Dharamshala: The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) commemorated its 40th anniversary of re-establishment in exile on 10 September 2024 at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA).
Alongside chief guest Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the event saw the attendance of several dignitaries, including members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Kasur Rinchen Khando, Tibetan Settlement Officer Kunchok Migmar, the former and current executive members of TWA, and representatives from other Tibetan civil societies.
During the celebration, the President of the TWA, Tsering Dolma, delivered opening remarks followed by an address from Kasur Rinchen Khando, the association’s founding member and its current advisor.
In her talk, Kasur Rinchen Khando spoke about the historical struggles of Tibetans and highlighted the sacrifices made by countless Tibetans, including by unnumbered Tibetan female martyrs. She stated, “Tibetans may not have been well-acquainted with the wider world, but their commitment to defending their homeland was unwavering. They faced immense sacrifice, with over a thousand lives lost and many choosing self-immolation in their struggle. Such acts of courage and sacrifice should always be remembered and honoured in our hearts and minds through events like this.”
Furthermore, reflecting on the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kasur Rinchen Khando added that the Tibetan Women’s Association was founded with the efforts of about 18 to 19 women and said, “His Holiness specifically emphasised the importance of including representatives from all three traditional provinces of Tibet in this initiative.” She further expressed pride in the association’s resilience, stating, “Through His Holiness’s advice over the years, we have survived. Representing women from Tibet, we have been tirelessly working for justice and calling on many more women to join us, ensuring the continuation of the Tibetan Women’s Association’s mission.”
In his keynote address as the event’s chief guest, Sikyong Penpa Tsering acknowledged TWA’s perseverance through challenges, stating, “Every organisation encounters challenging beginnings; however, through steadfast commitment and effective representation, the Tibetan Women’s Association has demonstrated remarkable perseverance from its founding members to the present.“ Sikyong further emphasised the imperativeness of including more women in the association to enhance the representation of Tibetan women.
Regarding the Tibetan freedom struggle, Sikyong highlighted the crucial importance of unity in sustaining its momentum while reaffirming the 16th Kashag’s steadfast commitment to the Middle Way Approach.
The event also featured a display of cultural performances by TIPA artists.
Tibetan Women’s Association was officially formed on 10 September 1984 in India by Rinchen Khando Choegyal, a former Tibetan Youth Congress activist. However, the group claims a precursor was created in Tibet during the 1959 Tibetan Rebellion.
During the 1960s and 1970s, organisations of Tibetan women made Tibetan clothing and carpets without pay for the exile Central Tibetan Administration, which sold them for profit. Only in the 1980s, when the exile community in India allowed women to participate in politics, was an association of Tibetan women officially formed.
In India, the TWA has created the Tibetan Nuns Project to educate nuns and sponsors various cultural events like folk dances. In 1995, the TWA attempted to join the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Still, the organisation was denied accreditation on technical grounds, a situation that received widespread disapproval from press coverage in America and Europe.
Today, the group has more than 57 branches worldwide and 17,000 members.
