Delhi, December 13 – On the banks of Yamuna river, Majnu Ka Tilla that has grown over the years into a Tibetan transit point in the Indian capital, saw on Sunday a unique event for a noble cause.
Popular singers of the exile Tibetan community came out to perform for an event that is aimed at creating awareness about two Tibetans jailed by China for voicing their dissent against the Chinese government policies. Tenzin Gyalpo, better known among Tibetan music fans as Michael, had long dreamt of bringing together artistes to perform for “voiceless” Tibetans in Tibet. Gyalpo organized a concert in the Samyeling Tibetan colony, in Majnu ka Tilla on Sunday.
Noted Tibetan traditional singer Jhola Techung also joined other Tibetan singers in the concert. “I hope singers and artistes like us can coordinate with the human rights organizations to put pressure on the Chinese government to release Tashi Dhondup and Dhondup Wangchen. It is our moral duty to do so as we live in free world,” said the California based Tibetan singer.
Gyalpo’s new song “Majnu-Ka-Tilla” became an outright hit as spectators later were looking for the CD of Gyalpo’s new album.
Dorjee Tseten of Students for a free Tibet, India, introduced Tashi Dhondup and his songs due to which he is currently languishing in Chinese prison. Music videos of Tashi were screened for the audience.
Lhamo Tso, the wife of jailed Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen was also present on the stage as part of campaign to seek her husband’s release. The petite Amdo woman, mother of two children living out of selling bread in Dharamsala said: “I speak not just for my husband, but for all the political prisoners who are jailed in Tibet. They have done nothing other than peacefully asking for basic human rights and freedom to live”.
Tibetan independence activist Tenzin Tsundue said, “artistes, singers and writers like Tashi Dhondup, Dhondup Wangchen, Shokdung, Shokhjang, Theurang inspire thousands of people in resistance; their arts give people leadership. China cannot handle these public intellectuals, so they jail them like Liu Xiaobo”. Tsundue asked everyone to participate in the TYC organized protests during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to the Indian capital on 15, 16 and 17 December.
The artistes including Michael and Techung had already performed for the Jaipur sweaters sellers on the 21st anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A similar concert will also take place on Monday in Dharamsala.
