འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།
Fr
ee
Contact
A Free Monthly Publication For Tibetan Issues and Community Information RGD No. HPENG/2013/51798 Volume: XVIII Issue: 12 31 DECEMBER 2016
Self-Immolation in Tibet
Nuns Make History
by Ana Carolina Gutierrez and Mary Trewartha Tashi Rabten, a 33 year old Tibetan man and former monk, died during a self-immolation protest on December 9 in Machu County in northeastern Tibet. Images and videos of the self-immolation were circulated widely on social media. Rabten is the 145th person to self-immolate in protest against the Chinese government policies and Continued on page 3
by Charlotte Wigram-Evans On a momentous day for Buddhism, 20 Tibetan nuns have received their Geshema qualification – the first to do so in history. The degree is the highest academic feat in Tibetan Buddhism and involves at least a decade of rigorous philosophical study. For centuries, it has been possible
Is China Scared?
Kalachakra 2017
by Mary Trewartha China is loudly complaining, once again, about another country welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama and offering him the accolades due to his position and the reverence in which he is held across the world. On this occasion, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met the Continued on page 3
W www.contactmagazine.net
Continued on page 5
by Sean Fitzpatrick His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be performing his 34th Kalachakra initiation next month, at the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment at Bodhgaya, India. Requested by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA; The Tibetan Government-in-Exile), the much-anticipated Kalachakra Continued on page 6
Contact News
Contact News
ABOUT LHA & CONTACT Contact, a free monthly magazine published by Lha Charitable Trust, is a recognised and registered publication under the Registrar Office of the Newspaper, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. The registration number is HPENG/2013/51798. Acknowledged by Lonely Planet and other international travel resources, Contact has been a popular source of news and information on Tibetan issues, and the Dharamshala community, for over 18 years. 700 - 1,000 copies are printed per issue and distributed in the Dharamshala area, Delhi, and various diplomatic missions of India. Copies are also sent to various Tibetan schools, settlements, offices and NGOs in India and abroad. Please Note: The articles, stories and other material in Contact represent the views of the authors and are not necessarily the views of the Contact editing staff or Lha Social Work. All comments on this issue should be submitted by email to: editor@contactmagazine.net
Lha Charitable Trust
Institute for Social Work & Education Mission Statement:
Lha is a resource of education and knowledge that provides meaningful, multi-levelled social and educational services for the benefit of others.
Background:
Lha is a Tibetan grassroots nonprofit organisation based in Dharamshala, India. It is one of the largest social work organisations providing vital resources for Tibetan refugees, the local Indian population and people from the Himalayan regions. Lha offers free English, French and Chinese classes, cultural exchange programmes, IT classes, vocational training, health and environmental awareness education, distribution of clothes and medicine, a community kitchen, and many other programmes and activities. Through rehabilitation resources and social and educational services, Lha facilitates an easy transition for the Tibetan refugee community to India. On a daily basis, Lha serves over 250 people, hosts between 15 and 25 volunteers and provides up to 20 different services, including on average 50 nutritious meals per day for financially disadvantaged people. For more information about Lha, please visit: www.lhasocialwork.org Facebook: Lhasocialwork Twitter: Lhasocialwork
Lha Traveller Services and Volunteer Opportunities
Long or short-term, skilled or unskilled volunteers needed at Lha
• English conversation (Mon-Fri, 4-5pm) • English, French and Chinese teachers • Computer teachers • Web designers and IT professionals • Contributing writers • Environmental professionals • Medical and healthcare professionals • Fundraisers and grant writers • Project professionals • Chefs and cooks • And much more! Share your knowledge and skills with the local Tibetan, Indian, and Himalayan communities whilst gaining hands-on experience working with a social work organisation. TIBETAN HOME-STAY Lha arranges home-stays with refugee families giving visitors the chance to experience the Tibetan life style and a chance to connect and learn about each others’ cultures. Homestays include accommodation, breakfast, and dinner.
