Every first Saturday of the month, as a part of its shout-out 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 Pemba Labrang, Director of the Ngoenga School under the administration of the Department of Health, CTA.
Social Media Executive (SME): Could you briefly tell us about yourself?
Pemba Labrang (PL): I was born in a small yet beautiful remote village of Kyidong district in Tibet on 11 December 1956. The place is geographically abundant with hills, snowcapped mountains, waterfalls & rivers, dense forests, fruit trees and precious medicinal plants. As it has been ages away from home it is hard to recall in detail the area I grew. I learned that our village is isolated from the rest of Tibet. The people in the village never kill any animals for meat or other purposes due to deep religious mindedness. The people lived a semi-nomadic/Agricultural livelihood. The transaction of the business was mainly a barter system. It was said that our village being close to Nepal, bought most of the necessities by carrying on their back weighing nearly 50-60 kilos which sometimes led to a competition of healthy men and women carrying loads on rough roads.
As the people in the villages heard the news of the Chinese occupation in Lhasa and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama escape to India, few families including my parents decided to flee secretly in 1961 and crossed the border of Nepal. But unaware of the places, where and what to do, we lived on the Nepal border for 2 years. During the time, Tibetans suffered great hardship and tragic fear of the Chinese brutal invasion, and so many of them succumbed to death on their way to exile. With the number of groups gathered at the border from different parts of Kyidong, eventually formed refugee camps. Later on, a few NGOs and volunteers came to extend their support and provided health facilities, shelters, food and education for children. Tibetans were still reluctant to leave the country at the time but willing to follow the path of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. So, in 1963 all the children were sent to India in a group-wise and I was in the second group. I came to Dharamsala directly with a scout and was admitted to an upper school called Sursog. There were around 100 children. My younger brother who came with me was admitted to the upper TCV School. I was nearly 10 years old at the time, I can still picture the past Dharamsala but today everything has changed completely.
I cannot forget the hard work assigned for us every early morning, jogging to Mcleodganj and levelling the playground after school. I can still recall that special day when I received an audience from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at his old residence (Phodrang) prior to transfer to CST Kalimpong in 1965. There were around two thousand children in the school and I was very insecure and nervous. I remember those very strict rules & regulations supervised by the six higher reverence of Tulku and Geshe la which we rarely have in our school today. I was transferred from Kalimpong to Darjeeling after the 7th standard and completed my higher secondary education in 1974 with second division. My well-known classmates are Mr. Sonam N. Dagpo and Mr. Karma Damdul who are leaders in C.T.A today. In 1965, my parents and a group of other people came to settle in the Mainpat Tibetan settlement. They were detained in Nepal border Rexual for 6 months while fleeing to India. And many of them suffered illness and died due to climate conditions.
I came to Mainpat at home from Darjeeling after I completed school and waited for the result, unfortunately, I missed the college admission due to delayed information from Dharamsala as our settlement was very remote. The postal letter takes more than a month and telegram was the only means of emergency communication facility at the time.
Hence I was given three options due to delayed information by DoE: 1) teacher’s post in any Eastern Tibetan settlements 2) Army for ACC training 3) Nursing education. And I opted for male nursing education as it is the best future profession for others and self-health care. I joined the nursing school of Evangelical Mission hospital at Raipur in Chhattisgarh State. I was the only Tibetan candidate, though DOE has mentioned 10 students for this training program. Except for the 3, all were female. I felt lonely and was reluctant to continue nursing education in the beginning. However, they soon became my close friends and I decided to continue my nursing profession. I took part in all the Christian celebrations with great interest. Finally, I completed a male nursing diploma in 1978 with a one-year internship. The hospital authorities found me unique, hardworking and offered me a job in the same hospital. But I left the hospital to serve in Tibetan Community and came back home to Mainpat. I submitted an application to the DOE in Dharamsala for the job opportunity, but they did not have any vacancy so requested an interview for any possible vacancies in future. I wasted my professional career diploma without intimation till 1985.
Mrs. Namgyal L. Taklha, Health Secretary visited Mainpat with the aim to set up a health centre in 1986. Madam came to know that I was a qualified nurse. Hence she discussed health issues with the settlement officer and called me to Dharamsala for refresher and basic laboratory training at the Delek hospital. I was then directly appointed health in charge with a principal amount of Rs. 25000 and with some donated medicines from Delek hospital to start a health care centre. More health workers gradually joined with me who are still serving under the health department in various capacities e.g. Mrs. Dawa Choedon, Karma Thinlay and two Tenzin Lhawang. The initial aims and objectives of health facilities were TB control program and basic primary health care of the local community.
SME: Please explain your job description and how best does your work represent you or vice versa?
PL: Eventually, I was a camp leader, a sales executive in the society and office secretary in the Mainpat settlement office before joining the health department from 1978-1985. I have worked in the following hospitals in the capacity of executive secretary, Mainpat-1986-1996, Byalkuppe-1996-2001, Bandara-2001-2003, Hunsur-2003-2006, Mundgod-2006-2013, and Hunsur-2013-2019 and at present at Ngoenga School since May 2019 till date for a tenure of 42 years in the Tibetan community. I have attended and have received awards, certificate courses in administrative, mental health, TMS and refreshers during the hospital service tenure.
