Every Saturday, as a part of its shoutout campaign, DIIR’s Social Media Desk will be profiling a civil servant of the Central Tibetan Administration. This week we are pleased to profile Mr Kunchok Migmar, Dharamshala based Tibetan Settlement Officer. 

Social Media Executive (SME): Could you briefly tell us about yourself?

Kunchok Migmar (KM):My name is Kunchok Migmar. I was born in Tibet and came to India in 1997. I did my schooling at TCV school, Gopalpur. Then, I pursued my Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Delhi University. After my graduation, I worked in different Indian offices. And I also worked as manager of Snow Region Tours and Travel. In 2017, I worked in the Tibet Fund office as a field surveyor and visited all major settlements in Nepal and North-East India. After that, in 2018, I was selected as the sponsorship secretary at Dharamshala Tibetan settlement office where I worked till May 2022.

SME: Please explain your job description and how best does your work represent you or vice versa?

KM: As the youngest elected Tibetan Settlement Officer in India, I am very satisfied with my responsibilities. During the election, I told the general public via media that a Settlement Officer looks after people’s welfare and maintains a good relationship with locals, which I think I do every day.

SME: What inspired you to serve the Central Tibetan Administration?

KM: Since school, our teachers and staff would advise us to serve the Tibetan community whenever we can stand on our own feet. In addition, our older generations have struggled so much for the cause of Tibet, and now it is time for youngsters like me to shoulder the responsibility. Therefore, I thank all my school teachers and staff for their precious advice and unwavering guidance.

SME: What does being a CTA civil servant mean for you?

KM: I am not a CTA civil servant, as my service term is for three years. Despite my limited time, I always think I am contributing something to my Tibetan community. I will always look forward to serving the Tibetan community whenever possible and wherever I am located.

SME: How best do you think you could make a difference to CTA?

KM: To make a difference or bring changes to the Tibetan community entirely depends on one’s way of thinking broadly. If you work in a community with a pure heart and a sense of dedication towards one’s community, I would say a positive outcome will definitely come. In other words, when the community where you live improves, individual ways of behaviour and action will automatically improve.

SME: Who is your role model, and why?

KM: His Holiness, the Great 14th Dalai Lama, is my role model. It is unimaginable that from age 16, His Holiness took responsibility for Tibet before PRC forcibly occupied it in 1959. Personally speaking, I always listen to His Holiness’s speeches and try to implement all His precious advices in my daily life- both professional and personal.

SME: What is your piece of advice for young Tibetan serving or wishing to serve at CTA?

KM: I have no particular advice for youngsters. However, I would like to quote Jack Ma as saying goes, “NEVER EVER GIVE UP! Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” So therefore, do not give up in a difficult situation, especially never give up on yourself.