Top British actress bids farewell to London representative
Monday, 30 April 2007, 11:24 a.m.
New Representative Tsering Tashi, Kalon Kesang Y Takla, Jampa Gyaltsen of the Office of Tibet with Joanna Lumle |
London: The warm farewell and welcome reception for the London-based Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was attended last evening by, among many others, the well-known British Actress Joanna Lumley and star of the Absolutely Fabulous sitcom, who wore a traditional Tibetan long boot to match the Tibet-related function, organised jointly by the Office of Tibet, London, and the Tibetan Community in Britain.
The farewell party was for the incumbent Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mrs. Kesang Y. Takla, whose nomination by Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, as one of the Kalons in his Kashag was subsequently voted favourably by an overwhelming number of the members of the Dharamsala-based Tibetan parliament in exile. The welcome was for Mr. Tsering Tashi, who has been appointed as the new Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Northern Europe, Poland and the Baltic Countries.
Tsering Tashi bids farewell to Kalon Kesang Y Takla |
While introducing the evening’s programme, the Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain, Mr. Tenzin Samphel, said that it is sad to see Mrs. Takla leave but nice to see her elected to the high post of Kalon in the Kashag. He said that it is also good to see Mr. Tsering Tashi appointed as the new representative because of his added advantage of varied work experience and having already worked in the London Office of Tibet and with different Tibet-related organisations and others for the last more than five years.
In her address, Mrs. Takla said that her return to Dharamsala as a Kalon is the second-term extension to seek retirement from over 40 years of service. She especially thanked the benefactors of the Office of Tibet for all their support. Kalon Takla said she looked forward to seeing some among the gathering and other supporters during their visit to Dharamsala.
Mr. Tsering Tashi in his address said that he felt humbled by the trust bestowed upon him by the Kashag and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He said that during his stint in the Office of Tibet as the Secretary and Press/Information Officer, he has learned much from Mrs. Takla’s vast diplomatic and administrative experiences. Mr. Tashi added that being human he would face shortcomings when shouldering the important responsibility entrusted to him and therefore said he would “greatly value and welcome any honest and constructive criticism, as well as suggestions, aimed at further improving our work to benefit the just Tibetan cause and the wider global issues”.
Among the notable guests present was also Mrs. Chungdak Koren, Executive Director of the Norwegian Tibet Committee, who was able to make it to the reception to represent the Norwegian Tibet support group and the Tibetan Community in Norway. Invitations had also been sent to the heads and representatives of all the Tibetan communities that fall under the areas of responsibility of the Office of Tibet, notably in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Poland.
Mrs. Chungdak in her remarks as the special guest told the gathering that besides the UK, the Office of Tibet also looks after Tibetan affairs in Scandinavian and other countries. She said Mrs. Takla is highly regarded in these countries by the government officials and that Tibet support groups in the region had especially asked her to convey this message. Mrs. Chungdak, the former Representative of His Holiness at the Bureau du Tibet in Geneva, also referred to the contribution made by Mrs. Takla in championing the Tibetan cause and proudly pointed out that as a Kalon, she is going to be the only women Tibetan cabinet minister. As for the appointment of the new representative, she said they already have the experience of having worked with Mr. Tsering Tashi and looked forward to working with him.
The evening reception held at the Kailash Centre hall below the Office of Tibet was attended by members of the Tibetan Community in Britain, representatives of Tibet Support Groups, Tibet and Tibetan-related NGOs, and organisations and long-time supporters of the Office of Tibet and the Tibet House Trust. Some of the Tibetans and notable guests had even come from Oxford, Cambridge, Northampton, Brighton, etc. Every one present also enjoyed the handmade Tibetan delicacies and accompanying drinks. The atmosphere was positive with people even lining up to show their warm feelings to both the outgoing and incoming Representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by offering traditional Tibetan scarves and bouquets of good wishes.
The Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain, on behalf of the organisers, later thanked all the Tibetan volunteers for their hard work and expressed gratitude to the Kailash Centre for all their support. The programme concluded with the Tibetan circle dance “gorshey” in which to the delight of many, Kalon Kesang Y. Takla and some non-Tibetan guests also took part.
–Report filed by Tibetan Community in Britain, www.tibetancommunity.org.uk