Dharamshala, 15th July 2024: Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, met with the students from Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre’s (TCCC) school earlier today.

The Tibetan students led by a teacher and two parents are on their education tour organized jointly by the Department of Education, the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre, and the Mewoen Tsuglag Petoen School from 15th to 21st July 2024.

After a brief introductory session, the Speaker expressed his joy in welcoming the Tibetan students. He noted their deep connection to their Tibetan identity, despite being born and raised in Canada.

The Speaker then shared his experiences of growing up in Tibet and his memorable pilgrimage to Lhasa where he witnessed the racial discrimination of Tibetans and other restrictions imposed by the Chinese government.

He further shared how after his escape into exile in India, enrolled in Ngagyur Nyingma Institute (Shedra) of Namdroling monastery for higher Buddhist studies and shouldered leadership responsibilities in the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile as its parliamentarian, the Deputy Speaker, and the Speaker in the following years.

Addressing the societal imperative, the Speaker underscored the global evolution of democracy, tracing its etymology and emphasizing His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s longstanding vision of a democratic system for Tibet.

Discussing the bestowal of democracy by His Holiness upon the Tibetan people, the Speaker conveyed His Holiness’s inspiration in adopting democratic values for a just society, juxtaposing it with His Holiness’s observations on the functioning of the Indian Parliament and the Chinese Communist Party’s congress during his visits to these countries.

“In his endeavor to democratize Tibetan governance, His Holiness initiated committees for reform within Tibet, which were halted by the Chinese invasion. Subsequently, following exile, His Holiness established the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile in 1960, comprising 13 elected Tibetan representatives, marking a pivotal step towards a fully democratic system.”

Prior to the Q&A session, the Speaker briefed the students on the composition, bi-annual sessions, and other significant initiatives of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), including advocacy campaigns such as the World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet (WPCT), state advocacy in India, and international outreach efforts.