The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) announces the results of the Panchen Lama Poetry and Painting Competition on the auspicious occasion of the International Children’s Day, 20th November 2005.
One of the main issues disturbing the Tibetans both inside Tibet and in exile is the abduction of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama and his continued detention by the Chinese officials. Considering the seriousness and urgency of the situation, TWA declared the year 2005 as “The International Year of Panchen Lama”. To this effect, the TWA organized many awareness campaign activities on the case of Panchen Lama in India and abroad. A number of printed material campaigns were extensively distributed among international community to garner their support towards the campaign for the release of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama. These materials were targeted to the Chinese government, UNO bodies leading upto the TWA’s representation at the CRC meeting in September 2005 along with ICT Europe, Tashi Lhunpo monks and TYAE.
One of the many TWA’s Panchen Lama campaigns is the Poetry and Painting competition amongst the students below 16 years of age from Tibetan schools in India and Nepal. This campaign served not only to unveil the creative compatibility of the students but also it helps to notch the credible awareness on the significance of the issue of Panchen Lama among the school children.
Invitations for participation were sent to schools that have grade 8 and above. The TWA received poems and drawings of 67 students from 9 Schools. The participating schools were the Tibetan Homes Foundation School- Mussoorie, TCV School-Gopalpur, SOS TCV Bylakuppee, Upper TCV School Dharamsala, Namgyal Higher Secondary School-Kathmandu, TCV Ladakh, Central School for Tibetans- Kollegal, Central School for Tibetans-Poanta Sahib, and Central School for Tibetans-Sonada, Darjeeling. The enthusiastic zeal of the students reflected in their work. The results were very competitive and exuded the credible creative components of the school children.
The three categories of the competition are as follows, Painting, Poetry in Tibetan and Poetry in English.
- Panchen Lama Poetry competition in Tibetan language.
Position Winner School
1st – Dorjee Naljor – Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussoorie
2nd – Dhondup – Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussoorie
3rd – Karma Tsering – TCV School, Bylakuppe
3rd – Thupten – CST, Sonada, Darjeeling
3rd – Karma Sechoe Dawa – CST, Poanta Sahib - Panchen Lama Poetry competition in English language.
Position Winner School
1st – Ngawang Sangmo – Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussoorie
1st – Tenzin Zomkyi – TCV School, Upper Dharamsala
2nd – Ngawang Choezom – CST, Poanta Sahib
3rd – Pema Chodon – Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussoorie - Panchen Lama Painting competition.
Position Winner School
1st – Tashi Tsering – Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussoorie
2nd – Tsering Thinley – CST Poanta Sahib
3rd – Tashi Dolma – Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussoorie
Special Prize – Jigmey Kunsang – Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussoorie
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the participating schools for their support and the students for participation. Each of the participants will receive a participation certificate from TWA. Visit www.tibetanwomen.org for the soft-copy of the materials.
The above winners’ work are sent to the International Tibet Support Network’s (ITSN) of “Stolen Words, Forbidden Images” contest. Winners of this contest may be viewed at www.freepanchenlama.org on the International Children’s Day.
