By Phurbu Thinley,
Phayul Correspondent
Dharamsala, October 23 – The opening function of the 46th Founding Anniversary celebration of Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) was marked by the arrival of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the school campus around 9:00 in the morning here today.
Addressing on the occasion, the exiled Tibetan leader today said that the issue of Tibet is a struggle of Tibetan people for survival and it is not the issue of resolving the individual status of Dalai Lama.
It was clear that the message was directed to the Chinese leaders’ long construed wrong notion that the issue of Tibet will die with the passing away of Dalai Lama.
“If need be” the Dalai Lama said, “the struggle of Tibetan people for freedom will continue so long a mutually acceptable and meaningful solution is not properly worked out in time by China”.
Headquartered here in the Northern Indian town of Dharamsala, the base for the Dalai Lama led Tibetan Government in Exile; TCV is the largest residential school of the exiled Tibetan community and also one of the largest of its kind in India.
Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the recently re-elected Tibetan Prime Minister in Exile and his team of cabinet ministers; Mr. Karma Choephel, the Chairman of the Tibetan Parliament in exile; Namgyal Tsering, the Chief Justice Commissioner of the exiled Tibetan Justice Commission; representatives from the Indian Government offices, Tibet supporters, and donors and well wishers of TCV organization were the other dignitaries of today’s celebratory event.
Founded in 1960, TCV has become a thriving, integrated educational community for destitute Tibetan children in exile, as well as for hundreds of those escaping from Tibet in each passing year. With established branches in India extending from Ladakh in the North to Bylakuppe in the South, TCV has over 15,000 children under its care.
Tsewang Yeshi, the recently appointed new President of TCV, in his inaugural speech, outlined the enormous responsibility the organization bears in shaping the destiny of thousands of Tibetan children and for the goodwill of the thousands of its donors and friends around the world who have helped sustain the organization over the years.
Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, on the other hand, expressed deep appreciation for the great contribution TCV has made in imparting quality education to thousands Tibetan children. Rinpoche, however, said that in today’s competing world, there is always a bigger scope for more extensive efforts to further improve the quality of the organisation’s work and fulfill our aims and objectives to the fullest while constantly bearing in mind the lessons and shortcomings we have experienced over the testing years.
While the cultural performances and callisthenic display formation were the charm of the opening day of the Three-day event, the actual inter-house games and sports will be held tomorrow followed by concluding event on the following day.
To know more about Tibetan Children’s Village, visit: www.tcv.org.in
