![Students perform a callisthenic display reading "Long Live His Holiness " at the inaugural ceremony of the 3-day founding anniversary of Upper TCV school.](https://tibet.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_0467.jpg)
Students perform a callisthenic display reading “Long Live His Holiness ” at the inaugural ceremony of the 3-day founding anniversary of Upper TCV school.
DHARAMSHALA: The Tibetan Children’s Village school today dedicated its 54th founding anniversary to His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama.
Over a thousand Tibetans gathered at the school to witness the annual celebration which include athletics meet, art exhibitions, debates and cultural shows.
The theme of this year’s celebration is titled ‘Forever in Gratitude’ as part of the Kashag’s announcement to observe “2014 as Year of His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama ” to express deep gratitude to his remarkable achievements for the cause of Tibet and promote his ideals of non-violence and human values.
His Eminence the Karmapa Rinpoche was the guest of honour at the inaugural ceremony.
![His Eminence the Karmapa Rinpoche (centre) with Speaker Mr. Penpa Tsering (R) and Mr. Kargyu Dhondup, the Chief Justice Commissioner (L).](https://tibet.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_0306.jpg)
His Eminence the Karmapa Rinpoche (centre) with Speaker Mr. Penpa Tsering (R) and Mr. Kargyu Dhondup, the Chief Justice Commissioner (L).
Mr Penpa Tsering, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, in his inaugural address, told the gathering that the best way to repay the gratitude of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is to fulfill his aspirations by doing our respective jobs to the best of our abilities. He said: “ Since the announcement by Kashag to celebrate 2014 as year of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, various Tibetan institutions and organisations have duly marked their functions in tune with the announcement. Today, TCV too, is celebrating its founding anniversary with the theme of gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”
“During Gandhi Jayanti celebration on 2nd October, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, accompanied by two Nobel peace laureates, told us that if we really want to repay gratitude, we should inculcate and uphold the ethics espoused by Gandhiji. Therefore, I think the best way to repay gratitude to His Holiness would be to follow his words of wisdom and perform our respective jobs to the best of our abilities,” he added.
Speaking about the school’s modest beginnings, he said: “TCV has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1960 to its present status. It’s mostly due to the efforts of the older generation including late Ms. Tsering Dolma and Jetsun Pema, elder and younger sister of His Holiness the Dalai Lama respectively. Now, it is up to the present staff and teachers to further improve the school’s status.”
“The most important purpose of a school is to impart quality education so that the future generation becomes responsible and capable citizens of a country,” he said. Addressing the students, he said: ” Most of the current staff in the Tibetan administration including Sikyong, Speaker and the Kalons were all educated in exile. Soon, it will be you who will be spearheading the Tibetan movement. Therefore, the current generation of the Tibetan leadership is the vital link between the older generation and the next generation of Tibetans currently in school. Even after leaving school, you should have a social responsibility along with the pursuit of one’s personal livelihood.”
In his address, officiating Sikyong Kalon Pema Chhinjor said: “ TCV is one of the most highly reputed schools in the Tibetan community. It has conducted all its activities till now as per the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration. Therefore, TCV is one of our highly regarded institutions that we proudly showcase to our foreign guests whenever they visit Dharamshala.”
“TCV is a well-organised educational institute and it has benefited countless Tibetans in exile. Those who have studied here have gone on to various parts of the world and continue to serve in diverse roles for the cause of Tibet,” he said.
Kalon Pema Chhinjor also talked about the prioritisation of education by the 14th Kashag. “Education has been prioritised as one of the most important component of its policies by the present Kashag. We have announced numerous new schemes and initiatives to boost the level of education in our Tibetan community,” he said.
He explained that we can fulfil our obligations only through excellence in education. “I believe that our education system is a two-pronged strategy: to create capable Tibetans, fluent in Tibetan language and well versed in Tibetan culture, who can serve the Tibetan cause, and to create a conducive environment for Tibetan students to pursue high level of academic excellence.”
The upper Tibetan Children Village was established in 1960, with just 51 children. Most of the children at that time have arrived from the road construction camps in Jammu during the early years of Tibetan exile. Since then, over 6,000 Tibetan children have passed through this school. Many of these children are now serving the Tibetan community in various capacities in the Central Tibetan Administration and other Tibetan organisations.