While the first phase of the nation-wide grassroot level campaign, “Bharat Jagaran Yatra” launched under the auspices of Tibetan Youth Congress and Bharat-Tibbat Sahyog Manch, completed in Northern India, a three day-long second phase yatra in the Southern India was flagged off at Mysore city on the 10th March- coinciding with the 44th Tibetan National Uprising day.
The Yatra with a primary focus on promoting awareness among the Indians of Tibetan issue and its relation with the national interest of India, covered numerous towns and cities including Mysore, Srirangapatnam, Mandya, Madur, Channapatna, Rammanagar, Bangalore, Hubli, Dharwad, Hyderabad and Vijayawada.
Over 60 participants from all walks of life, of all age and sex, including college students of RYTC Bangalore and Mysore, Bylakuppe, Hunsur and Kollegal actively took part in the campaign and strove to make the Yatra a grand success.
During the Yatra, numerous campaign measures were grasped viz:, public rallies and addresses, distribution of leaflets, pasting posters, peace procession, candle light vigil and prayer sessions and press conferences; to highlight the Tibetan cause and muster support from the Indians. The participants of the campaign were accorded impressive reception and support at various places by ABVP, Bharat-Tibbat Sahyog Manch, RSS and other organisations. At several places like Mandya, local Indians joined the Yatra in huge numbers in show of solidarity and overwhelmed the activists with joy and satisfaction.
Prior to the flagging off ceremony a press conference was addressed by Mr. Lobsang Yeshi, Organisational Secretary of Tibetan Youth Congress briefing the press on the objectives of the Yatra and the programme schedules. He further explained the rationale behind the campaign sole focus on the Indians and the Indian Government. He said the key to the realisation of the Tibetan Independence lies in the change in the Indian Government policy and that it is time for India to thwart the Chinese Government’s uninterrupted anti-India campaign and the policy of contentment. India can only gain by supporting Tibet. Shri Harave Keshav Murthy, President, VHP, Mysore City also expressed his unstinted solidarity with the Tibetan struggle and quoted this for the Tibetan friends, “ Until a baby cries, he will not get the milk”. A press address was also held at Bangalore on 12th March- the concluding day , urging Indian Government to review and reconsider its policy on Tibet and give accreditation and recognition to the Tibetan Government in Exile.
One of the participants (Tamding Gyalpo from Kollegal ) touched by the overwhelming response from the local supporters said “Several such Yatras a year could make a great difference to our movement. Why not go to the roots then?”
