By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, October 23: The Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) School today marked its 52nd anniversary that was presided over as the Chief Guest by His Eminence Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee. Gyalwang Karmapa said that it was important to impart traditional Tibetan education as well as modern education to the children.
“Taking this opportunity, I would like to request the students not to waste their precious youth and concentrate their time on education.”
The ‘Flame of Truth’ torch relay, an initiative of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, also marked its arrival here with the young head of Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism blessing the torch.
Themed ‘Save Tibet’, the usually glittering and festive event was marked with a display of solidarity with the ongoing tense situation inside Tibet. Hundreds of students performed a mass theatrical act depicting the peaceful pre – 1959 Tibet, the eventual invasion by Chinese Communist forces, draining of Tibet’s resources by China and the fiery episodes of self immolation by Tibetans since 2008.
Ngawang Phelgye, the Chief Justice Commissioner of the exiled Tibetan Justice Commission; Penpa Tsering, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile; Kalon for religious affairs Pema Chinnjor and other cabinet ministers; representatives from the Indian Government offices, Tibet supporters, and donors and well wishers of TCV organization were the other dignitaries of today’s event.
Headquartered here in the Northern Indian town of Dharamshala, 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.
Founded in 1960 as a nursery with just 51 children, TCV has become a thriving, integrated educational community for destitute Tibetan children in exile, as well as for hundreds of those escaping from Tibet 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.
The 5th Inter TCV Athletics Meet will be held here tomorrow. Student athletes from TCV Ladakh, TCV Bylakuppe, TCV Lower Dharamsala, TCV Suja, TCV Gopalpur, TCV Selakui, TCV Chauntra and TCV Upper Dharamshala will take part in the competitions.
