(TibetanReview.net, Jan20, 2018) – President Lobsang Sangay of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has on Jan 18 launched in New Delhi a yearlong ‘Thank You India’ campaign to mark the 60th year of Tibetans’ fleeing of their homeland arrival in India after Chinese occupation. He has announced the launch of the campaign at a press conference at the Press Club of India, New Delhi.
It was on Mar 31, 1959 that Tibet’s temporal and spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, crossed the border into India through the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. Some 80,000 followed him as China carried out a bloody suppression of a Tibetan uprising, massacring tens of thousands of them.
Calling the past 60 years a story of success despite the ongoing tragedy in Tibet, President Sangay has said, “The success of the Tibetan people, also referred to as the most successful refugee community in the world, is due to the support of the international community particularly India and its people.”
“China has destroyed almost 95% of Tibetan monasteries and nunneries. However, under the visionary guidance of His Holiness and the support of Indian government, Tibetan Buddhism is thriving now,” he was further quoted as saying.
He has called the year-long campaign “a gesture of our gratitude to India for the support and encouragement that have enabled exile Tibetan community under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to survive as a productive and cohesive community outside Tibet.”
He has urged continued support from India, especially help in resolving the Tibet issue, and suggested that New Delhi make Tibet a core issue during Sino-Indian bilateral dialogues.
Those who attended or also addressed the press conference were reported to include Secretaries Mr Sonam Norbu Dagpo and Ms Tenzin Dhardon Sharling of the CTA’s Department of Information and International Relations, as well as Kalon (minister) Karma Gelek Yuthok of the CTA’s department of Religion and Education.
Secretary Dhardon Sharling has outlined some of the programmes of the yearlong campaign, including a ‘Pray for India’ interfaith meeting, an initiative “to feed the hungry, cover the cold, mass tree plantation drive, mass participation in India’s Yoga day, cleanliness drive,” and so on.
All the campaign activities will also be featured on social media under #thankyouIndia2018.
The press conference has also seen the launch of the Thank You India souvenir – a dharamachakra, wheel of universal truth- and calender 2018.
