Social Media Executive (SME): Could you tell me briefly about yourself?
Namgyal Tsewang (NT): I am Namgyal Tsewang, presently the Director of Tibet TV and Deputy Bureau Chief of the Tibet News Bureau. I was born in Bhutan and brought up in Dikyiling Tibetan settlement located in Dehradun, India. I received primary education from Dikyiling Tibetan Day school then I completed my middle school from CST Paonta Sahib and thereafter did my high school from CST Mussoorie. I graduated from St Joseph College in Darjeeling. With a strong determination and drive to serve my own community, I came to work at CTA in the year 2000. I was first assigned at Mainpat Phendeling Tibetan settlement as Office Secretary cum Accountant after which I was transferred to the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission. In 2005 I was transferred to the Department of Information and International Relations after I cleared my exam for the post of Under Secretary. I started working as a reporter cum anchor for TibetonlineTV News. Since then I have been working here. Its almost 14 years working at Tibet TV.
SM: Please explain your job description and how best does your work represent you or vice versa.
NT: When I was transferred to DIIR, Tibetonline TV was a project that was under work. They needed a news anchor for the new project, and so I was assigned as the first anchor. I started working as a reporter and newsreader. All the jobs that I have done, I believe it represents me and my passion because my work is contributing to the larger cause of our country. I have performed all my work with sincerity and determination. But becoming a news reporter and anchor was something which is a completely new experience for me because I have never been trained to become a reporter and anchor. So it pushed me to work harder which enabled me to give my best to the work. Sometimes when I doubted my capability, I worked doubly hard and that is how I believe I made a good start of the project.
Since this profession requires plenty of time, I have dedicated all the time I could toward this profession. This profession requires me at all the different times, whether its Saturday or Sunday, Day or Night. I was happy to invest my time in this work and I enjoyed writing and reading out the news to the audience. As this profession requires curiosity so my curiosity drove me to learn more. Every news I learned fulfilled my curiosity and drove me more towards learning. Not only was I gaining a lot of new information I was also disseminating simultaneously information and knowledge to the audience and that brought me satisfaction and bliss on another level.
SME: What inspired you to serve the CTA?
NT: There was a Geshe-la who taught me Tibetan during my middle school. He always encouraged us to serve CTA which greatly impacted my decision to serve CTA. He had in a way engraved this in my mind. And of course, my parents also wished to see me serve my community. For two years, I was doing business after I graduated from college, but later I realised that I should be utilising what I have studied and learned in order to give back to my community. I have also seen and heard about a number of dedicated staff of the exile government. It encouraged me more as I felt a deep willingness to work at CTA.
SME: What does it mean for you to be a civil servant in CTA?
NT: As I said earlier our ancestors have worked very hard for our cause and now it is our responsibility to take it forward in the best way possible so I think I am doing my bit being a civil servant in CTA. Thinking of the future, we should be able to pass down our cause to the younger generation in a better prospect. Besides, you can contribute to the society in many other ways but working at CTA is one of the most fortunate opportunities one can get and while I am in CTA now I believe I can put in more efforts and work better for our cause from my end.
SME: How best do you think you can make a difference to CTA?
NT: I think we are the mediator between the older generation and the rising younger generation. So by guiding and creating an example for the younger generation we can pave way for them. I also believe in teamwork and my job requires teamwork too. I have young staff in my team and they are many youths coming in nowadays so I feel an extra responsibility to lead them and guide them so to speak frankly this is the little that I can do. And about my daily work, I do it with dedication and determination and that I believe always makes a difference even if the difference is not that big but the difference is there. As the saying goes, “Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of an individual can have far-reaching effects.”
SME: Who is your role model and why?
NT: I really salute and respect and look up to the older civil servants. I have heard and seen many older civil servants who were very dedicated and determined that sometimes I feel what I am doing is nothing compared to them and this enables me to work even harder and do better. They are always a source of inspiration and my idols. And of course, our spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama who has worked tirelessly and continue to work for our cause. They are my heroes without a cape. The elder civil servants have worked and done everything for us in a way that I think we shouldn’t let it go in vain. We should all continue and follow their steps and fulfill their aspirations. We should all do what we can from own end, doesn’t matter whether its big or small. We should never stop working.
SME: What is your piece of advice for the young Tibetans serving or wishing to serve at CTA?
NT: There are many young aspirant civil servants who are coming into CTA nowadays. I really appreciate their spirit. I would urge them to put their heart into their work and not merely consider it a 9-5 job. Instead, I want them to consider it as a contribution to our cause. As I said earlier, we shouldn’t let the hard works of our elders go in vain. we shouldn’t take it the easy way. Today’s world of technology, we shouldn’t get indulge in the temporary and materialistic world and get swayed away from our prime purpose as His Holiness always advises us. There are many more important works that we need to do and we should do, and moreover, as a Tibetan, we have extra responsibilities. So I urge the youngsters to come and serve wholeheartedly and with determination. It is not just work in CTA, It is much more than that. I wish them all the best.
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 Central Tibetan Administration. This week we are pleased to profile Mr. Namgyal Tsewang, Director of Tibet TV and Deputy Bureau Chief of the Tibet News Bureau at the Department of Information and International Relations of Central Tibetan Administration.