*All donations and fees from Lha classes and services directly benefit Lha community social work projects. Contact
RECEPTION & ORIENTATION Our services help smooth your arrival in Delhi and your onward travel to Dharamshala. We also orientate you to the Tibetan community here. Avoid the scams at Delhi Airport! Highly recommended for people who want a stress-free arrival, especially if you are arriving late at night or early in the morning, and can be purchased online in advance of your travel to India. TIBETAN COOKING CLASS Individuals and small groups can learn to prepare a variety of traditional and modern vegetarian Tibetan foods including momos, thukpa and Tibetan bread, with a qualified teacher. For information on cost, times and/or registration, please visit: Lha office, Temple Road, McLeod Ganj-176219 Dharamshala, Distt. Kangra H.P. (Mon-Sat: 9am-1pm & 2-5pm) office@lhasocialwork.org (0) 1892-220992 Websites associated with Lha: www.lhasocialwork.org www.samdhongrinpoche.com www.tibetfairtrade.com www.tibetnature.net 2
Acknowledgement
This issue of Contact is sponsored by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD). TFD’s kind contribution has made this publication possible. We thank TFD for supporting the publication of Contact.
Can you Donate to Lha? Lha collects all kinds of donations in the form of clothing, shoes, books, and language resources, computer and medical supplies, as well as any other useful items. Monetary donations are extremely helpful and are greatly appreciated, large or small. Please contact the office: office@lhasocialwork.org (0) 98823-23455 / 1892-220992 DECEMBER 2016
Continued from page 1
actions in Tibet. He left a detailed letter explaining his action, extracts of which are reproduced below. Onlookers reported that while burning he called out for “freedom for Tibet and for the return of the Dalai Lama” and that he also called out for the release of the Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, who is detained in China. Tashi Rabten, who was known to his friends and family as Tarab, was a father of three. His wife and two daughters were taken into custody where they were beaten and tortured. A local source has told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that the authorities demanded that the three sign a document declaring that Rabten had set himself ablaze because of problems at home and not in protest against Chinese policies, and beat them when they refused to sign. The source continued, “They were later released after putting their thumb prints on a document they did not understand…Many who met Tashi Rabten’s wife and daughters after their release saw marks of physical abuse on their bodies.” There are also reports that the authorities raided the family home and removed photos, as well as raiding local teashops and restaurants and taking nine people into custody on suspicion of involvement. Three were detained on suspicion of “having
Continued from page 1
President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on December 10, when both were taking part in the Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit at President Mukherjee’s official residence, the Rashtrapati Bhavan in south India. The Summit took place on World Human Rights Day, the anniversary of the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. China said that India must respect China’s “core interests” to which India replied that His Holiness is a Contact
Self-Immolation in Tibet taken photos and videos of Rabten’s protest” along with Tsedzin Lhamo, a Tibetan woman who had witnessed the self-immolation and prayed aloud for the Dalai Lama’s blessings. Rabten’s body was taken to Tsoe [Hezuo] city and is assumed to have been cremated against the wishes of his family who wanted a traditional burial at Labrang monastery. It is reported that a “bag of ashes” has been handed to his family. Police are said to be taking the
Tashi Rabten’s letter giving the reasons for his self-immolation protest Photo: TPI
names of people who are attending a prayer ceremony for Rabten in Machu, but not preventing local people from attending. RFA reports that Chinese police forces have increased patrols in the area and Rabten’s family is under surveillance. His cousin Tsering Kyi, a 20-year old student, self-immolated and died at the same spot in 2012. A candlelit vigil for Rabten was held in McLeod Ganj on December 9, congregating for prayers at the
Is China Scared?
“revered guest of India” and that the event “was non-political”. “His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a respected and revered spiritual leader. It was a non-political event organised by Nobel laureates dedicated to the welfare of children”, said Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup. Such consistent and vociferous complaints by China are leading to speculation that China has much to fear from the Dalai Lama. NS Venkataraman, writing in the Sri Lanka Guardian on December 3
