True to the dictum, “Crisis sort the friend or foe”, When Tibet reeled under the worst period of its history following the Chinese occupation, India provided support and sanctuary to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers. India, thus, virtually gave a new lease of live to Tibet and the Tibetans, sharing its plight and suffering as a brother would.
India has always been grateful to Tibet for giving them the Bodh-dharma and its culture. The debt has since doubled after this second refuge. Thus far, Tibetans have, in the last 45 years in exile, never let away any opportunity, in reciprocating their overwhelming sense of gratitude to India with similar gestures and deeds with equal zest and fervor.
Whenever India is hit with a crisis, Tibetans have always taken upon themselves to heed to the call and lend their support. In the ” Operation Bangladesh” in 1970, over 3000 Tibetan soldiers volunteered and fought gallantly for India, putting their lives at stake. The war left over 56 Tibetan soldiers dead and 190 injured and crippled for life. Many Tibetan children were orphaned and many a young women widowed.
The sacrifice and the exemplary service rendered by the Tibetan Armies in the Siachen Glaciers of Himalayas, proudly dots the Annual Reports of the Indian Army and the service still continues unabated. So far, over several scores of Tibetan soldiers have laid their lives in defending the territory.
When India faced invasion from the Pakistani soldiers in Kargil in 1999, the efforts of over hundred volunteers from the Tibetan Army (SFF) ensured the route to victory in the Kargil War, with nearly a score of Tibetans laying their lives in the ensuing battle. Thus many Tibetans have risen as Shaheeds for India.
The relief efforts and the humanitarian campaigns undertaken by the Tibetan refugees during the Gujarat Earthquake Disaster in India in year 2000, received appreciation and applause from all corners of India and elsewhere. Spearheaded by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Exile Govt, Tibetans all over India and abroad, made donations and other contributions worth over several lakhs of Indian Rupees to the victims and their families in the disaster hit state. In addition to this, a team of nearly a hundred Tibetan volunteers of Tibetan Youth Congress and Tibetan Women’s Association, led by the then Tibetan Welfare Officer of Dharamsala, Mr Dawa Tsering, travelled to the affected areas of Gujarat and stayed there for over a month to carry out the relief and reconstruction works for the bereaved families.
The team carried out tasks of removing dead bodies, clearing debris, putting up tents, providing basic amenities, distribution of clothes and reconstruction of houses in Halva, Bachau, Kabreu, Desalpat and Bhuj in Gujarat. A village in Desalpat was adopted and over 35 houses were constructed and several hundred villagers rehabilitated. The village was named, ” Tibet Village”. Today the ” Tibet Village” is back to the normal hub, standing tall as a testimony to the Tibetan brothers’ presence in their hour of sorrow and need.
Most recently when the terrible Tsunami wrecked havoc and destruction in 12 Asian countries, leaving over a 200,000 people dead and over 5 millions affected and homeless, His Holiness the Dalai Lama made donation of 5 lakh rupees for the families affected in India. Similarly, the Tibetan Govt. (kashag), organized a Mass prayers for the victims of the disaster and launched a special campaign to collect donations from Tibetans residing in India and abroad, to support the affected Indian Brothers. Tibetans have, as always, responded whole-heartedly and favorably and donated over a million rupees for the cause.
Winter is the busiest season for most of the Tibetan refugees in India, for their primary source of earning i.e. the seasonal sweater selling business, is at the peak. By the busy and dusty streets and lanes of Indian Cities, they toil hard; bargaining, arguing and explaining the merchandise to their clients in order to earn the meager profit. The difficulties are even more for those in Mumbai city, whose little business is faced with imminent threat with the Supreme Court’s order of removing all hawkers in its bid for a Shanghaied Mumbai. For the time being, the little business is done with the running they do, each time the MCD’s Tow-Aways arrive. Yet inspite of all these problems, strangely and wonderfully, whenever groups of donation seekers, mostly the young college going Tibetan activists and other NGO’S approach them, without fretting and fuming, they fund the Tibetan Cause with open arms and high spirit.
Similar gesture and sacrifice is once again been demonstrated by the Tibetan Sweeter Sellers of Ranchi city of Jharkhand State, when they learnt of the dreadful Tsunami disaster in India recently. Last week, Over 150 Tibetans of Potala Tibetan Refugee Sweater Market Association, Ranchi led by the Association leaders Mr Samon Damdul (President), Mr Tsering Dorjee(General Secretary) and Mr Tenzin Lhundup (Cashier) collected contributions of new garments comprising of shawls, Jackets and other clothes worth over 1.5 lakh rupees and a cash contribution of nearly 15,000 rupees from the association members for the victims. The Tibetan representatives met the Governor of the Jharkhand State and presented the donations to be handed over to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund in Delhi. The humanitarian gesture received major appreciation from the Jharkhand Govt and was recounted as an example for others to follow in the region. The humanitarian campaign by the Tibetan Refugees also recei ved major media coverage in the national newspapers like Hindustan Times, Indian Express, Danik Jagran and the National Television network like Doordarshan, Aaj Tak, Sahara News Channel etc.
Similarly, in order to express the sympathy, concern and the moral support of the Tibetan people, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Dharamsala, organized a prayer meeting on 2nd January at Tsuklagkhang and received voluntary donations from the participants for the victims of Tsunami.
As a contribution towards the relief works going on, Tibetan Youth Congress will be organizing a Mega Charity Show at TIPA Hall, Dharamsala, on the 14th and 15th of January, to raise funds for the Indian victims. The funds thus collected will be handed over to the Prime Minister’s Tsunami Relief Fund. The show has been possible because of Voluntary presentations from various performers comprising of popular entertainer, “Michael” alias Tenzin Gyalpo of “Semchang” and “Snowlion Band,” JJI Brothers, Dhasa, Gonpo la of “OM” fame, TIPA, Jamyang of ” Born Refugee”, exclusive dance troupe from RTYC Chandigarh, a dance group from Sarah College, Little Twisters(girls) of Dhasa and Swing Sisters of Longshoe etc.
For more information about the Mega Charity show in aid of Tsumani victims, Please visit our Website: www.tibetanyouthcongress.org
