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Mr Tashi Dhondup, Secretary for the Office of Tibet, Washington DC. Photo|Tenzin Jigme|CTA
SM: Could you briefly tell us about yourself?
TD: My name is Tashi Dhondup. I was born in Sonamling Tibetan settlement, Ladakh. I completed my schooling from TCV school, Ladakh and Bylakuppe and graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Tamil Nadu. I did Mandarin Chinese for two years at Chung Hua University in Taiwan.
After graduation, I worked as a Math Teacher in TCV School Ladakh for a year. I worked at Paljor Publications (then, a unit of Department of Finance) as a stock/purchase managers for three and a half years. Later, I was appointed as an accountant for PADME project in ISTL in Bangalore for a year. I was appointed as the head of the internal audit section of the Department of Home (DoH), CTA and served for three years. Then I was appointed as the chief accountant of DoH and served in the department for 5 years and 8 months. I studied Mandarin for 2 years in Taiwan and post-Mandarin study, I was appointed as the Chief accountant of Dept. of Information and International Relations(DIIR), CTA for two and a half years. Currently, I am serving as the secretary for the Office of Tibet, Washington DC.
SM: Please explain your job description and how best does your work represent you and vice versa?
TD: As the Secretary for the Office of Tibet, I assist the current head of the Office of Tibet (the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to North America) in almost all matters and activities. The gist of my specific responsibilities and duties are:
a) Planning, implementing and reporting special projects.
b) Maintaining contacts with the Embassy of India and other Embassies in Washington, DC.
c) Issuing recommendation letters for India visas, IC renewals, and United States visas.
d) Coordinating with the weekend Tibetan language and Cultural schools.
e) Maintaining and updating the Facebook page and the website for the Office of Tibet and TCDF.
f) Coordinating visits of CTA dignitaries.
g) Compiling Tibetan language quarterly and annual reports for the DIIR, CTA in Dharamsala, India.
h) Organizing TCDF (Tibetan Cultural and Development Fund) meetings board and implementing the resolutions. Based on my knowledge of Tibetan organization and procedures and my leadership skills and experience for 18 years in CTA, I will do these responsibilities successfully.
SM: What inspired you to serve CTA?
TD: Because of the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, my siblings, relatives and I received free education in Tibetan Children Village (TCV) School. And for us to be able to stand on our own feet and earn a decent living is everything we owe to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Since childhood, be it my family or teachers, everyone kept reminding us how important it is for us to give back and serve our community. That has remained with me throughout. I have always felt a responsibility to serve our community. And here I am, fulfilling my long-held dream by serving CTA. Since the occupation of our country, Tibet, in 1959 by the most powerful country, China. Many Tibetans, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and many other lamas are living in exile in different parts of the world. The CTA is the administration, which struggles to regain Tibet’s freedom from Chinese occupation. Not just for oneself, but also for the Tibetans living inside and outside Tibet. The CTA plays a pivotal role. Therefore, I feel fortunate serving CTA.
SM: What does it mean for you to be a CTA civil servant?
TD: For me, being a civil servant of the CTA means being able to give back to our community and being grateful for all the blessings. I also believe that I could never get luckier than this.
SM: How best do you think you could make a difference to CTA?
TD: It has been almost 18 years since I started working at the CTA during which I realized that being true to my work brings about a difference. So, I would like to continue working with sincerity and strong work ethics.
SM: Who is your role model and why?
TD: My role models are His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Mahatma Gandhi for their role in implementing ‘Ahimsa’. I admire their philosophy of peace and non-violence and resolving world issues by negotiations through peaceful dialogue.
SM: What is your piece of advice for young Tibetan serving or wishing to serve at CTA?
TD: Serving in the CTA is really important because the CTA represents Tibetans from both inside and outside of Tibet. We have come a long way in terms of providing modern education and valuable exposures to our Tibetan children. And in this dire need of preserving and promoting our Tibetan language and culture, the Tibetan youngsters must continue to take active responsibility for the preservation of our Tibetan identity.
Also, they must do all it takes to be able to proudly share Tibet’s history and culture with the world. They must feel it as their sole responsibility and must carry it out with true determination and motivation.
Serving the CTA with honesty, dedication and endurance with proper knowledge of Tibetan language, culture and religion is a must.
Speaking pure Tibetan, respecting elders, learning ancient Nalanda tradition of Buddhism, follow the teachings of His Holiness, and most importantly, practising them in one’s daily life, will certainly make a difference to CTA and also for our struggle to Tibet’s cause.
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Tashi Dhondup with international students at Chung Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 2016.
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Tashi Dhondup with Mandarin classmates participates in the 2016 Qing Fengnian Festival in Hualien, Taiwan.
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Tashi Dhondup with CTA colleagues to attend a workshop on Management Development Programme at the Indian Institute for Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi, 2014