Dharamsala, December 31: Some 60 Tibetan college students’ delegation from 18 different students’ chapters across India have made it to the 2nd All India Tibetan College Students’ Conference (AITCSC) that began yesterday at Sarah College for Higher Tibetan Studies (CHST).
A Tibetan student from Norway, and 3 Tibetan Muslim students from Kashmir University and 2 from Baroda are among the participants of the three-day conference organized by the Sarah chapter.
“The primary goal of holding this kind of organized conference within Tibetan college students is to have a platform to create a deeper understanding of self-realisation and self-responsibility and, to build a mutual bond among Tibetan college students scattered in small numbers,” the conference’s organising president Mr Kunkyab Passang told Phayul.
“In doing so, the conference will also focus on encouraging more and more young Tibetans to get into professional and specialized lines rather than merely opting for usual college degrees,” Mr Kunkgyab sid.
Kalon Thupten Lungrig, the Education Minister of Tibetan Government in Exile was the chief Guest of the opening ceremony on Sunday. Member of Tibetan parliament in Exile Mr. Lhamo Kyab, the Director of Upper TCV Mr Lekshey Tenpa, the President of Ghu-Chu-Sum Movement Ven. Nawang Woeber, and the principal of CHST Ven. Jamphel Drakpa were the other dignitaries present at the function.
One of the key agendas of the conference also includes assessments of the “Action Plans and Resolution” set forth in the previous conference and at the same time putting forward its next set of action plans and resolutions.
The organisers of the conference have also arranged resource persons to talk on selected topics like Responsibility of Tibetan youths, youth and education, Tibet and world today, Middle-way approach and world peace, Tibetanisation, and, Tibet and world environment. “Besides, there will be separate panel discussion sessions on other important topics suggested by the participating members,” Mr Kunkyab notes.
In his inaugural speech, Kalon Thupten Lungrig stressed on the importance of preserving the unique Tibetan identity and cultural values and, at the same time building a well educated and a harmonious Tibetan society.
Mr Kunkyab maintains that the conference is purely a Tibetan college students’ initiative with no organisational affiliations attached to it.
The first day of the ongoing conference began with an overview of the Action Plan and Resolution passed at the first 1st All India Tibetan College Student’s Conference held last year in the Indian city of Mangalore and hosted by its Regional Tibetan Youth Congress chapter. Students representing the eighteen different Chapters presented their reports which explained the actions taken by each of them in their respective regions.
The college students also presented two honorary awards to two Tibetan figures. The group awarded Ama Jetsun Pema with a trophy for her “tireless contribution to Tibetan children’s education.” Another trophy was awarded to Mr Lobsang Tenzin, a student of Tibet University in Lhasa and currently a political prisoner held at Chushul prison by Chinese authorities.
A brain storming discussion among the student delegates on the “Role of Tibetan Youth in Freedom Struggle” concluded the closing session of the first day conference.
