By Tenzin Tsering
“My father settled for nothing less than independence”, says Jigme Norbu, son of late Taktser Rinpoche and nephew of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Norbu’s late father Taktser Rinpoche initiated several campaigns for Tibetan independence in the past including several ‘walks for Tibet’ in America. Now Norbu is determined to continue his father’s legacy and will begin his cross country “Walk for Tibet” in October from Indianapolis, America to Toronto, Canada covering 500 miles of distance advocating “world peace, human rights and Tibet’s independence”.
Norbu’s father breathed his last on 5 September 2008.
On 10 March 2009, the 50th anniversary of Tibetan uprising against the Communist Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959, Norbu began his “walk for Tibet” from Indianapolis to New York where he ended his 900 miles of walk in front of the Chinese consulate.
Norbu has since undertaken 600 miles of “walk for Tibet” in May this year followed by another walk from Philadelphia to Washington DC in July.
“My late father stood for and represented independence for Tibet. He is my inspiration and motivation to continue to stand up for the six million Tibetans inside Tibet who have suffered for over 6 decades under communist China,” said Norbu who has also completed more than 16 bike rides for the Tibetan cause.
Norbu has walked more than 6500 miles spreading awareness about Tibet and its independence.
His next march set to begin in early October will take him from Indiana through Ohio and Michigan of United States of America to Toronto, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in north America.
Norbu will walk for 28 to 30 miles per day and the walk will be documented by a local film maker Ole Berton.
Regardless of whether Tibetans agree in Middle-Way path of autonomy or complete independence, what is important is taking action, he said. He said that every Tibetan is entitled to holding his or her own beliefs.
“We want to send a strong message to our brothers and sisters inside Tibet today that we are working hard for rangzen and telling the whole world the truth about Tibet. We also want to send a strong message to China that we are not going anywhere and will continue advocating world peace,human rights and Tibet’s Independence” said Norbu.
“My father fought almost all his life for Tibet’s independence and this is what he would want me to do also,” added Norbu.
