Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, May 27: Tibetan activist Jamyang Tenzin departed from Dharamshala on Tuesday for the final leg of his sixth solo cycling campaign, which will conclude in New Delhi. This month-long awareness campaign began on April 25, marking the 36th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who has remained missing since his abduction by Chinese authorities in 1995.
Jamyang arrived in Dharamshala on Sunday, where he was warmly seen off by members of the Central and Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, along with local Tibetans, including well-known activist Tenzin Tsundue and singer Loten Namling.
In a statement to exile media, the 65-year-old activist shared his future plans. “After concluding this sixth rally in Delhi, I aim to begin my next journey across South India, which may last six to seven months, if my health permits. This will be dedicated to the upcoming 90th birthday celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” he said.
Reflecting on his interactions during the journey, Jamyang highlighted the widespread lack of awareness about Tibet. “Only about 30% of the people I meet know about Tibet. The rest often confuse Tibetans with Nepalese or Chinese. I take the time to explain our identity, our history, and our struggle. While many people recognize His Holiness the Dalai Lama, they often know little about the Tibetan people and our life in exile. I tell them we are his followers and I also speak about the Indo-Tibet relationship and the ongoing repression inside Tibet,” he added.
Jamyang’s solo-cycle rallies have become a hallmark of his grassroots activism. His previous campaigns have taken him across India, raising awareness about the Tibetan issue. His first rally spanned 3,000 km from Dharamshala to Bodhgaya, followed by a second journey from Bylakuppe in Karnataka to Dekyiling in Dehradun, also covering 3,000 km. His third rally from Dekyiling to Delhi stretched 250 km, while the fourth took him from Khardung La in Ladakh to Dharamshala, covering 800 km. The fifth rally began in Tawang at Urgenling, the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, and ended in Delhi, covering 2,500 km.
