bhavan. The program started with the lighting of lamp and offering flowers to the portrait of His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama. ITFS Hazaribagh President Sudesh Kumar Chandravanshi spoke about 11th Panchen Lama and his abduction by the Chinese government. They prayed for the safety and good health of him and demanded from the Chinese government that the Panchen Lama and his family to be released immediately. They also demanded that China to stop human rights violation in Tibet and get out of Tibet as soon. On the occasion, District Secretary Ajit Kumar, Devendra Jain, Shailesh Kumar Chandravanshi, Rakesh Verma, Vijay Thakur, Shyam Kishore Prasad, Vikas Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Dilip Ram and Atishay Jain were present.
The 34th birth anniversary of Tibet’s stolen child, the 11th Panchen Lama, was also commemorated by ITFS Regional Chapter at Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
-Report filed by ITCO