Dharamshala: Member of the 16th Tibetan Parliament Dhondup Tashi successfully concluded his official visit to Bhandara Norgyeling Tibetan Settlement, Phendeling Tibetan Settlement of Mainpat, and nearby 16 Tibetan sweater seller markets from 30 October to 22 November.
From 1 to 5 November, parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi visited Bhandara Norgyeling Tibetan Settlement, Tibetan winter sweater sellers of Nagpur, Wardha, and Yavatmal, Tibetan winter sweater seller of Chandrapur, Thekchen Ling Monastery, the Settlement Monastery of Bandhara Norgyeling; Ngagyur Drupgyeling Choepheling Monastery; old age home; Settlement Office; Tibetan cooperative; Gangjong Rice Mill; camp no 2; Men-Tsee-Khang; and Health Care Centre, Sambhota Tibetan School, camp 1 and 2.
He also conducted meetings with Vice- Chairman of Dr Ambedkar Foundation and Mr Ashok S. Mendhe, the President of Tibet Support Group where he briefed them on the current situation inside Tibet and urged their continued support for the Tibet issue.
Settlement Officer Dhondup Gyalpo requested Mr Ashok S. Mendhe to appeal the MLAs and other officials to implement the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy 2014 at the Winter session of Maharashtra legislative in December. To this, Mr Ashok kindly obliged.
From 7 to 9 November, he visited Tibetan winter sweater seller of Gondia, Maharashtra and Tibetan winter sweater sellers of Durg and Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, Tibetan winter sweater sellers of Raipur and Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh and Tibetan winter sweater seller of Ambikapur.
From 10 to 13 November, MP Dhondup Tashi conducted public addresses and visits at Mainpat Phendeling Tibetan Settlement.
He visited various camps of the settlement, Dhakpo Monastery, the Settlement Monastery of Mainpat, the Mainpat settlement office, cooperative office, old age home, hospital, and Sambhota Day School. He also held a public meeting with members of the settlement including camp 6,7, and 8 and later addressed students, staff, and teachers of Sambhota Day School.
From 15 to 16 November, MP Dhondup Tashi visited Tibetan sweater sellers of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh and Sagar. Tibetan sweater sellers’ representative Dhondup Tenzin and Mr M.D Tripathi, the President of Indo-Tibet Friendship Society received him.
On 17 November, Sagar Tibetan Sweater Seller’s Association along with the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society invited Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi as the Chief Guest and Shri Rajbahadur Singh, Member of Parliament as the special guest, Abdul Rashid Bhai, President of Inter-religious Association and Mr Chimpak, member of Inter-religious Association as guests. Many local News reporters covered the event.
The President of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, M.D Tripathi, who has been working for Tibetan cause since 1997, spoke about the admiration and reverence given to Tibet and Tibetans in Hinduism. He spoke about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s contribution in inter-religious harmony and revival of ancient Indian knowledge. He also called for the conferment of Bharat Ratna to His Holiness by the Indian Government.
MP Shri Rajbahadur Singh, who is also a Tibet supporter, expressed his happiness in welcoming Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi in Sagar and shared his childhood memories of visiting Tibetan winter sweater sellers there. At the same time, he assured his full support to the Tibet cause and to the Sweater sellers.
Chief guest Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi in his address said, “India and Tibet historically have a cordial relationship, India provided His Holiness the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetan shelter when Chinese occupied Tibet in 1959. We are always grateful to India and its people for their hospitality to exiled Tibetans. Tibet’s environment is extremely important and especially for India since rivers that are the source of freshwater flowing from Tibet are vital for millions of Indians. So, therefore, supporting Tibet’s issue is equally important for the welfare of Indians as well.”
Parliamentarian Tashi and MP Shri Rajbahadur jointly answered questions asked by the journalists.
MP Dhondup Tashi also addressed students of Jain Public Higher Secondary School in Gopalganj, Sagar on the current situation inside Tibet and Indo-Tibetan friendship of thousand years. He also visited and addressed Tibetan winter sweater sellers of Bhopal and Indore.
On 18 to 20 November, the parliamentarian visited and addressed Tibetan winter sweater sellers of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.
-Filed by Tibetan parliamentary secretariat