By Tenzin Pema
BANGALORE, December 27: The Tibetan Youth Congress — the biggest Tibetan independence activist group in exile seeking complete independence from China — is training about 50 young Tibetans the fine arts of leadership, in a five-day long session being held in the South Indian city of Bangalore.
The participants at Tibetan Youth Congress’ (TYC) 11th annual Tibetan Youth Leadership Training program include students from colleges in Nepal, Chennai, Vijayawada, Vadodara, Dharamsala, Bangalore, Trichy and Chandigarh, as well as monks from Sera, Drepung and Gaden Monastery.
“The aim of such a leadership program is to equip the youth of today with the know-how to actively lead the different groups they belong to, armed with confidence, facts and much-needed zeal,” Mr. Tsewang Rigzin, President of TYC, said at the opening session of the training program on Monday.
Mr. M. Madan Gopal, Principal Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, Department of Higher Education, was the chief guest of the opening session.
Speaking about the qualities that make up a “true leader,” Mr. Gopal said such a leader refrains from using the word “I,” while focusing on planning, co-ordination and strategy, all of which are necessary for a person to lead well.
The key quality of a true leader, however, is the ability to continuously develop and build on one’s leadership qualities, Mr. Gopal said.
The ongoing leadership program is expected to cover topics ranging from China’s emergence as a super power and its subsequent impact on India, to the facts about independence struggles worldwide, to Tibetan democracy and the upcoming elections, and the “Why” and “How” to regain Tibet’s Independence.
“This is a wonderful opportunity that TYC is giving us to grow as individuals and community leaders through a training program that focuses on enhancing one’s skills and knowledge,” Kunga Dolma, a student at Bangalore’s St Joseph’s College, said.
The speakers for this training session include Professor Srikanth Kondapalli of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Former TYC Vice-President Mr. Lobsang Yeshi, and Mr. Karma Yeshi, Member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, among others.
The special guests for the youth leadership program were Mr. Tashi Wangdu, Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of Tibetan Cooperatives in India, Mr. Choephel Thupten, Former TYC executive member, and Mr. Dhondup, Director of the Tibetan Children’s Village’s Tibetan Youth Hostel in Bangalore.
The leadership program, which is being held at the TCV Tibetan Youth Hostel in Bangalore, is scheduled to end on December 31.
