Tibetan Headlines
Jul 24: Most Admired
HH the Dalai Lama is the eighth most admired man in the world according to an annual poll conducted by the British-based market research company YouGov. Topping the list is Bill Gates who is followed by former United States president Barack Obama. Michelle Obama tops the women’s list, followed by Oprah Winfrey.
Jul 23: Educational Support
Early Childhood Care and Education workshops have taken place in five remote, high-altitude nomadic regions of Ladakh in north India, funded by the Tibet Fund and run by Manjushri Educational Service (MES) as part of MES’s ongoing Strengthening Early Childhood Care and Education project. MES is a non-profit educational Non Government Organisation which works to improve education among exile Tibetans and other underprivileged communities in India.
Jul 23: Czech Support for Tibet
China has retaliated following Prague Mayor Zdenek Hřib’s refusal to comply with China’s demands when he criticised Beijing’s human rights record and their policies in Tibet and Taiwan. China has now cancelled the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra tour of China and the planned hosting of a panda in Prague zoo. Mr Hřib’s stance runs contrary to the Czech national government’s pro-China stance, with China’s large investments in the country.
Jul 22: Innovative Disruptor Award
Tibetan entrepreneur Tenzin Seldon has been awarded the United Nations Innovative Disruptor Award at the UN NOVUS Summit in New York. The award is presented to a community of innovators who have inspired and empowered others into innovative thinking and creative activism. Tenzin Seldon was recognised for her work with empowering refugees and her environmentalism. The ceremony was held at the United Nations Headquarters.
Jul 21: Condolences
HH the Dalai Lama, together with the President of the Central Tibetan Administration and representing the Tibetan nation, has expressed condolences on the death of veteran Indian leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Diksh. His Holiness said she had “lived a meaningful life, devoted to the service of others. It was an honour to meet her over the years. She was a close friend of the Tibetan people.”
Jul 19: Sinicising Tibet
China’s policy of sicicising Tibet comes under scrutiny in the Indian national newspaper the Pioneer, whose journalists were among a group of Indian journalists who visited Tibet recently. Under the heading China promoting marriages among Han and Tibetans in Tibet, the article reports on the marriage between the Han Long Shi Zhong and his Tibetan wife Ba Sang Que Ba, saying they have been awarded a “national role model” award for ethnic unity.
Jul 18: A Winner!
Deckyi, a Masters degree student who graduated from Sikkim Manipal University last year has been awarded the Gold Medal by the Honourable Governor of Sikkim for her academic excellence. She has been studying on a Central Tibetan Administration DoE scholarship over the last six years, funded by German Aids to Tibetans and USAID; her scholarship is ongoing while she continues her studies at Harkamaya College of Education in Sikkim.
Jul 17: Border Protests
Indian newspapers have reported that Chinese people dressed in civilian clothes gathered on the Tibetan side of the India-Tibet border in Ladakh in protest at the birthday celebrations taking place for HH the Dalai Lama’s birthday on the Indian side. Incidents were reported at Koyul Village near Fukche located bank of the Indus River in the eastern part of Ladakh around 270 km (170 miles) south-east of Leh.
Jul 15: Political Posturing
China has once again claimed that HH the Dalai Lama's successor must be born within China. They further added that interference on this matter by India will become a major political issue between the two countries. "The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama is a historical, religious and political issue" said Wang Neng Sheng, an official in Tibet, speaking to a group of Indian journalists.
Jul 13: Nuns Beaten
Tibetans nuns evicted from Yarchen Gar buddhist study centre in Palyul county in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture are being singled out for harsh treatment in the detention centre, reports Radio Free Asia, because they are showing distress during political re-education sessions. Over 3,000 monks and nuns evicted from Yachen Gar are being held in a political re-education centre and beaten for weeping during the sessions.
Jul 11: Prohibitive Tuition Fees
Tibetan students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi have been hit by a major hike in tuition fees, reports the Tibetan Review. JNU has revised its fee structure for foreign students but has dropped the special status previously given to Tibetan students - who are not now exempted from the new, higher fees for foreign students. This effectively means a 20-fold increase in fees over recent years.
Jul 10: Youth Icon Award
Five young Tibetans have reached the final stage of the first ever Youth Icon Award and are standing for a public poll. The Global Tibetan Students Union (GTSU) award is aimed at empowering and motivating young Tibetans and organisers are looking for people with exceptional leadership skills and outstanding achievement in community services. The winner will get a cash prize of 1 lakh rupees (US$ 1,500 / £1,200).
Jul 9: Appeal to India
Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the president of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, has appealed to the Indian government to include Tibet among its core issues. “No country has done more for Tibetans than India”, said Sangay, speaking to The Week, and continued, “I appeal to the Indian government to include Tibet in its core issues, considering the historical, environmental and geopolitical significance of Tibet”.
Jul 8: Basketball!
The first ever Tibetan Women’s Basketball Tournament against Tuberculosis took place to coincide with HH the Dalai Lama’s 84th birthday. It was organised jointly by the Tibetan Government-in-Exile’s Department of Health and the Tibetan National Sports Association and funded by HH the Dalai Lama’s Charitable Trust. Seven teams participated and the winners were Dhondhupling who beat Nepal 30: 25; TCV Suja were presented the fair player team award.
Jul 5: Long Life Offering
The former staff of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) have offered a long life prayer ceremony to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Dharamshala. The temple courtyard was crowded with Tibetans and visitors from across the world. The ceremony was conducted in Tibetan with English translation; the whole ceremony was shown live through His Holiness’s Facebook pages.