![Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay and Kalon Ngodup Tsering with other dignitaries at the golden jubilee celebration of CST Kalimpong.](https://tibet.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC1387.jpg)
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay and Kalon Ngodup Tsering with other dignitaries at the golden jubilee celebration of CST Kalimpong.
DHARAMSHALA: Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay and Education Kalon Ngodup Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration graced the golden jubilee celebrations of CST Kalimpong yesterday.
Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay was the chief guest while Kalon Ngodup Tsering and State MLA Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri were guests of honour on the occasion. Other guests include dignitaries from the local district administration, the Tibetan settlement officer and, former students and staff of the school.
In his address, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay highlighted the indispensable service rendered by the teachers and staff of the school for the education of Tibetan children in the last 50 years. He also expressed his gratitude to the Indian government and people for their support to the Tibetan people.
He said: “No other country has provided as much help to the Tibetan people and the Central Tibetan Administration as India. In the past 50 years, India has spent Crores for the education of Tibetan children. Therefore, we Tibetans will always be indebted to India for its help.”
Sikyong also talked about the transfer of the Central Tibetan School Administration (CTSA) to the Department of Education. “The transfer of the schools under CTSA to the DoE is only in view of general improvement and welfare, and that it does not in any way imply ineffectiveness or the inability of the previous administrative body,” he said.
He further explained the demographic challenges faced by the Tibetan people in its struggle with China. “China has a population of more than 1.3 billion where as Tibetans are approximately 6 million. For every 199 Chinese, there is only one Tibetan each. It is a hugely disproportionate figure. Therefore, the only way we can minimise that vacuum is through education,” he said, underlining the fact that education is the only tool through which Tibetans in exile can fulfil the aspirations of Tibetans inside Tibet.
Sikyong highlighted His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s historic contribution to the Tibetan struggle. “ The legacy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the non-violent resilience of the Tibetan people have made the Tibetan struggle favourable in the opinions of the world community,” Sikyong said.
Sikyong also emphasised the importance of unity within the Tibetan community. He said the Tibetans in exile during his numerous visits to diverse Tibetan settlements have shown a great sign of aspiration and determination. The high degree of such unity and belief from both Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile is a landmark in the annals of contemporary Tibetan history.
Sikyong strongly condemned the protests against His Holiness the Dalai Lama organised mainly by a few misinformed non-Tibetans who are linked to the fundamentalist cult associated with the propitiation of Dolgyal (Shugden). He explained that their allegations are baseless and the group is being misused for political motives by the Chinese government.
Education Kalon Ngodup Tsering, in his address spoke about the need to preserve the Tibetan language and called for non-governmental organisations in the area to to initiate activities to boost Tibetan language proficiency.
“An international research agency has revealed that there were over tens of thousands of languages in the world before. Now there were only about eight hundred left. Languages are becoming extinct faster than ever. The chief reason for such changes are neglect and apathy and an onslaught of external influences. Therefore, I urge you to preserve our Tibetan language through innovative activities,” Kalon Ngodup Tsering said.
He also underscored the prioritisation of education by the 14th Kashag and apprised the public about the various scholarship schemes rolled out by the education department.
Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay also inaugurated the reconstruction of the school’s new mess following the golden jubilee celebration.