By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, MARCH 12: The Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama today graced the first ever official event marking Tibetan Women’s Day, coinciding with the 58th Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day here.
The Tibetan leader who had holds the view that world will be more peaceful with more women leaders was called ‘the first feminist Dalai Lama’ by Australian Senator Lisa Singh who was among the guests for the event held at the Tsuglakhang.
The octogenarian Tibetan who led the initiative, breaking the tradition, in conferring ‘geshema’ degrees upon Tibetan nuns said the seed of compassion in him was sown by his mother Dekyi Tsering, known to Tibetans more popularly as Gyalyum Chenmo.
“It was my mother who first sowed the seed of compassion in me. It was her compassionate nature, which had imprinted in me my compassion. So, on this day I urge all the Tibetan women to be encouraged to use their inherent compassionate nature to enrich the community,” the Dalai Lama said while also acknowledging the administration’s initiative.
Senator Lisa Singh along with French Senator Annick Billon attended the occasion as guests of honor, who both extended their support towards the Tibetan struggle and also honored those Tibetan women who have sacrificed their lives for Tibetan cause.
“The deaths (Tibetan women martyrs) serves not to discourage but to lend new energy and determination to the Tibetan freedom movement, which continues to grow today,” said Singh.
The Tibetan exile government known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration, which last year decided to commemorate March 12 as Tibetan Women’s Day, said that the day also observes the ‘courage and sacrifice’ of all the ‘brave Tibetan women’ who have been on the forefront of the Tibetan struggle inside Tibet for nearly 60 years.
Stating the efforts of CTA to empower Tibetan women and the improving status of women in educational, political and religion fronts, Tibetan Prime Minister Dr. Lobsang Sangay expressed his hopes that women will be at the helm of all the three pillars of Tibetan democracy. “I hope in the very near future, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) will be led by woman Sikyong (PM), woman Speaker and woman Chief Justice,” the PM Sangay said while saluting the brave Tibetan women.
Meanwhile, the Tibetan Women’s Association commemorated the 58th Tibetan Women’s Uprising day today with a rally in Dharamshala. The organization in its official statement urged the Chinese leaders to heed to the ‘repeated appeals’ of Tibetans and world leaders to resume the stalled Sino-Tibetan dialogue.