My political activities and achievements for the Tibetan cause and struggle are:
- Elected Secretary of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Mainpat for 3 terms and participated in the 10th March Tibetan Uprising Day protesting in Delhi. I was confined to Delhi Camp jail for a week along with more than 300 people from different parts of India.
- Attended a special & secret political general meeting held in Dharamsala by representing Mainpat for the declaration of the Middle Way Approach by the His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama at the Strasberg convention.
- Participated in representing the Health Department for the second Tibetan National General Meeting held in Bylakuppe.
- Finally, received the golden opportunity to attend the 5/50 vision general meeting held in Dharamsala for 3 days as a representative of hospitals under the Health Department.
I am currently serving as the Director of the Ngoenga School for Tibetan Children with Special Needs in Dehradun under TVHA department of health CTA. The Ngoenga School was initially blessed by His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama and established in March 2000 dedicated in honour of His 60th Enthronement anniversary as well 50th anniversary of assuming state responsibility with 26 Students. Presently it has 50 children young and Adults with a range of disabilities from Down syndrome, Cerebral palsy, Autism, Intellectual impairment, hearing & Speech impairment.
The overall goal of the school is to ensure that children with special needs get access to the highest possible standard of learning physical and physiological, medical services to help them to develop the knowledge and skills for the future. As a result of COVID-19 pandemic which originated from WUHAN China in January 2019. The total COVID-19 positive cases reported worldwide 17.8 cr., India 2.9 cr., Tibetan in India Nepal nearly 5000 and deceased worldwide 3.83cr. , India 3,81,903 and 126 Tibetan in India & Nepal so far. But fortunately, no single Child was affected at the Ngoenga except a few staff and family from March 2020 to 30 June 2021.
SME: What inspired you to serve the Central Tibetan Administration?
PL: It is both due to many personal experiences and my family’s wishes that inspired me to join the Central Tibetan Administration. My two brothers served in the Tibetan army under the Indian Government until their retirement in exile which inspired and supported my education, enabling me to serve the Central Tibetan Administration till now.
SME: What does it mean for you to be a CTA Civil Servant?
PL: I am very fortunate to have direct interactions with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama during my services in the settlement. For example, on one occasion in Mundgod, the Gaden Phodrang accepted a proposal for a new ambulance and His Holiness questioned me which or what type of ambulance hospital needed and how much it would cost. I somehow with hesitation and nervousness explained that it depends on the size and the brand. Suddenly, His Holiness laughed and told me not to buy a bigger one that may face difficulty to push if it stops working and advised me to buy a smaller one for easier maintenance which fulfils the same purpose. Therefore, I am satisfied and considered very lucky enough to be a lifetime civil servant of the CTA.
My service as a CTA civil servant is my service to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and my small tribute to all our elder generations who have sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan cause.
SME: How best do you think you could make a difference that you would like to share?
PL: In fact, I faced many difficulties and obstacles while serving in the community but I learnt not to lose hope. Oftentimes, I recall His Holiness’ words of wisdom which strengthens my resolve to continue to work for the greater interest of our people. I especially find great joy in serving special needs children at Ngoenga school. At present, I am in the due course of five-year extended service retirement.
I believe whatever our job entails if we do it with utmost dedication and sincerity, we can make a huge difference to CTA and to our community.
Question 6: Who is your role model and why?
PL: My father passed earlier and my mother was the main role model for her determination and tireless hard work without losing hope and love. As I mentioned above, my elder and younger brother served a long time in the military and have helped my present role enable me to serve in CTA. My 3 daughters and a son are the secondary role models and assets who always give me the courage to serve the community as much as possible.
SME: Would you like to provide any guidance or suggestions for young Tibetans serving or wishing to serve at CTA?
PL: I recently tested COVID-19 & Dengue positive. While lying in home isolation, initially I was a little bit anxious but later I felt at peace because looking back at my life, I realised that I had no regrets if these were my final days. I had served my Tsawai Lama (root guru) His Holiness the great 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and the Tibetan community my entire life, more accurately for 44 years, through CTA with utmost sincerity and dedication. I had done everything that I could for the cause of Tibet and if this was the end. I was ready to embrace it.
Looking back I also wanted to reassure the fearful 10 year old boy escaping through the Himalayan region following His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Through this platform, I would like to remind the younger Tibetans that each one of us is the hope and aspirations of millions of Tibetans back in Tibet. So, remember your roots and try your best to serve His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and the Tibetan community. His Holiness always says that all the ex-staffs and trusted followers under His blessings will never go in vain, instead may die in peace and take rebirth in the land of snow as followers of the Dharma. As young Tibetans, you can contribute to the Tibetan cause irrespective of whether you serve at CTA or anywhere else, as long as you have sincerity, dedication and carry the spirit of Tibet.