The cycle rally reached Karnal around 4:30 pm on January 16. The members of the local Tibetan sweater sellers’ association welcomed the cyclists and made arrangement for their stay. The student activists were served tea and some snacks.
In the evening, as a part of an informal function, the president of the RTYC Chandigarh, Tenzin Norsang, spoke about the Tibetan issue with the students in general and the local Tibetans in particular.
“What can an individual do to help towards the cause of our Tibetan independence? Every individual must work towards attaining complete independence from China. The main aim and objective of the TYC is also gaining complete independence from China and to preserve the rich culture and religion of Tibet,” Norsang said.
Besides, there was an informal quiz contest to entertain and inform the students as well as the local Tibetan sweater sellers about Tibet and the TYC in the evening. Many common but interesting questions were put up to everyone and there were things like chocolate and shampoo sachets to win!
The next morning a formal function was organised which was attended by a local politician, Tripti Sharma, who said that she is really touched by the good cause that the students have taken up. She said, “I did not know about the injustice being done to the Tibetans. I will write to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and discuss your issue with her.”
The executive member of the Tibetan sweater sellers’ association Pachen Chungdak said, “We sweater sellers are illiterate and can not think of taking out a cycle rally like you students. It is you, the youngsters, who have to work towards Tibetan freedom. But we assure you all help from our side.”
To conclude the function, a hand impression and a signature of the chief guest was taken. The RTYC is collecting hand impressions of chief guests from all its functions on the way to Delhi. They will submit the hand impressions to the International Olympic Committee. Tenzin Norsang also presented a memento of a Tibetan national flag and a traditional Tibetan khatak to the chief guest and thanked her and all the Tibetans on behalf of RTYC Chandigarh.
The cylists started for Panipat around 11 am.
At Panipat the next day, the Tibetan sweater sellers were awaiting the student cylists, who were received with much warmth by the local Tibetans. The local Tibetans had arranged for the stay of the students who were very happy and relaxed after a long and hard trip. The students were also served with an excellent dinner.
A function was organised the next morning in which the Mayor of Panipat was the chief guest. Journalists from a television channel were also present to cover the function. The Mayor was presented with a memento and a khatak.
He said, “I will not campaign against the 2008 olympics but I will deifnately fight for your cause. Violation of human rights is a grave issue and the Tibetans will always have my support.”
RTYC president Tenzin Norsang spoke about the importance of continuing our fight for independence. “It has been 50 years since we lost our freedom to China. But we must not loose hope. Look at India. It was under the British for over 200 years. We all must continue struggling for an independent Tibet and should never, ever loose hope,” he said.
Norsang added,”China has a history of brutal and forceful repression. We are opposing the 2008 olympics in China because there are no rights being granted to an individual in that country. However, I do not know whether we will be able to stop the olympics in China but that doesnt mean we stop raising our voice against human rights violations in Tibet. And I hope that through this cycle rally, our voice is heard by every individual in the world and they get to know about the condition of Tibetans in Tibet under China.”
The function concluded with a vote of thanks. The Mayor flagged off the cycle rally and all the participants were presented with a khatak each by the local Tibetan sweater sellers’ association. From there the students reached Sonipat on January 18 around 5: 30 pm for a night stay.
