Tibetan Outreach to Indian Media
Dharamsala 2 February 2005: “What’s the issue of Tibet? Why are the Tibetans refugees?
Even the people in and about Dharamsala, despite over forty years of overwhelming Tibetan presence, lack complete
knowledge”, said the state president of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch (BTSM) yesterday.
Mr. Sunil Manocha was delivering the welcome note at a seminar organised here by the Himachal chapter of the BTSM
with some assistance from the Gu-Chu-Sum and the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.
“Set aside the common people, even the media needs to be more enlightened on Tibet”, Mr. Manocha added.
Nearly 100 local Indian and Tibetan media persons participated in the seminar on “The issue of Tibet and the Role of
Indian Media”.
The panel of guest speakers consisted of Mr. Shanta Kumar, Mr. Shrikant Joshi, Dr. Kuldip Chand Agnihotri, Mrs.
Dolma Gyari, and Mr. Thubten Samphel.
“In just about few years, the organisation has already established over 33 chapters across India with claims of over
5,000-strong supporters”, says Dawa Tsering, member of Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies and also BTSM.
“It has many grand undertakings to its accomplishment.”
The highlight of its accomplishments was the grand civic reception to His Holiness the Dalai Lama marking the 40th
anniversary of his arrival in Dharamsala on 30 April 2000, which was participated by 102 support groups and over
5,000 people.