Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi along with Parliamentarian Karma Gelek at a Tibetan winter sweater sellers’ market
Dharamsala: As per the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s Tibetan settlements and Tibetan communities visitation/assessment program, Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi successfully concludes his official visitation program to Bhandara Norgyeling Tibetan Settlement, Phendeling Tibetan Settlement of Mainpat, and its nearby 16 Tibetan Sweater Sellers’ market from 30 October to 22 November 2019.
Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi reached Nagpur on 1 November and was received by Settlement Officer Dhondup Gyalpo of Bhandara and Parliamentarian Karma Gelek who lives in Bhandara.
Parliamentarian started the visitation program by meeting the Vice- Chairman of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation and Mr. Ashok S. Mendhe, the President of Tibet support Group. He briefed them current situation inside Tibet and at the same time requested to continue supporting Tibet’s issue. Mr. Ashok S. Mendhe, in response to a request of the Settlement Officer proposes to appeal the MLAs and other officials along with the settlement officer in the Winter Session of Maharashtra legislative in December for the implementation of Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy 2014.
Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi visited Tibetan winter sweater sellers of Nagpur, Wardha, and Yavatmal on 2 November and then he visited the Tibetan winter sweater seller of Chandrapur on 3 November. During these visits, he spoke about the situation inside Tibet, the policy of the Central Tibetan Administration, and then answered questions asked by the people.
On 4 November, he visited Thekchen Ling Monastery, the Settlement Monastery of Bandhara Norgyeling; Ngagyur Drupgyeling Choepheling Monastery; old age home; Settlement Office; Tibetan cooperative; Gangjong Rice Mill; camp no 2; Men-Tsee-Khang; and Health Care Centre. Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi, at the request of Head Master also visited and addressed students, staff, and teachers of Sambhota Tibetan School.
In a public address to the people of Bhandara, Parliamentarian spoke about the situation inside Tibet, the status of Tibet’s issue in China and on the international platform on 5 November. He also held a general meeting with the local dignitaries later in the evening. He then visited camp 1 and camp 2 to observe farms and dike on 6 November.
On 7 November, Parliamentarian visited Tibetan winter sweater seller of Gondia, Maharashtra in the morning and afternoon on the same day visited Tibetan winter sweater sellers of Durg and Bhilai in Chhattisgarh.
Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi with Shri Rajbahadur Singh, Member of Parliament
The next day, he also visited and addressed Tibetan winter sweater sellers of Raipur and Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh. Followed by a visit to the Tibetan winter sweater seller of Ambikapur on 9 November.
After reaching Mainpat Phendeling Tibetan Settlement, he visited Dhakpo Monastery, the Settlement Monastery of Mainpat on 10 November. He then held a public meeting and addressed the settlement people of camp 6,7, and 8 on the status of Tibetan struggle and policy of Central Tibetan Administration. He answered questions asked by the people and later visited all the three camps.
Parliamentarian further visited the Mainpat settlement office, cooperative office, old age home, hospital, and Sambhota Day School. He also addressed students, staff, and teachers of Sambhota Day School on the request of Head Master on 11 November.
On 12 November, Parliamentarian visited farms of camp 2 and camp 7. He addressed on the accomplishments of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Middle Way Policy to the people of the two camps. Parliamentarian then later addressed the critical situation of Tibet to the staff of Settlement Office, Sambhota Day School, old age home, Men-Tsee-Khang, and health care center, followed by a Q&A session.
Similarly on 13 November, Parliamentarian addressed people of camp 1 and camp 3 and later on the same day, he held a general meeting with the local dignitaries.
Parliamentarian continued his visitation program in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. He addressed the Tibetan sweater sellers there and answered questions asked by them. He then left for Sagar, where he was received by Tibetan sweater sellers’ representative Dhondup Tenzin, and Mr. M.D Tripathi, the President of Indo-Tibet Friendship Society on 15 November.
The next day, Sagar Tibetan Sweater Seller’s Association along with the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society invited Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi as the Chief Guest and Shri Rajbahadur Singh, Member of Parliament as the special guest, Abdul Rashid Bhai, President of Inter-religious Association and Mr. Chimpak, member of Inter-religious Association as guests. Many local News reporters also attended the event.
The President of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, M.D Tripathi, who has been working for Tibetan cause since 1997, his address gave reference to the admiration and reverence given to Tibet and Tibetans in Hinduism. He further spoke about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s contribution in inter-religious harmony and revival of ancient Indian knowledge; he also calls for the conferment of Bharat Ratna to His Holiness by the Indian Government.
While, MP Shri Rajbahadur Singh, who is also a Tibet supporter expressed his happiness in welcoming Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi in Sagar and shared his childhood memories of visiting Tibetan winter sweater sellers there. At the same time, he assured his full support to the Tibet cause and to the Sweater sellers.
Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi in his address said, “India and Tibet historically have a cordial relationship, India provided His Holiness the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetan shelter when Chinese occupied Tibet in 1959. We are always grateful to India and its people for their hospitality to exiled Tibetans. Tibet’s environment is extremely important and especially for India since rivers that are the source of freshwater flowing from Tibet are vital for millions of Indians. So, therefore, supporting Tibet’s issue is equally important for the welfare of Indians as well.” Finally, Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi and MP Shri Rajbahadur jointly answered questions asked by the journalists.
Thereafter, Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi was received warmly in a traditional way by the teachers, staff, and students of Jain Public Higher Secondary School in Gopalganj, Sagar. At a gathering, he addressed the current situation inside Tibet and Indo-Tibetan friendship of thousand years.
For the next two days, i.e. he visited and addressed Tibetan winter sweater sellers of Bhopal and Indore. He also briefed Tibet’s issue to the journalists of Indore during a Q&A round.
On 18-20 November, he visited and addressed Tibetan winter sweater sellers of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.
During the 23 days’ visitation program a total of 23 public addresses were given to students, and the general public and 2 meetings with the local dignitaries were held.
The visitation program successfully concluded with a comprehensive inquiry about the conditions of the general public, and schools chronicled by the parliamentarian will be forwarded to the related departments of the Central Tibetan Administration through the Standing Committee of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile for effective grievances redress.
Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi successfully concludes his official visitation program from 30 October to 22 November 2019
Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi successfully concludes his official visitation program from 30 October to 22 November 2019
Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi successfully concludes his official visitation program from 30 October to 22 November 2019
Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi successfully concludes his official visitation program from 30 October to 22 November 2019
Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi successfully concludes his official visitation program from 30 October to 22 November 2019
Parliamentarian Dhondup Tashi successfully concludes his official visitation program from 30 October to 22 November 2019