Kalon Dr. Pema Yangchen, Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok of TPiE, Parliamentarian Thupten Lungrig, and Gen. Sonam Sichoe during the gratitude award ceremony to Gen. Sonam Sichoe
Suja, HP: Gen. Sonam Sichoe, former Director of Tibetan Children Village (TCV) Suja, was conferred gratitude award by the alumni association of TCV Suja on 26 October 2019.
The ceremony was attended by Chief Guest Kalon Dr. Pema Yangchen, Central Tibetan Administration and Special Guest Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), Special Guest Chithu Thupten Lungrig of TPiE, former Director of TCV Suja, Director of TCV Suja Namdol Tashi, former students, staff and students.
The ceremony started with a video showing life history of Gen. Sonam Sichoe and then conferment of the gratitude award by Kalon Dr. Pema Yangchen. Following that Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok presented the awards to the senior teachers and staff of TCV Suja.
Deputy Speaker addressing the gratitude award ceremony to Gen. Sonam Sichoe
Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) addressed the ceremony by elucidating on the background of the establishment TCV Suja. He explained that TCV Suja was established in 1960 under the direction of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and leadership of His Holiness’s elder sister Tsering Dolma. The school eventually developed under the supervision of His Holiness’s younger sister Jetsun Pema.
He further explained that the school was initially under the direct control of Cabinet (Kashag) until 1990, which was later handover to Tibetan Children Village. The school had facility of open school, curriculum of studying English, Tibetan and English along with Tibetan until 1994.
In 1995 after the introduction of classes from V to VIII in the school, the students of Class V and Class VIII excelled in the common exam of all TCV School with outstanding outcomes. TCV Suja also outshined in Tibetan traditional dance, sports, and other co-curricular activities.
After that Deputy Speaker appreciated the conferment of award and explicated Gen. Sonam Sichoe’s background of serving 11 years at Upper TCV Dharamsala. He had also served for 20 years as headmaster, principal, and Director of TCV Suja.
Kalon Dr. Pema Yangchen presenting gratitude award to Gen. Sonam Sichoe, former Director of TCV Suja
Thereafter he lauded the teachers and staff of TCV School for producing students who are today serving Tibetan community in various aspects in various positions like Parliamentarians in TPiE, Additional Secretary in Central Tibetan Administration, Men-Tse-Khang, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), etc.
He then appreciated students for presenting award to their teacher but at the same time he advised students to follow the footsteps of their teacher and apply the lessons taught by the teacher in life.
He further spoke on the increasing number of people receiving audience with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and non-Tibetans taking interest in Tibet issue, who are mostly researchers. He then spoke on the self-immolation of Tibetans inside Tibet to raise voice against the destruction of culture and environment in Tibet, and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Deputy Speaker then shared some of the facts of TCV Suja that used to be a bridge between Tibetans living in and outside of Tibet. TCV Suja has schooled students who used to be political prisoners in 1990s.
He finally concluded by advising students to work for the collective cause of Tibet following the aspirations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Dr. Pema Yangchen, Chithu Thupten Lungrig, and Director Namdol Tashi also addressed the event.
Parliamentarian Thupten Lungrig addressing the gratitude award ceremony to Gen. Sonam Sichoe
Gen. Sonam Sichoe, former Director of Tibetan Children Village (TCV) Suja, was conferred gratitude award by the alumni association of TCV Suja on 26 October 2019
