Mrs. George Woodcock, known to her close friends as “Inge” passed away in Vancouver, B.C. on the 11th December 2003 after a long illness; eight years earlier her husband, Professor George Woodcock, internationally known Canadian writer, poet, critic, activist, philosopher and professor of English literature, died. Both, Prof. Woodcock and Inge, had a special affinity towards the Tibetans and developed a close friendship with the Tibetans after their trip to India in the early 1960’s, shortly after the 1959 Tibetan Uprising in Lhasa, against the Chinese Communist military occupation of Tibet.
George and Inge’s trips to India brought them in close contact with Tibetans and led to an audience with the Dalai Lama. Through these meetings they realized the plight of the Tibetans and decided to seek help for the Tibetans who needed humanitarian assistance. So, they formed the first Canadian aid organization for Tibetan refgees, TRAS (Tibetan Refugee Aid Society)to assist Tibetan refugees in India. Tibetans were, then, in urgent need of help, because they were not accustomed to the Indian climate nor the food habits; and because of lack of biological resistance against the tropical diseases that they were extremely susceptible to all kinds of illnesses. The large majority of the refugees from Tibet spoke only Tibetan and the language barrier was a big problem for the Tibetans in India in finding suitable employment. Hence the aid that came from TRAS Canada and other aid agencies helped overcome many of these adversities. Inge Woodcock’ s active fundraising efforts and the dedication of the members of the Tibetan Refugee Aid society, made it possible for many Tibetans of all ages overcome these hardships they were facing. Majority of the Tibetan refugees now in exile escaped during the 1960’s to mid 1970’s. It is important to know that the flow of refugees from Tibet still continues to this day. This indicates that all is not well in Tibet as Beijing claims.
Mussoorie, a hill town in the northern India was the hill station where the Dalai Lama resided when he first sought asylum in India. That was the town where Prof. Woodcock and Inge met the Tibetan refugees initially. The first
Tibetan Children’s Homes Foundation was established in Happy Valley, Musoorie and later a home for the old and disabled refugees were established in Mussoorie too and the financial assistance from the Tibetan Refugee Aid Society and other aid organizations helped immensely in running these institutions. Tibetan refugee help project initiated by the Woodcocks was followed up by the other directors of TRAS such as Dr. John Conway, Dr.Barry Leach etc.and assistance for the Tibetan refugees spread beyond the Homes Foundation and old people’s homes in the years to come. TRAS funds helped to run several small industries and major agricultural settlements in South India..
Tibetans owe much to these two kind souls from Canada for their initiative and dedication in starting the Tibetan Refugee Aid Society, in Canada. Because of the help from Canada many Tibetan lives were saved and hundreds of children were able to attend schools and find shelter, food and care.
George and Inge Woodcock met His Holiness for the last time in 1993 at the Hotel Vancouver, when His Holiness came to Vancouver B.C. at the invitation of the Tibetans who had settled in British Columbia. Let this tribute to George and Inge be also a reminder to the Tibetans, many of whom do not know George Woodcock and his wife that these two Canadians and their friends helped the Tibetans in our hour of need and always remained a close friend of the Tibetans.
T.C.Tethong
Victoria B.C.
December 18, 2003
