Dharamshala: As a part of the Tibetan parliament’s periodical visitation to Tibetan settlements and cluster communities across India, Nepal, and Bhutan, parliamentarian Tsaneytsang Dhondup Tashi has successfully concluded his official visit to Tashi Palkhel and Tashiling in Pokhara and Lodrik Jampaling and areas under its jurisdiction including Manang, Nubri, Lo-Tserok, and Lo-Manthang in Nepal from 9th to 28th October 2023.
On 11th October, the MP was received by Pokhara Tashiling TSO Yeshi Choedon and cashier Tsewang Tamdin upon his arrival at Dumre and reached Manang in the afternoon of the next day. He paid his homage at the Kunsang Lhundup Monastery, followed by visiting the Tibetan residence of Ngawal, Dragmar, and old Manang on the same day. He recorded the grievances of the people living there and even visited some of their homes.
On 13th October, the MP held a public meeting at the Manang Lopheling boarding school and gave a public address where he spoke on the importance of the Tibetan language and the Tibetan culture of moral ethics. Especially, the need to educate the local population against the harm of drinking. An internal meeting was also held thereafter with the staff and teachers of the school on the education of the students.
On the next day, the MP along with BDRL Presidents began their journey to Samdo, the place in Nubri where the maximum number of Tibetans reside. Samdo in Nubri has around 46 Tibetan families and was a business route between Tibet and Nepal when Tibet was an independent country. After the occupation of Tibet by China, many Tibetans from the Ruh and Gungthang regions came into exile in this place and settled as nomads, they then gradually started farming, small businesses, and providing services to foreign mountaineers.
The next day, the MP along with the coordinator of Samdo paid visits to the Tibetans living in Hogro and recorded the grievances of the Tibetans residing there. Hogro has 24 Tibetan families. Later in the evening, the MP met with Tibetans from Lho, Shala, and Namrong clustered communities.
On 17th October, he returned to Samdo and held a public meeting. The MP gave a public address and answered questions from the public. He advised people to maintain existing harmonious relations with the locals and abide by the rules and regulations of Nepal. During the meeting, an elderly man from the place produced some valuable historical documents given by a Nepal King and by the Gadhen Phodrang government – the government of Tibet. The MP presented them with the images of Buddha and of the Mahabodhi temple of Bodhgaya, among other holy items.
Despite the heavy snowfall in Samdo for three consecutive days, the MP visited some residents, farms, and monasteries in the area and met with people from the cluster communities around. After leaving Samdho on 19th Oct, he walked all the way to Dharanpani the next day. He was received by TSOs of Pokhara Tashi Palkhel and Tashiling on arriving at Dumre on 21st Oct and they finally reached Pokhara later in the evening.
MP Tsanytsang Dhondup Tashi accompanied by TSO Tashi Tseten and coordinator Tsering Wangdue, who joined from Lo-Tserok, reached Lo-Manthang on the evening of 22nd October. They visited Tibetan nomads there and inquired about their grievances. He also visited former Tibetan army camps, and the fort of the Lo-Menthang king, and had a public meeting later in the evening.
Thereafter, he visited Tibetan residents of Kagbeni on 24th October and reached Lo-Tserok in the evening of 24th October. There he met the general public and visited settlements and schools. The next day, he visited the Peljorling Tibetan settlement in Pokhara and held a public gathering. He gave a talk there, answered people’s questions, and recorded their grievances.
On 26th October, he left from Pokhara to Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, he had a meeting with Snow Lion Foundation’s secretary Tsering Topgyal and administrator Sonam Tsering regarding the status of education of schools of Pokhara, Manang, and Nubri. The next day, he left for Dharamshala on 28th October.