By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, December 4: The Speaker of Tibetan Parliament, Penpa Tsering, today said that music is one of the most powerful ways of dissent and a tool to promote culture and brotherhood.
“We talk about various kinds of campaigns and some even think that getting on streets and shouting slogans is the only kind of campaign one could take up for Tibet. However, I believe that songs with effective political content is one of the most important campaign tools,” said Tsering at the launch of a music album by a Tibetan singer, Tamding Tsetan.
Tamding Tsetan, also known as Tamding Arts for his tattoo works, said the album is second in his “Open Road” series, the first one launched during 2011 Bodhgaya Kalachakra 2011.
Also present at the music album launch were Golog Jigme, former political prisoner; Lobsang Choedak, Vice-President at Pen Tibetan Center and artistes from the Tibetan music world.
Speaker Tsering appreciated Tamding’s contribution to Tibet cause through his music and tattoo works which he does for free if it contains political message.
‘Open Road’ contains 12 songs including two instrumental and an English song titled ‘Dream for Tibet’., an excerpt from which reads, “Hey world! Look at my country, my people are dying every day, every day… we Tibetans are standing for peace and justice, we need freedom, we need freedom, we fight for it and we burn for it day by day, we sacrifice ourselves for Tibetan freedom…,” reads the lyrics of Dream for Tibet.
Encouraging Tibetans in exile to make more films and songs, Tamding said that Tibetans inside Tibet risk their lives for making songs and films and it is the responsibility of Tibetans living in free world to reinforce their efforts.
