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On August 8th at the Tsuglagkhang temple complex, Lobsang Sangay was inaugurated as the third democratically elected Kalon Tripa, or political chief executive, of the Tibetan government in exile. He was the first to be elected after the Dalai Lama’s announcement that he would withdraw from political power.
Following a flag raising ceremony and the singing of the Tibetan national anthem, Dr. Sangay took the oath of office at 9:09 am.
A symbol of change and of a more vibrant, younger generation, Dr. Sangay has never set foot in Tibet. He was born in Darjeeling to Tibetan parents. As a senior fellow at Harvard Law School, though he has no previous history in electorial politics, he won last year’s election with 55 per cent of the vote.
The outgoing Kalon Tripa, Samdhong Rinpoche, delivered an introductory speech which celebrated H.H. the Dalai Lama, welcomed Dr. Sangay, and apologized for any failure to fully meet His Holiness’s wishes. “The Dalai Lama’s vision and unfaltering guidance for the last thirty years in building a democratic Tibetan polity which does not depend on him, has finally been achieved. Professor Rinpoche remarked “This is a great moment for all of us,”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama also delivered words, in Tibetan only, to introduce the Tibetan government in exile’s new secular leader. He remarked, that “The world belongs to the 7 billion people of the world and not to kings or religious heads and likewise Tibet also belongs to the Tibetan people and not to a few Kings or Lamas,” also emphasizing the importance of the occasion for Tibetan democracy.
In Dr Sangay’s speech, delivered in both Tibetan and English, he spoke of a great sense of pride and responsibility for the Tibetan people. “Today, the responsibility to help ensure the return of His Holiness lies with our generation of Tibetans who have received a sophisticated and modern education. But do we have dedication, unity and commitment in order to tirelessly fight like our ancestors? If we do, we will prevail. If we don’t, we fail.”
Dr. Sangay reaffirmed that the responsibility for the success or failure of Tibet lay with this younger generation of Tibetans. Echoing the words of His Holiness Dalai Lama, he called upon the citizens of Tibet to take immediate action, saying, “I speak with particular urgency to the younger generations of Tibetans. We need your support, your energy, and your talent to stand tall and march forward to freedom. Let us never forget: during our lifetime that our freedom struggle will be met by justice or defeat. Tibet will either appear or disappear from the map of the world.”
In his speech Dr. Sangay also spoke of the political history of Tibet and its relationship with China, and sought to clarify that the Chinese repression of Tibet was enforced by the Chinese government, not by the Chinese people. He called on the Chinese people to help end the “moral deficiency” of their government. He also pointed out that Tibet’s ecological importance as one of the major water suppliers to other parts of Asia means that the issue of China’s repression of Tibet should not only concern Tibetans.
The atmosphere was one of celebration and excitement inside the temple complex, as the crowd cheered at Dr. Sangay’s words. He closed his speech by reiterating his commitment to bring the His Holiness Dalai Lama back to Tibet. “For my brothers and sisters in Tibet, I say to you with confidence today: we will meet soon […] Together, we will ensure the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, reunite our people, and restore freedom in Tibet.”
The rainy day saw the temple’s courtyard completely packed, mainly with Tibetans, but also with many Indians and foreigners. Some lined the roof of the building along the courtyard, straining to get a view of his holiness and the new Kalon Tripa. Reactions to Dr. Sangay’s speech were overwhelmingly positive, and the faces of the crowd as they left out into the pouring rain were hopeful.
Sources: phayul.com, savetibet.org