With a Candle-Light Vigil and a brief ceremony, the five-day campaign to save Tulku Tenzin Delek concluded in Azad market, Mumbai amidst hundreds of Tibetans and Indians. The Vigil and the Closing Ceremony were graced by numerous longtime Tibet-supporters including; Mr S.V.Raju, Director, Indian Committee for Cultural Relations and Prof. Prabod Parekh of Mithibai College, Mumbai University, who has been instrumental in facilitating the special screening of Kundun and Seven Years in Tibet in Mumbai, when censured through Chinese pressure at the Asian Film Festival recently.The guest supporters addressed the public, briefing on the need to support Tibet’s just cause and ” end the injustice meted out to the Tibetans by the Chinese and save the dying civilization and a race and the Dharma”.
After a Vigil and a Prayer, the Closing Ceremony, which was conducted by Joint Secy, Jigme Gadong of TYC, saw speeches by Mr Lobsang Yeshi, Vice President of TYC, Mr Tenzin Tsundue, of FOT (INDIA), Mr Tashi of Mumbai Tibetan Sweater Seller’s Association, Ven. Lobsang Tenpa of RTYC Bandara and Mr Lobsang Tsering of RTYC Baroda beside the Eminent Guests. Offering Scarves, the representatives of the organizations were each thanked for their all-round contributions and involvement in the campaign. Special thanks were also extended to the Indian supporters like Mr C.A Kalianpur, Mr Yoganand Verma, Mr Dinesh Tiwari, Mr. Aggrawal, Mr Aspy Mistry and Ms Misha etc. for their consistent support.
Later Mr Jigme Gadong read out the accounts of the expenses incurred on the campaign and the donation list. He also thanked all the donors and supporters and stressed that without their unwavering support, the success of the campaign would not have been possible. He, however said, ” our work is still not finished, we need to work continuously to save Tulku Tenzin Delek and thousand others languishing in Chinese prisons”. This was followed by the singing of the National Anthems of Tibet and India. Thereafter, Baroda college students led the Freedom song (we shall overcome…). Mr.Dinesh Tiwari, a Documentary Film-maker and a former Army-General, then offered the participants mango juice as a ceremonial breaking of the fast. The ceremony formally comes to close with a clicking of a group photo, exchange of hugs & handshakes and best wishes. It was indeed an emotional bidding as the compatriots, with eyes welled with water, remind one another of the unfinished mission and the struggle ahead.
The last day of the campaign proved exhilarating and all the more satisfying as thousands of Indian supporters throng the stall of the Hunger Strikers to express their support and participate in the signature campaign and exhibition. The day coinciding the Swearing-in-Ceremony of the newly elected Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, over 20,000 party workers and Cabinets Members converged at Azad Maiden to attend the swearing-in-ceremony, near the Hunger Strikers and substantial number of these party workers and political personalities came to the Hunger Strike Campaign and signed their support. Hundreds even voiced their support by addressing the participants, saying, “China have to leave Tibet soon, we are always with the Tibetans. They cannot kill such a good man like Tulku. How can a Dalai Lama’s follower be termed a Terrorist”. “You should also garner the support of the Indian Parliamentarians, this is the fastest way to get Indian political support fo r Tibet”. Earlier in the morning, Dr. Adil Jassowala, a renowned Indian English writer and a poet arrived at the Campaign site to extend his solidarity to the cause and saw the exhibition and signed the petition.
The five day Relay Hunger Strike which has over 350 participants from Mumbai, Bandara, Baroda, Nasik, Vilas Nagar and Indian supporters, succeeded in attracting over several thousand Indian and western supporters to the campaign that include Photo Exhibition, Movie Screening, Signature campaign, Faxing, Vigil and Public Addresses in hindi language by the key speakers etc. Over 20,000 pamphlets on Tulku’s life and the case history were distributed and nearly 5000 signatures collected for the petition & over a thousand postcard petitions sent to UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan for seeking the immediate release of Tulku Tenzin Delek. Through this campaign, the organizer had succeeded in informing over several million Indians of the Tulku Tenzin Delek’s plight and the Tibetan cause, through press conferences & statements and interviews in Newspapers, Televisions, Radio and the Website services etc.
In all, the organizers believed that the support so received in the first phase of All India Relay Hunger Strike in Mumbai, would help pressurize Chinese Govt in the immediate release of Tulku Tenzin Delek. Meanwhile, The Second phase campaign, which follows in North-West Indian city of Kolkotta is entering its third day and is reported to be receiving major Indian supports. More reports on “Save Tulku and save Tibet” campaign from Kolkotta follows. So keep logging on…
For further information, Please contact:
Kolkotta (10-14, November 2004)
Tsultrim Dorjee, General Secretary
Tsering Dhondup, P.R.O.
Contact no: 09830435961
Bangalore (15-19, November 2004)
Lobsang Yeshi, Vice-President
Gadong Jigme, Joint Secretary
Contact no : 09886842673
Delhi (20-24, November 2004)
Tsultrim Dorjee, General Secretary,
Dhondup Dorjee, Information Secretary,
Tsering Dhondup, P.R.O
Contact no:09899769790
