Dehradun: On 28 October 2022, Sakya college, based in Rajpur, held celebrations of its 50th anniversary of founding.
The celebration began with an inaugural ceremony of lamp lighting by Sakya Trichen Rinpoche, after which Dr Tashi Tsering delivered the welcome address, followed by Principal Khenpo Jamyang Jinpa’s introductory speech.
Subsequently, Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Dorje Chang and special guest Sikyong Penpa Tsering inaugurated a book of essays on the occasion of the 50th anniversary.
In his address, the special guest stated, “through dedicated efforts made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Dorje Chang and other heads of Tibetan Buddhist lineages, Tibetan Buddhism had been revived in India.” “However, under the guise of a zero-covid policy in Tibet, the Chinese government is restricting the practice and usage of Tibetan religion, culture, language and identity” he added.
He also said that Tibetan monasteries are institutional in supporting the education of Himalayan-origin monks and nuns and sought the assurance of assistance from the local state government to further this goal. Sikyong opined that education had to be of practical use, and in his personal capacity, he saw that any initiative he was working on met His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision.
Similarly, addressing the gathering, Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Dorje Chang stated that atheists and theists alike all seek happiness, adding that real happiness could be found in the messages of religion. Furthermore, Rinpoche recounted the initial hardships faced on arrival into exile and the founding of the monastery in 1972 and extended his gratitude to the government and the people of India.
During the celebration, Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche also bestowed a token of mementoes to the chief guests, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi (Indian Minister of State for Culture), Jamyang Tsering Namgyal (MP from Ladakh), Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and special guest Sikyong Penpa Tsering as a mark of gratitude for their services.
Before concluding the event, Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche, chief guests, and the special guest jointly inaugurated the Great Pillar: an emblem of the Golden Jubilee anniversary, following the trilingual vote of thanks from the Director of Jamchen Lakhang, Lama Tashi Gyaltsen.
Thereafter, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi and MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal attended the inauguration ceremony of the Drikung Kagyu Dorjeyang, a branch school of the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies – Ladakh. The three also addressed attendees of the ceremony highlighting cultural, religious and linguistic ties between India and Tibet.