PAONTA, HP: Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay today visited the Tibetan settlements of Paonta and Puruwala, and scattered communities in Khera and Baluwala in Uttarakhand.
At Paonta, Sikyong inaugurated a stone pillar erected by the residents to honour Tibetan self-immolaters, followed by a meeting with representatives from the settlements.
Sikyong then visited Sambhota School in Paonta and interacted with the students and staff. He spoke about the Central Tibetan Administration’s efforts to safeguard Tibetan identity through preservation of culture, language and religion.
Sikyong also explained the Kashag’s efforts to transform Gangchen Kyishong, the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration, into a ‘little Tibet’ by constructing offices and buildings based on traditional Tibetan architecture. He said such a move would give a sense of Tibet to those visiting Gangchen Kyishong, thereby raising awareness and support for Tibet globally.
Sikyong further called on Tibetans to eschew the dependency syndrome prevalent among the public, and encouraged them to make efforts towards being completely self-reliant.
Sikyong then attended the silver jubilee celebration of Dawa Rinjue School near Herbertpur. The school, founded by Sonam Wangdue and Dawa Dolma, was established in 1991 with an aim to provide quality education to underprivileged children.
From the school, Sikyong briefly visited Gongar Choede monastery, Khera camp and Baluwala Tibetan settlement.
Sikyong concluded the day with a visit to Sakya settlement in Puruwala where he addressed the public on the importance of education, self-reliance and upcoming projects and schemes of the Central Tibetan Administration.
He also expounded on the five-fifty strategy of the Kashag to resolve the Tibet issue. “The more we make efforts to strengthen the sustainability of the Tibetan movement in the next 50 years, the better it will be for us to gain Genuine Autonomy for Tibet through Middle Way Approach in the next five years,” he explained.
Following the address to the public, Sikyong inaugurated the settlement’s new Football ground, which was built with financial help from the Central Tibetan Administration.
Tomorrow, Sikyong will address the CST school in Herbertpur before departing for New Delhi.
Sikyong with community members of Paonta Cholsum settlement, 2 April 2017.
Sikyong inaugurating the new football ground of Puruwala Tibetan settlement, 2 April 2017.
Sikyong meeting with settlement officers and representatives of settlements near Dehradun, 2 April 2017.
Sikyong addressing students at Sambhota Tibetan school, Paonta.
Sikyong at Dawa Rinjue school, Herbertpur.
Sikyong presenting a memento to the founding family of Dawa Rinjue school, 2 April 2017.