DHARAMSHALA: Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people, today inaugurated the new re-designed building of Tibet Museum, located in the premise of Tsuglagkhang in Mcleod Ganj.

The museum is redesigned with new modern technologies including touch screen panels, enlarged photos with higher resolutions, and a completely new section dedicated solely to the wave of self-immolations inside Tibet and human rights in Tibet.

Speaking at the inauguration, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay lauded Tibet Museum’s tireless efforts towards the preservation of Tibetan history and culture in the form of pictures.

“The Tibet Museum is one of the most visible platforms where we exhibit the photographs, artifacts and videos of Chinese occupation and oppression in Tibet. Over the years, the Tibet Museum has also undertaken various traveling exhibitions, which have helped create more awareness on the Tibet issue,” Sikyong said.

Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, DIIR Secretary for Information, gave the concluding remarks of the inaugural ceremony. He said the redesign of the Tibet Museum and the official website, is an innovative step taken by the department to connect with the public, Tibet supporters and others interested in the Tibet issue.

Secretary Tashi Phuntsok also gave a brief overview of the works being performed by the various sections of the department and also talked about its much-anticipated upcoming projects and publications.

Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, Director of Tibet Museum, who coincidentally has the same name as that of the DIIR Secretary, read out a brief annual report of Tibet Museum.

“We have tried our best to compile all the relevant information on Tibetan history, Tibetan culture, exile Tibetan community, and the critical situation inside Tibet including the wave of self-immolations, in our new re-designed museum,” he said.

“We have also made entry to the Tibet Museum free of cost to attract more visitors, as per the direction from Kashag last year. On an average, over 50,000 tourists and Tibet supporters visit the museum annually. The traffic is slated to increase even more after this re-design,” Tashi Phuntsok added, enthusiastically.

Dignitaries present at the inauguration include Health Kalon Dr. Tsering Wangchuk, Kashag Secretary Ven. Yuthok Karma Gelek, DIIR Secretaries Mr. Sonam Norbu Dagpo and Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, Finance Secretary Mr. Trinley Gyatso and Health Secretary Mr. Tsegyal Dranyi.

The Tibet Museum, an undertaking of the Department of Information and International Relations, was established in 1998, to serve as a remembrance of the loss of Tibetan culture and lives and present the hopes and aspirations of the Tibetan people through collected photographs and life histories.

Tibet Museum comprises of a permanent exhibition, traveling exhibition and an online exhibition on the history of Tibet, the Tibetan community in exile and various Tibet related issues.

Tibet Museum’s redesign is funded by National Endowment for Democracy and Rowell Fund for Tibet.

New revamped version of Tibet.net website also launched

Co-inciding with the inauguration of Tibet Museum, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, launched the revamped version of the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration, Tibet.net.

The upgraded features of the new version of the website include improved archive page with search filters allowing easier navigation through the sites; compatibility on all devices including mobiles, tablets; expanded homepage featuring the full range of CTA output including the latest articles, announcements, videos, photo galleries, publications and periodicals; customisation of the site’s backend to streamline content management tasks; conformity to guidelines required to get the site into Google’s news index, etc.

In his brief address to mark the launch of the new revamped version, Sikyong underlined the importance of the website in reaching out to the Tibetan public, Tibet supporters and the international community on the policies of the Tibetan leadership as well as on the wider issue of Tibet.

The revamped version of the website also features special tools to directly connect users on social media and other networking sites.

The official website of the Central Tibetan Administration was first launched on 5 January 2001 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It was last upgraded in December 2011.

In terms of visitors, the website receives an average monthly hit of 1,10,000 with over 60,000 unique visitors as of April 2015. It is visited by readers from 145 countries with India, US, UK, Canada and Switzerland in the top five.