By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent in Kathmandu
Kathmandu, June 24: A condolence ceremony to late Professor Dawa Norbu La was organized by Ex-CST Darjeeling Students Association, Kathmandu at Tibetan Community Center of Boudha and Jorpati, Kathmandu along with opening ceremony of the first English poetry book titled ‘BARDS SKETCHES’ by Wangdi Gyalpo and Sonam Bhote that was launched on top of Mount Everest on 15th May 2006 by Sonam Bhote himself. The gathering was attended by some prominent Tibetan figures of Kathmandu, over 100 local Tibetans, over 80 students of Namgyal High School and Tibetan media people.
The ceremony started with welcome speech by Mr. Tsewang Topgyal, President of the Association followed by offering of traditional khata (scarf) and lighting of butter lamp to His Holiness by the chief guest Mr. Lhoudup Dorji, Manager of the Tibetan Refugee Transit Center and mourning for 1 minute in memory of the late Professor.
The last words of his book, ‘Red Star Over Tibet’ says, “Tibetan cultural achievement shows that Tibetans are capable people, and their history testifies to long periods of self-government and self-rule. I hope Beijing will consider these points in its dialogue with the Dalai Lama”.
The poets were felicitated with khata by the chief guest, a brief video footage of the book launch on top of Mount Everest was shown to the audience and then the chief guest released the book; he said, “it’s a great achievement of them, having come out of a Tibetan school, as His Holiness always says, we should stress on specialized education, at present some sectors have many qualified candidates but some sectors don’t have any candidates. I would proudly like to say that those who say Tibetan schools have low quality education are wrong, if you study well then Tibetan schools are good enough and could compete with anyone, for example, we have people like the late Prof Dawa Norbu, Tenzin Tsundu and now we have the two poets here”.
The two poets also addressed the gathering and particularly the students. Wangdi Gyalpo said that it was due to the kindness of His Holiness and the exile Tibetan government that helped him in reaching his current position. He said he was today a poet, writer and an English teacher with a mixed English accent of Tibetan and Nepali. Probably one could make out that distinct Darjeeling Tibetan characteristics in him.
Mr. Tseten Norbu La, a member of the Tiebtan parliament in exile Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies and Dawa Dhargye La, a social worker also addressed the gathering.
