Kalon Tripa pays tribute to late Nirmala Deshpande
Saturday, 17 May 2008, 2:01 p.m.
 Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche (R) attends a memorial meeting in honour of Nirmala Deshpande in New Delhi on 16 May/Photos:Phayul |
Dharamshala: Kalon Tripa
Samdhong Rinpoche on Friday paid tribute to the non-violent struggle of
the eminent Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande, who passed away on 1 May.
A memorial meeting in upholding her works and legacy of
non-violent principles was held at the India International Centre,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi, on 16 May, Phayul online reported.
Kalon Tripa said her contribution to the Tibetan cause had been immense.
“We gather to discuss how to carry on her legacy, her prominence
and strive to live up to her achievements. We can pay our respect by
continuing the work she started decades ago and by adopting a
non-violent stance in our actions,” he added.
Eminent speakers included Swami Agnivesh, Dr (Smt.) Kapila
Vatsyayan( Rajya Sabha Member), Shri Rajiv Vohra (Director of
Non-Violence Peace Force Asia), Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche and close aide
of the Late Nirmala Despande, Shivnath Ram.
 Smt. Nirmala Deshpande (17 October, 1929 – 1 May 2008) |
In his address, Swami Agnivesh said: “We need a new
paradigm. Problems have always been there and will continue to exist.
There are two solutions to these tribulations – finding an answer
through violence or coming to mutual terms with non-violence…She was
a milestone. We need to take inspiration from her rare courage and
continue the work she has left behind. Be it the Dalai Lama or Nirmala
Deshpande, the question in our mind is, will we be able to live up to
their greatness and spirit? This poses a serious challenge to us.”
Nirmala Deshpande had devoted more than 60 years of her life
towards promoting communal harmony and serving women, tribal and the
dispossessed.
Born on October 17, 1929 in Nagpur, she joined Vinoba Bhave’s
Bhoodan Movement in 1952 and undertook padyatras across the country to
carry Mahatma Gandhi’s message of Gram Swaraj.
She firmly believed that although it was difficult to practice
Gandhian principles, it was the only way towards a truly democratic
society.
She received the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award and the Padma Vibhushan in 2006.
