By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, October 7: The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) on Wednesday held a Photo exhibition titled ‘Journey into Tibet with Lowell Thomas & Lowell Thomas Jr.’ at the Annexe Building at Gangchen Kyishong.
Education Minister Ngodup Tsering inaugurated the photo exhibition, which as attended, among others, by Speaker of the Tibetan parliament Penpa Tsering and daughter of Lowell Thomas Jr, Anne Thomas Donaghy.
The photographs were taken by the father-son duo, who visited Tibet in 1949. “So today’s exhibition is the result of a year’s hard work to bring these pictures which had never been exhibited anywhere before. Our main objective was to displays these rare pictures of Tibet for the viewing of Tibetans and the friends of Tibet,” said Ngawang Yeshi, General Secretary of the LTWA.
Accounting the significance of the exhibit, he said, “The pictures show that Tibet was a free country prior to 1959 with our own frontier pass for the foreigners entering Tibet.”
The 103 pictures on display will be there till October 21.
Coincidentally today (Wednesday) was the 92nd birthday of Thomas Jr and ecstatic Anne informed the media that her father was so happy to hear about the exhibition. “He is here with his heart,” said Anne.
His Holiness invited the father son duo who were radio broadcasters to Tibet in 1949.
“Upon their return to the US, They (father and grandfather) brought back a letter from His Holiness to the President of the US stating that ‘Tibet is a holy country, an independent country and a people of religion’.”
She plans to exhibit the photos allover the globe but she said showcasing the pictures to the Tibetans is her top priority. When asked to pick a favorite, she picked the photograph of His Holiness smiling while seated on his throne.
“I am having a mixed feeling looking at the pictures. I am happy to see the old photos of Tibet. Simultaneously, I am sad that we don’t have a country and the drastic change our country has gone through,” said Rinzin Dolkar, a visitor to the exhibit.
Sonam Dawa, who was born in Tibet, says the pictures displayed there for exhibition debunks all Chinese claims over Tibet and shows Tibet was a free country.
