Report submitted by T4VS
Edited by Tenzin Gaphel of Phayul.com
Last month Tibetans for Vegetarian Society [T4Vs] suuccessfully carried out the first ever musical tour in promoting love and compassion for animals. It was an effort made to make people understand that animals also feel the same way as we do and not to look at them as mere food items. The theme of the musical tour was Jham-Ningjey Gyalo![love and compassion for all]. Through this musical show we carried the message of love and compassion for the benefit of all sentient beings and our precious environment by asking people to turn vegetarian or at least,reduce the consumption of meat. Parents were requested to teach their children to love animals and understand their feelings.with hardwork, dedication and sincerity, the members of T4Vs braved the cold winter as most of the shows happened outdoors.
Delhi:
Last winter we had given the best show in Delhi with Tsering Gyurme’s Shambala band combined with the Tibetan Stand-up comedian king Pa-Tsering and other talented artists. This year the musical show commenced on the 19th of february and was followed on the next day.The show drew large appreciating crowd because of the line up of some talented artists coupled by its good cause. The Tibetan Day school ground at Majnukatila was packed for both the shows.Last winter we had given the best show in Delhi with Tsering Gyurme’s Shambala band combined with the Tibetan Stand-up comedian king Pa-Tsering and other talented artists.
Dehradun:
In Dehradun the turn out of residents at Dekyiling was simply amazing. the show drew around 1500 people which had never happened there.The crowd kept asking for more and more right till the end. We were extremely touched by the level of co-operation and support we received from the youth and women’s association. H.E.Sakya Dagmo Kusho la , one of our partron, graced the occasion as the chief guest of the show.
In Clementown,like any other place,we had a very good response from the people and their representatives. The Nyingmapa Monastery was very helpful and forth coming too. H.E. Khando Rinpoche, elder daughter of the head of Nyingmapa tradition was present to bless the occasionas chief guest.We had an audience of about 1000 people there.
Bir:
In Bir we performed our show at Suja school. The principal and the staffs were extremely helpful. We had the largest gathering here of about 2000 audience. This place turned out to be the most emotional one for all of us. The children sang along with the artist and roared with laughter whenever a joke was cracked by our host Tsewang Lhakyi. In their happiness we found our happiness. These children have their parents far away in Tibet. Tashi Dhondup a model and singer from Nepal showed he had a model heart to match too. With teary eyes and full of emotion he dedicated a heart rendering song called ‘Amala’ as tribute to the parents of the children who are far away. My eyes were filled with tears too. Later I learnt from a teacher of this school that many children were crying too on hearing this song. Pempa Tsering la also got swayed by the emotion and advised children to study well and strive for better. The night was a emotional one for the Principal, artist, audience as well for our Chairman and me too. Just as we were winding up our show a little girl came up with a 10 rupee note and thanked us for the show which she so much enjoyed. She wished us lots of luck and said she has her full support for us. Children donated us with whatever little money they had which is of course a big sacrifice on their behalf. Such encouraging gestures made our every sweat and risk worth.
TCV Chauntra:
The show got a bit extention here as we all including the artist went to visit the school and met Veg-Club president who donated Rs. 500/- for us. We met many students there who thought we had come to sing for them. These children somehow could not see the last night show and so really wanted the artist to sing for them. We requested the artist who instantly came forward. The children were jubilant in seeing their idol Pempsi sing for them along with other artists. In the end we distributed sweets to them and advised them to study well and become like their idol artist. We also met the Principal who warmly reconceived us by taking a special break from the school meeting to see us. TCV Chauntra is a vegetarian school of about 800 students and interestingly,the students themselves were the ones who campaigned and worked for it.
Artists with conscience:
All the artist who joined us are artist with a conscience. While few others we approached refused,they gladly joined us.They include: Phuntsok ladkahi the famous singer/ film personality of the himalayan region, Pempa Tsering of ‘bhumo gyakpa’ fame from Mussoorie, Dhondup Tashi – model and singer from Nepal of ‘Dhanden’, a very bright and young talented artist Pempsi of ‘REWA’ album from Dharamsala, Kunga Tenzin who had earned much name in Bhutan and sang songs from yet to be realeased new album ‘Zema’, Miss Chozom Rinzin music teacher of Tibetan Day School of Delhi. We also had our host singing and some very talented local artist showed their support and sang for us. We had also hired special dance troupes ‘earthquake’ and ‘rhythm of art’ to maintain and upgrade the quality of our shows.
Special Audience:
During the show in Dehradun we received a special audience with H H Sakya Trizin and H E Khando Rinpoche who lauded us for our efforts and blessed us all for our work.
Debut of T4VS’s first song ‘Jham-Ningjey Gyalo!
The first Tibetan song of its kind devoted for love and compassion for all made a debut during these shows. The Lyrics were written by our Chairman Rev. Lushab Jiggyal Rinpoche and the song was composed and sung by Phuntsok Ladakhi.
After experiencing so much of love and success we hope to do it again in different parts of the country as we realized what a well meaning result can be yeilded.Right after we concluded our tour and we were leaving Bir it started to drizzle for the first time since the beginning of the shows and one of the artist instantly remarked saying this is a tearful farewell to us all for a noble mission done well. Where ever we went the young , the old , lay, monks, nuns, everyone supported us, officially and individually. Their support is not for us but for following the foot steps and wishes of the Buddha and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Whatever merit we gain from it we wish to devote it to the benefit of all sentient beings spread out globally.
Tibetans For Vegetarian Society (T4VS) is a non-profit, non-political public charitable registered trust.
