Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, March 13: The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) and its regional chapters commemorated the 66th Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day in Dharamshala on Wednesday with a peace march highlighting China’s continued repression in Tibet. The demonstration began at Main Temple Road Parking and proceeded to Kacheri junction, with participants carrying Tibetan national flags and placards demanding human rights and justice for Tibet.
The rally saw a notably lower turnout compared to the Tibetan National Uprising Day on March 10, with less than a quarter of that crowd in attendance. The protest was largely composed of schoolgirls, whose participation was mandated, along with nuns and around 20 male supporters.
Thupten, a Tibetan man in his 30s, told Phayul, “After hearing yesterday’s announcement urging participation, and since I had a day off work, I felt it was important to show my support. This day carries immense significance, and it’s crucial for all Tibetans, including men and the younger generation, to take part. The turnout was smaller than expected, possibly due to household responsibilities or other commitments. I hope that next year, more people will step forward to participate, whether it’s Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day or any other important commemoration.”
Tenzin Norzin, a student from Upper Tibetan Children’s Village, acknowledged that many of her female peers were required to participate but stressed the broader responsibility of Tibetans in such events. “I came today because schoolgirls were mandated to join, but I also believe it is our duty as Tibetans to take part. With the current situation inside Tibet, we cannot expect others to raise our voices for us. It is up to us to speak out, and I encourage everyone to join in these rallies.”
Many say that the exile Tibetan government known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) should officially commemorate this day with the same significance as March 10th, the Tibetan National Uprising Day, and acknowledge the contribution of Tibetan women in our freedom struggle.
March 12 holds significant historical importance in the Tibetan history of freedom struggle, previously observed as Tibetan Women’s Day under the administration of former CTA President Lobsang Sangay who rebranded the date as Tibetan Women’s Day. However, this decision faced considerable backlash. In 2018, Dolma Yangchen, then President of the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA), firmly opposed the change, stating, “March 12 Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day represents an important day in Tibet’s political history and the Tibetan struggle. So TWA Center and Regional chapters will not be accepting CTA’s Tibetan Women’s Day.” She further revealed that they had repeatedly appealed and sent letters urging the Cabinet (Kashag) to reverse the decision but had been ignored.
On February 5, 2022, the 16th Cabinet under President Penpa Tsering issued an internal notice to all CTA departments, officially reinstating March 12 as Tibetan Women’s National Uprising Day.
The origins of this historic day trace back to March 12, 1959, when Pamo (female martyr) Kusang led a peaceful women’s protest outside the Potala Palace in Lhasa against the Chinese Communist brutal invasion and illegal occupation of Tibet. Around 15,000 Tibetan women from various regions and backgrounds came together, forming the first organized Tibetan Women’s Uprising.
A decade later, Pamo Kusang was executed by Chinese authorities for her role in the resistance. Many other women lost their lives in the brutal crackdown, while countless were imprisoned and subjected to severe torture without trial.
