Pandit Nehru’s Support for Separate Tibetan Schools in Exile Remembered[Monday, 15 November 2010, 2:34 p.m.]

A banner put up at the Central School for Tibetans, Mussoorie, to mark its 50th founding anniversary on Monday, 15 November 2010/Photo: Jigme Tsering, Tibetonline TV

Dharamshala: In
a message to the Central School for Tibetans, Mussoorie, on its 50th
founding anniversary, His Holiness the Dalai Lama remembered how Indian
Prime Minister Pandit Nehru took personal interest in the establishment
of separate schools for Tibetans.“Upon our arrival in India in
April 1959, Prime Minister Pandit Nehru assured me that the real way to
serve the Tibetan cause was to give our children a proper education. He
followed up this advice by taking a personal interest in the
establishment of separate schools for Tibetans, with the direct support
and assistance of the Government of India,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama
said in a special message to the school.“Over the last half
century, many Indians have helped us generously and I would like to
take this opportunity to thank the staff and teachers of the Central
School for Tibetans, both Indian and Tibetan, for the invaluable
contribution they have made,” His Holiness said.To the students
of past and present, His Holiness said: “I urge you to remember and
preserve your Tibetan identity, while at the same time keeping in mind
that your education has prepared you to be participating citizens of
the twenty-first century.”Speaking of imparting sound education
to the children, His Holiness said: “Giving children a sound education
is an act of far-reaching generosity, because childhood is a time of
learning and training in preparation for life ahead. We human beings
are naturally intelligent and when we are children, unburdened by other
obligations, we have some freedom and flexibility of thought and
action. However, our natural freedom and intelligence will only become
fruitful if they are given proper guidance and encouragement. This is
why schools are so important. When children have the opportunity to
receive an education they have the chance not only to improve
themselves as individuals but to contribute to the development of
society as a whole.”“Education and knowledge are like an
instrument. Whether that instrument is put to use in a constructive or
destructive way depends on each person’s motivation. An education
system that cultivates smart brains alone can sometimes create more
problems than it solves. However, it is clear that if a student in
addition to receiving a good intellectual education happens to have
teachers with a warm heart, and a sense of responsibility for both
caring and discipline, he or she tends to grow into a more fulfilled
adult. We all want to lead a happy life, but material goods alone will
not provide us with genuine inner peace or happiness. Positive human
values are essential,” His Holiness said.

This file photo shows an inspection visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to one of the classes at the then Tibetan Refugee Educational Institution in 1960

The
school made a humble beginning as Tibetan Refugee Educational
Institution for six teachers and 50 children under the supervision of
Mr Kundeling and Mr Jigme Taring.  Inaugurated by His Holiness the
Dalai Lama on 3 March 1960, it came the first Tibetan residential
school to be founded in India and was run by the Indian government in
collaboration with the Central Tibetan Administration. Funding for the
initial project came wholly from the office of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama.Within only three months of opening, the school was to
accommodate a further 304 children from the Tibetan Nursing School in
Dharamsala. It soon became apparent that the school would need to
expand. The most immediate concern was the need for additional
classroom and living space. Towards the end of 1961, the office of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama provided funds to purchase land on Honey Hill
and Aren House worth Rs 20,000 and Rs 38,000 respectively.Construction
of the classrooms, under the management of School Principal, Mr Taring,
began in earnest. More than 60 volunteers from Dalhousie worked on the
project together with teachers and students. Funding was a problem but
with the support from Indian government and Office of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama the building was completed.Under the direction of
Prime Minister Nehru, the Central Tibetan Schools Administrative (CTSA)
under the Ministry of Education as a separate administrative unit was
instituted to support Tibetan educational needs in 1961. From September
of that year ill today the administration and funding of Mussoorie
School has been supervised by the CTSA.Today, CTS Mussoorie is
a home of 734 students (Year 2010) with a considerably expanded
curriculum and teaching staff. Tibetan language and spiritual teaching
formed an essential part of the school curriculum. The school has three
subject streams at the higher secondary level, namely Science, the Arts
and Commerce, together with vocational training in tailoring for girls,
and woodcraft for boys. The current school principal Mr Vinod
Kumar Sing is also making his contribution of the achievements of the
school’s founding members, and is supported by the school rector Mr
Lobsang Dhundup, a teaching staff of 41 and non-teaching staff of 15.
As always, the education and safekeeping of our children, and hence our
future, is in good hands, a statement from the school rector’s office
said.The highlights of the celebratory function on Monday are
rendition of commemoration song by children, laying of foundation stone
of new boys hostel and inauguration of new girls hostel, exhibitions,
Tibetan and Indian folk songs and dances.Dignitaries, including
Mr Thubten Lungrig, Kalon for the Department of Education, Mr S C
Khuntia (IAS) joint secretary at the Ministry of Human Resource
Development, Venerable Karma Gelek, education secretary, CTA and Mr
Alok Verma, director, CTSA, are attending the function.–Based on report filed by Jigme Tsering, Head of Tibetonline TV