The Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre based in New Delhi, funded by the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung successfully concluded a 10 day long 5th Youth Leadership Workshop titled Introducing the University Students Towards Future Leadership and Responsibilities in Dharamsala from 22nd June to 1st July 2006. The workshop was attended by 51 students (23 colleges and Transit School) from 13 cities in India.
The students were taken on tour to all the democratic institutions in and around Dharamsala and introduced to the function of each of these institutions, which includes all the departments of the Tibetan Government in Exile, NGOs and Cultural Institutions. The students had an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness advised the students to be prepared for shouldering the future leadership of the Tibetan struggle and urged the students to undertake specialized courses.
Prominent Tibetan leaders among 35 speakers who spoke to the students included, Karma Choephel, Chairman of Tibet’s Parliament in Exile on the evolution of Tibetan Democracy; Kalon Tripa, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche on Functions and Policies of the CTA for a full day; Kalon Thubten Lungrik on the New Education Policy; Kalon Lobsang Nyandak on the Changing Global Order and its Implication on the Issue of Tibet; Geshe Lhagdor la on the essence of Tibetan Buddhism, Tenpa Sichoe on Budget; Tenzin Norgye on UN and Tibet and Penpa Tsering on the Structure of the CTA and the Middle Way Approach.
During this workshop the students also interacted with Special Envoy Gyari Lodoe Gyaltsen and elder brother of His Holiness, Sawang Chenpo Gyalo Dhondup.
The program also included recounting the experience of former political prisoners by Gu Chu Sum secretary Penpa and Sonam, and two panel discussions. One of the panel discussion was on the Importance of Student’s Participation in the Elections and the other was on the Role of Students in the Tibetan Struggle. The Chief Election Commissioner Mr. Tashi Phuntsok and TCV Gopalpur Principal Mr. Sonam Sangpo were the panelists in the former and Mr. Sonam Norbu Dagpo and Shri Ramesh Pappa of ABVP were the panelists in the latter.
The participants were unanimous in their view that the workshop enabled them to understand the Tibetan Government in Exile better, provided them the rare opportunity to interact with some of the most prominent leaders and created a useful platform to understand and make friends with students from various backgrounds. They also expressed their appreciation to the funders for their generous support.
According to Jigmey of Transit School, “the workshop was a golden opportunity and an unforgettable experience”. Tsering Youdon, a topper in Commerce said, “I have always focused on my studies. During this workshop, I realized the importance of being informed of our struggle and how much I have lacked behind as compared to other students”. Lobsang Dorje of Dharwad noted that, “I felt inferior to many others. But this workshop provided me the opportunity to be informed, stand up and speak”. The workshop helped Penpa Tashi to understand “How organised the Tibetan Government is. I always thought it is very small and unorganized”. Lobsang Nyima of Sarah felt “the visits to each and every office helped me to understand the Tibetan Government better”. Sonam Wangmo from Amritsar was glad “I understood the responsibility of a student towards our struggle and instilled more faith in my government. The resource people were excellent and more importantly, the workshop provided platform for all and left it to the students to use their discriminating mind” Tenzin Nyinjey of Darjeeling was happy that “the workshop organizers knows how to cope with the students by coming to our level”.
The Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre organizes workshops for Tibetan students at the University level and Class XI students on an annual basis. It was decided that the university level workshops would be held every year from 15th June to 24th June and school level from 20th December to 29th December every.
All interested Tibetan students in India and abroad are requested to contact tpprc@airtelbroadband.in for more information.
