By Tenzin Tsering
Dharamsala, January 7: The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorji today inaugurated the 5th All India Tibetan College Students’ Meet that began Thursday at Sarah College for Higher Tibetan Studies (CHST ). More than 90 Tibetan student representatives from 25 different colleges and educational institutes in India are taking part in this 4 day conference.
The young head of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism also inaugurated the student body’s website. (www.tcsc.net). Also present at the event were Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche and Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile Dolma Gyari and Ven. Jamphel Drakpa,Principal of CHST were other dignitaries present at the function.
“Education should not be restricted towards bringing material development solely. It must bring about inner development and equip an individual with better judgement of things in life. It is also very essential that in this present modern time, one must preserve its identity and remain connected to one’s roots,” said the young Buddhist leader who falls in the same age range as the participants. The Karmapa is 26.
Deputy Speaker Dolma Gyari, in her address to the gathering, urged the Tibetan college students to interact and mingle more with students of other nationalities and avoid staying within their own small comfortable zones. “It is important that Tibetan students develop a culture of discussions within the Tibetan students and with other nationalities.”
Prof Samdhong Rinpoche was honoured by the Tibetan students with the “Tashi Rabten” (pen name :Theurang, noted Tibetan writer jailed for his writings critical of Chinese government) award in recognition of his service towards the Tibetan people and Tibetan movement. Rinpoche, who is the first directly elected Prime Minister, will end his second term as the Prime Minister of the Tibetan government in exile in May this year.
The Conference is a purely a college students’ initiative held consecutively over the years since the first one was held at Indian City of Mangalore in 2006, hosted by Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Mangalore.
“The primary goal of holding such a meeting every year is to bring together Tibetan college students scattered across India, disconnected from one another. These meetings are characterized with ‘Self-realisation and self-responsibility’ as a guiding principle to the student participants in understanding their role in the Tibetan freedom movement,” said Lungtok, the Chief Coordinator of the Conference.
