Dharamshala: The autobiography of Dawa Shaurya Chakra was launched on December 28, 2024, at the Hall of the Tibetan Settlement Office in Dharamshala. Dawa is a decorated former Army Political Leader, recognized with the prestigious Shaurya Chakra and several other gallantry awards for his exceptional bravery and leadership during his decades of service in the Indian Army, especially during the Bangladesh Liberation war and Operation Meghdoot.

The book launch was graced by the Chief Guest, Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, and the Special Guest, LTWA Director Geshe Lhakdor, along with esteemed parliamentarians Dawa Tsering, Dawa Phunkyi, Tsering Yangchen, and Tenzin Choezin. Additionally, the Department of Security’s Representative, Tenzin Dhoensang, was also present at the event. The event was organized by the Utsang Association (Centre), the Regional Utsang Association, and the Lhoka Association.

Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Speaker greeted the guests, congratulated on the launch of the biography, and reiterated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s advice to document the lives of elder generations of Tibetans who have made invaluable contributions to the common cause of Tibet in various ways. The Deputy Speaker described his accounts of China’s occupation of Tibet, particularly in his birthplace of Lhoka, highlighting the region’s culture, monasteries, and landscape in remarkable detail.

The Deputy Speaker also shared Dawa Shaurya Chakra’s insights into monastic life and how his entry into the monastic community enriched his experiences in multifaceted ways. His reflection of other significant events in his life, including China’s communist army’s occupation of Tibet, his enlistment in the Tibetan guerrilla group Chu-Shi-Gangdruk (Four Rivers, Six Ranges), which was founded in Lhoka’s Chaksa Driku Thang by Andruktsang Gonpo Tashi and drew volunteers from all three provinces of Tibet, all of which were chronicled in great details.

After the great uprising of 10th March 1959, he followed in the footsteps of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and fled into exile in India. Although he initially worked as the director of the Tibetan refugee carpet factory in Dalhousie, his strong resolve to resist Chinese occupation eventually led him to join the Indian Army.

Given that India has served as a second home to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetans since 1959, providing a platform for the Central Tibetan Administration to keep the struggle for Tibet alive, Dawa Shaurya Chakra made invaluable contributions to the Special Frontier Force of the Indian Army, as have many other Tibetans.

Initially, the Special Frontier Force (SFF), or Establishment 22, remained largely off the books for a long time. However, it was the violent clashes in the Galwan Valley between India and China that brought the SFF into the limelight. The force demonstrated remarkable strength in the face of the PLA’s aggression, with Company Leader Nyima Tenzin losing his life in the confrontation. Today, the existence, bravery, and sacrifices of the SFF are widely recognized in India, and their contributions have fostered a strong sense of empathy and respect among Indians.

The Deputy Speaker encouraged the documentation of the biographies of elder-generation Tibetans, so that the younger generation can better understand the cause of Tibetans’ existence today. She praised Dawa Shaurya Chakra’s lifelong contributions, calling it a truly meaningful life.

In conclusion, she expressed her gratitude to everyone involved in the publication of the autobiography, including the motivator, editor, publisher, and all others who contributed to its completion.