By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, December 10: The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Raja Virbhadra Singh today graced the official function marking the 25th anniversary of the conferment of Nobel Peace Prize upon the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The CM, in honor of the Tibetan leader, also launched the Himalayan International Festival, which had been shelved for many years since its inception in 1995 by Singh.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister presided over the occasion held at the courtyard of the Tsuglakhang, the main temple in McLeod Ganj.
Addressing at the occasion, Chief Minister Singh described his family’s long relationship with Tibet. “My family has a relation with Tibet for a long time and it is sad to see the current situation inside Tibet. We will wait for a day when His Holiness the Dalai Lama and all the Tibetan people return to a free Tibet,” said CM Singh.
He further said that the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize on the His Holiness the Dalai Lama shows that he is not only a religious leader but a “great human being”.
CM Singh also said that Tibetans living in Himachal Pradesh are not treated as foreigners but as same subjects of his state and that his government will provide all help for the welfare of Tibetans. The CM was accompanied to the occasion by some of his senior officials and members of Legislative assembly.
Tibetan Prime Minister Dr Lobsang Sangay said that the Dalai Lama has continued to confirm and strengthen the ideals of the Nobel Peace Prize in the last 25 years. “His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who regards himself a simple Buddhist monk, continues to prove himself to be a shining beacon of peace, non-violence and compassion to millions of people across the world.”
Calling the Dalai Lama “the life and soul of Tibet and the Tibetan people”, Tibetan PM Sangay appealed to all elder Tibetans to engage with young Tibetans in retelling the story of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s life, so that the legacy, vision and mission of the Great 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet will be etched in the hearts and minds of Tibetans for generations to come.
He further reiterated the Tibetan government in exile’s commitment to the Middle Way Approach as the policy to resolve the crisis inside Tibet and said that a meeting of Task Force on negotiation will held shortly.
Today is also celebrated as the International Human Rights Day, commemorating the United Nations’ 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this Human Rights day, Kashag reiterated that the only way to end repression and the deteriorating situation of Tibet is for China to change its current hard line policy and respect the needs of the Tibetan people.
“Unfortunately, even 66 years after the proclamation, Tibetans have very little to celebrate. Instead, China consistently negates the provisions of the declaration and human rights standards in Tibet continue to deteriorate. Tibet is still under occupation and the Tibetan people suffer political repression, economic marginalization, social discrimination, environmental destruction and cultural assimilation,” said Tibetan PM Sangay.
A set of books published by Department of Information and International Relations was also released.
Tibetan Speaker Penpa Tsering said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has preserved the legacy of the great exponent of ahimsa Lord Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi.
He further congratulated this year’s Nobel Peace Prize recipients Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi.
The two day Himalayan International festival kicked off later in the day at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts where cultural troupes from various Himalayan regions. The festival was attended as the chief guest by Sudhir Sharma, minister for Urban Development and tourism.
Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama yesterday left here for Rome, Italy, to attend the 14th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates scheduled from December 12-14.
