Dharamsala : Five non-government organisations have collaborated together to organise a peace march from Mcleod Ganj to Dharamsala police ground and a public gathering event at the same location marking the 59th anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day on on March 10. Attending the event was the adviser of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, Mr. Subhash Nehria as its ‘Chief Guest’ and Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Ven. Acharya Yeshi Phunstok as its ‘Special Guest’ along with hundreds of Tibetan students and people.

The event commenced with the national anthem of both the India and Tibet nation and the ‘Uprising song’ accompanied by Tibetan Children Village school band. It was followed by a minute of mourning for the Tibetan martyrs for their sacrifices. Thereafter, the Vice President of Tibetan Youth Congress Mr. Tamding Hrichoe addressed the gathering.

Addressing the gathering in Hindi, Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Parlaiment-in-exile, Ven. Acharya Yeshi Phunstok said, ‘Today marks the 59th anniversary of Tibetan Uprising day with Tibetans all over the world commemorating the event. Over the past 59 years, not only has there been successive political campaigns by the Tibetans both in and outside Tibet but also despite the severe persecutions by the Chinese government to our fellow countrymen inside Tibet,Tibetans continue to fight for the protection and preservation of our language, culture and environment tirelessly. In particular there was  in the year 1987,1989 and 2008….From 2009 till now, 152 martyrs has self-immolated, sacrificing their lives for the sake of religious, political and ethnic causes of the Tibetan nation. However hardened policies and restrictions Chinese government may imposes on Tibetans, they could never change the valour and spirit of Tibetans.’

 

Citing the Sino-Indian War ( Sino-Indian Border Conflict) between China and India that occurred in 1962, he stated that the Chinese continues to engage in border conflict with India and that as long as the Tibet issue remain unresolved, so will the border issues between the two countries. He urged the gathering to not forget the intricate relationship shared between Tibet and India, of religion; language; customs; environment; border etc. He then expressed his profound gratitude to both the government and the people of India for supporting the just cause of Tibet and hoped for the continuation of the same in the near future.

Deputy Speaker’s speech was followed by the speech of the Chief Guest Sh.Subhash Nehria. The event concluded with the thank-you speech by Students for a Free Tibet’s Grassroots Director Ms. Rinzin Choedon.