Every Saturday as a part of its shout-out campaign, DIIR’s Social Media Desk will be profiling a civil servant of Central Tibetan Administration. This week we are pleased to profile Mr Chemi Dorjee, Bylakuppe Dickyi Larsoe Tibetan Settlement Officer.
Social Media Executive (SME):Could you briefly tell us about yourself?
Chemi Dorjee (CD): I was born on 26th January 1980 to a farmer family in Dickyi Larsoe Youlokoe Camp No. 3, Bylakuppe. I did my secondary education from CST CVP School and senior secondary schooling from CST Mussoorie and completed my B.Com from Mahajana’s First Grade College, Mysore in the year 2001. After graduation, I joined Norbulingka Institute and served there for one and half year as Guest House & Café Manager and left the job due to parent’s health issue. Later, I joined Dickyi Larsoe Co-operative Society Ltd., as an agriculture section accountant in the year 2005. The society’s Board of Director has promoted me to section manager and later to Chief Executive Officer in the year 2011 where I served till 30th August, 2021. With effect from 8th October 2021, I am given opportunity to serve for Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as Dickyi Larsoe Tibetan Settlement Officer.
SME: Who is your role model and why?
CD: My role model is certainly His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama and my late mom. I still have the vivid memory of the moment that was from my school time at CST Mussoorie where we got an opportunity to sing our National Anthem together with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at our school Assembly ground. That moment was such a precious and heart touching that my eyes filled with tear of joy and that very moment I promised myself that I will dedicate my life in serving our community to the best of my capability. This dedicated mind was further strengthened by the words of my late mom which is always back in my mind and her word was to serve our people. I feel blessed to be working for CTA which is dream come true for me.
SME: Please explain your job description and how best does your work represent you or vice versa?
CD: My main responsibility as the settlement officer is to act as a bridge between the CTA and general public. I consider, spotting destitute family and helping them, uplifting school to brighten the future seeds of Tibet and working full fledge to make the settlement viable is crucial.
SME: How best do you think you could make a difference to CTA?
CD: I really don’t know whether I could make any difference to the CTA or not. Being stateless, every Tibetan has the responsibility to put all their effort and energy into our cause and imprint an example to our new generation.
SME: What inspired you to serve the Central Tibetan Administration?
CD: I always witnessed that His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama has been taking lots of responsibility in solving our issues and being common citizen, I felt that every Tibetan should take responsibility and work for the cause which has inspired me to serve for CTA.
SME: What does it mean for you to be a CTA Civil Servant?
CD: Unlike common people, CTA civil servant has huge responsibility towards our Tibetan cause and Tibetan people. CTA civil servant should have sense of equality, transparency and leadership quality. In a nutshell, it’s my privileged and honour to get this opportunity to serve in CTA.
SME: What is your piece of advice for young Tibetans serving or wishing to serve at CTA?
CD: Our exiled administration – Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) – is established to meet both immediate and long-term needs of the Tibetan people through a non-violent movement. It is a very precious administration for Tibetans because it not only aims to look after the well-being of Tibetan people in exile but also strives to carry forward the struggle to regain the lost freedom and dignity. Since CTA works for the “CAUSE” of six million Tibetan people, it is every Tibetan’s duty and responsibility to join this ‘CAUSE’. But it is not possible for every Tibetan to be recruited here. Therefore, I am sure that all the officials who have joined CTA aim to be associated with the movement rather than money and fame.