March 4 – Norgayling Tibetan Settlement, Bhandara is situated at a distance of 180 kms from Nagpur, a major city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. In July 1974, RTYC Bhandara was formed with an initial membership of 75 people and since then RTYC Bhandara has remained as one of the most active Chapters of the TYC contributing greatly towards our Freedom struggle and actively participating in the various aspects of community development.
RTYC Bhandara maintains a busy schedule of political as well as social activities throughout the year. Apart from commemorating the major national events at the settlement, the chapter also organizes various activities such as hunger strikes, cultural shows, peace marches, workshops etc. to emphasize and showcase the Tibetan cause to the local mass as well as the world. The RTYC Bhandara under the aegis of the Tibetan Patients Welfare Association takes care of orphans, older residents without any children and the residents who are not well and are not able to afford their medication.
In support of the ongoing “Freedom March” from Dharamsala to New Delhi organized by the Tibetan Youth Congress, which was flagged off on the 11th of February and shall reach New Delhi on the 10th of March, 2004, RTYC Bhandara has taken initiative along with the regional chapter of the Tibetan Women’s Association and has organized a “Peaceful March” from Norgayling Tibetan Settlement to Nagpur city. The Peaceful March is aimed at highlighting the objectives of the Freedom March from Dharamsala to New Delhi:
- To highlight the devious Chinese policies in Tibet which deliberately aim at subverting the Tibetans as a race and systematically destroy their very identity.
- To highlight the deteriorating situation of the fundamental human rights and freedom in Tibet today.
- To highlight the nuclear militarization of the Tibetan plateau by China, which directly threatens the security of India and peace in Asia as well as the world as a whole.
- To highlight the most inhuman plight of the Tibetan political prisoners in Tibet in general with particular reference to three prominent cases namely –
- The 11th Panchen Lama, world’s youngest political prisoner whose whereabouts are still unknown since his arrest in 1995.
- Tulku Tenzin Delek who was sentenced to death on 2nd December 2002 with a suspension of two years, who could be executed as early as 7th April 2004.
- Geshe Sonam Phuntsok who was unfairly trialed and sentenced without proper investigation and continues to languish in Chinese prisons under very poor health.
- To seek the support of the international community in general and the United Nations in particular in the achievement of the above objectives.
The Peace march comprising of a total 100 Tibetans was flagged off on 1st of March from the Norgayling Tibetan Settlement covering a total distance of 180 kms and number of major towns and densely populated areas of Maharashtra state. The peace march will be passing through Arjuni, Sangri, Sakoli, Lakhni, Bhandara, JwaharNagar, Moada, Gumthala and shall reach Nagpur on the 10th of March to commemorate the 45th Tibetan National Uprising Day.
