MOTRCYCLE RALLY FROM KOLKATA TO CHANDRAGIRI
Friends of Tibet ( India) Kolkata chapter is organizing a Kolkata to Chandragiri MOTORCYCLE RALLY on 21st April 2006. Three members of FOT Kolkata Chapter will take part in this event. While Mr. Tathagata Chakravarti, events coordinator of Kolkata chapter will drive the bike, his wife Mrs. Swati Chakravarti, also an FOT member will be on the pillion distributing leaflets during their four(4) day long journey. Mr. Shibayan Raha, another member of the organization will coordinate the husband-wife’s bike rally. The husband wife team will meet people on their way and talk to them about Panchen Lama.
The Eleventh Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima was born in the year of 1989, 25th April, in Lhari District, in Kham, eastern Tibet. At the age of six he was recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 14th May 1995 as the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. Immediately after three days of his recognition, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima along with his Family, Chadrel Rinpoche and his Secretary were kidnapped by the officials of the Government of People’s Republic of China. Since 1995, they are all missing and there is no such indication that they are still alive.
The aim of this campaign is to highlight the condition in which His Holiness the 11th PANCHEN LAMA , Gendhun Choekyi Nyima is living under China’s control. The bike rally is to reach Tibetan refugee camp in Chandragiri in Orissa on 25th April, coinciding with the birthday celebration of the 11th Panchen Lama at the Tibetan refugee camp. On arriving at the Tibetan refugee camp, with the help and support of Local Tibetans living in the refugee camp, the three bike-rally team from Kolkata will take part in the Panchen Lama birthday celebration, which includes screening of the film ” The Kingdom of Lost Boy” a film based on life story of 11th Panchen Lama.
There will also be a unique event conducted by the members of FOT Kolkata chapter, the event is “HANDS FOR THE PANCHEN LAMA ” all the Tibetans staying in the settlement will make a paper cut-out of their hand prints and on that they will write their names and a message addressing it to the Chinese Ambassador in New Delhi asking him to immediately release His Holiness the 11 th Panchen Lama. As per the latest counting there are nearly 3100 Tibetans in Chandragiri Tibetan camp. The unique message hand shape papers will be collected and brought to Kolkata and then will be dispatched to the Embassy of PRC in New Delhi.
“Phuntshokling Tibetan Refugee Camp” in Chandragiri is Gajapati District of East Indian state of Orissa, and it’s one of the biggest Tibetan refugee camps in India. The camp is nearly 800 Kms by road from Kolkata. The rally will be flagged off on 21st April 2006 morning, from Kolkta after a small function at the Mahatma Gandhi Statue situated on Mayo Road in Kolkata, and will reach at Chandragiri in the afternoon of 24th April 2006. They will travel from Kolkata via Howrah , Kharagpore, Balasore, Bhubneshwar and Behrampore.
For any further information please contact :
1) Mr. Tathagata Chakravarti and Mrs.Swati Chakravarti
Friends of Tibet ( India), Kolkata chapter:
Phone: (0) 9831017148
2) Mr. Shibayan Raha Phone: (0) 9831521747
Email: fiendsoftibet.Calcutta@gmail.com
