DHARAMSHALA: In a packed hall filled with the staff and students of Salisbury University, Maryland, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay was presented the prestigious Presidential Medal, the highest honor awarded by the University to an individual for leadership and forward thinking. The event and Sikyong’s speech was received with multiple standing ovations.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu also send a congratulatory letter to Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay on receiving the presidential medal yesterday.
Humbly accepting the medal from Dr. Janet Dudley-Eshbach, President of Salisbury University, Sikyong dedicated the medal to the sufferings of the Tibetan people and the non-violent Tibetan movement to restore freedom and dignity inside Tibet.
The citation on the medal reads, “In recognition of his esteemed political leadership and his work to seek a peaceful, non-violent resolution for Tibet.”
“Thank you very much to Salisbury University for the honour and privilege by giving me this presidential medal. I am from a humble background. Personally, I don’t think I deserve this medal but I accept it on behalf of the Tibetan people and the justice we seek,” Sikyong said.
“By presenting me this medal, it sends a powerful message to Tibetans inside Tibet that there are friends outside Tibet who are with justice, who stands for human rights and the freedom of the Tibetan people. At the same time, it sends a message to the Chinese government that they should embrace the peaceful and reconciliatory spirit of the Tibetan people and solve the issue of Tibet.” Sikyong said, adding it is also a message to a world beset with violent conflicts that peace and harmony can only be brought about through non-violence.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sikyong also recalled the dual Buddhist notions of impermanence and attachment. He said: “As a human being, we all are born to die. However, while you live, you can make a difference. That’s what makes life worth living.” He also made a pun on the Buddhist philosophy of attachment with cyber security, jokingly explaining that if Buddha were to receive an email today, he would say, no attachments, please.
Speaking on the theme of the lecture series ” one person can make a difference” Sikyong spoke about his personal journey from a small obscure hamlet near Darjeeling to Harvard and then to Dharamshala, the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the base of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Speaking on the topic of his presentation ‘Democracy and the Third Way’, he talked about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision and gift of democracy to the Tibetan people and spoke about the evolution and maturation of Tibetan democracy in exile. He also spokeabout Tibet as the third pole, expounding on the importance of protecting the fragile environment of the Tibetan plateau and asserted that preservation of the Tibetan plateau is vital to climate change and the other ills of rapid environmental degradation not just in Asia but also in the world.
Speaking about the Middle Way Approach, the official policy of the Central Tibetan Administration, Sikyong said the Middle Way Approach is the third alternative of conflict resolution. He explained that the present repressive policies in Tibet is unacceptable while at the same time, Tibetans do not seek independence from China if Tibetans are granted genuine autonomy.
With Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi in the audience, Sikyong highlighted that Tibetans follow Ahimsa, the Gandhian notion of non-violence to resolve the issue of Tibet. Under Chinese occupation, Tibetans are facing political repression, environmental destruction, cultural assimilation, social discrimination and economic marginalization. In spite of all these repression, Tibetans are still following non-violence to fulfill their aspirations of freedom and justice,” Sikyong said.
Expressing his grave concern at the wave of Tibetan self-immolation protests, he said: “Despite the Central Tibetan Administration’s repeated appeals not to resort to drastic actions, at least 142 Tibetans have burned themselves in protest. Their unanimous demands have been the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans.”
“Life is precious. Even if someone slaps you, you don’t like it. Therefore, when Tibetans from all walks of life are willingly burning themselves to death, it reflects the seriousness of the situation, the difficulty of life inside Tibet,” he added.
Concluding his speech, Sikyong said that the peaceful Tibetan movement of non-violence resonates with the trends of democracy and harmonious co-existence with each other.
“And when the Tibetan movement succeeds, which I know it will, it will be one of the best stories of the 21st century,” Sikyong concluded, drawing standing ovation and loud rounds of applause from the audience.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu Praises Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a staunch Tibet supporter and longtime friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, congratulated Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay on receiving the presidential medal yesterday.
“I am delighted to write this short note to congratulate you on receiving the President’s Medal for Promoting Peace and Understanding especially at this time when we see so much turmoil and suffering caused by violence and unrest. The world has been stunned by the number of refugees seeking to flee violence and unrest. Our world needs more champions of peace and goodwill of which you are one,” he wrote.