NEWS & ISSUES Tibetan National Martyrs Memorial at the entrance to the temple. The Tibet Post International (TPI) received a letter written in Chinese by Tashi Rabten before his protest. Extracts from the letter, translated and published by TPI, are reproduced below: I am a Tibetan, so I am not a Chinese. As a Tibetan with the Chinese passport, I am willing to cry for the human rights and democracy for 1.3 billion of people. However, as an authentic Tibetan, I should cry for our territory and freedom even more! Today, I will leave this world. But I believe that I am moving closer to our Tibetan belief. We are destined to use this approach to pursue and obtain our already-lost and fading-away homeland. We are destined to use self-immolation to call back our Tibetan belief and territory that has been isolated. We are willing to follow our His Holiness [the Dalai Lama]. We only choose peaceful ways to solve our problem with the Chinese government. In all, my words are hereby sent to you. Don’t think I am joking. I am earnest. I want people to understand that we Tibetans actually are not afraid of death. Yet, for the peaceful resolution, I can only use self-immolation to warn people. We Tibetans need to be protected and taken care of. We need to be on our own land, living like real people. Long live the Tibetans. Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama! 08/12/2016, at Machu, by the Firing Bird 19 said, “It is strange that China which is a large country with huge population, a strong economy and mighty military power is giving an impression that it is scared of the Dalai Lama, who is a frail elderly person with no military at his command and only possessing attributes of goodwill for everyone… It is obvious that moral power of Tibet is gaining strength over the military and economic power of China. It remains to be seen as to how long China can hold on to its ill-gotten Tibet”. DECEMBER 2016
NEWS & ISSUES Arrests and Releases Inside Tibet this Month
Dec 21: Released from Jail Sonam Yarphel, a monk in his mid twenties from Mangge Monastery in Kardze, has been released after serving more than two years in Sershul county jail for staging a solitary protest carrying a picture of HH the Dalai Lama. He was taken into custody in November 2014. There are reports that he is in good health, with no evidence of torture. Dec 16: Detained and Beaten Tenpa, 18, a former monk from Kirti Monastery, was detained after launching a solo protest in Ngaba in Sichuan, carrying a photo of HH the Dalai Lama and calling for freedom for Tibet. His protest was in the street known as Heroes’ Road because of the many protests carried out there. Radio Free Asia reported that he was beaten following his detention. There is no news of his condition or whereabouts. Dec 12: Four Arrested Four Tibetan men have been arrested for taking photos of the recent selfimmolation by Tashi Rabten, according to Trisong Dorjee, a Tibetan from the area. However, the identities of the men are unknown as of now. Radio Free Asia reported that Tashi’s wife and two daughters were also arrested for approaching the deceased’s body. Dec 8: Ten Sentenced Ten people have been sentenced in Barkham, Ngaba, in Tibet to prison Contact
terms varying between 5 and 14 years for taking part in the 80th birthday celebrations of HH the Dalai Lama last year. The sentences
are: Drukdra, 50, 14 years; Lobsang Khedrup, 44, 13 years; Losang Gepel, 29, 11 years; Lodro, 41, 9 years – all from Kirti monastery; Bonko Kyi, 48 from Lhade Gabma, 7 years; Tsultrim from Trostik, 6 years; Akyakya, 35, a former Kirti monk, 5 years. Two others, Tarey and Tsendra, received 8 year sentences, and Tsultrim, 6 years. Dec 6: Released! Drolma Tso, a Tibetan woman jailed in Sichuan, has been released after serving a three-year prison term. She is reported as being in poor health following torture during her first 11 months in detention, and has returned to her home in Meruma township in Ngaba. Tso, along with other Ngaba residents, was arrested in December 2013 for trying to help a severely burned self-immolation protester, Konchog Tseten. There were reports a year ago that she was having surgery forced upon her while in prison and her family tried to intervene when she wrote to tell them she did not need or want surgery. Tso has a 14-yearold daughter, Tsultrim Drolma. Dec 4: Another Prisoner Freed Kunme, a Tibetan man who has been held in Sichuan’s Mianyang prison for three years, has been released. He was one of 20 people who were 4
detained in December 2013 for trying to prevent the security forces from removing Konchog Tseten, a severely burned selfimmolation protestor, away from the site of his protest. Kunme was tortured during his first year in prison and convicted of homicide. Kunme, who is a member of the Gotse family and whose father’s name is Konchok Lodroe, has returned home and is reunited with his family. He was freed along with Drolma Tso who was convicted of the same offence. Nov 9: Six Year Sentence Lobsang Sonam, 23, a monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, was sentenced to six years in prison for sharing information and images about events in Tibet. He is being held at Mianyang Prison near Chengdu. He was detained in September last year and has since been held incommunicado. His family do not know his whereabouts. He is a native of Rongkharsar Township. November: Village Leader Released News has just emerged from Tibet that Akhu Gyatak, a Tibetan village leader in his mid 60s, was released from prison last month after completing his four-year sentence. Gyatka is from Dowa Township in Rebkong County in Malho Prefecture. He was arrested in November 2012 during the widespread peaceful protests against the Chinese authorities in Rebkong following a spate of self-immolations, and for offering help to the famililes of the self-immolators. DECEMBER 2016
NEWS & ISSUES Nuns Make History
Continued from page 1
only for monks, a surprising tenet in a religion otherwise widely deemed to be progressive. His Holiness the Dalai Lama had long sought to abandon this rule, but it required the consent of the entire community of Tibetan religious leaders. In 2012, marking a new chapter in the empowerment of Tibetan women, the decision to give them equal educational rights to men was finally made. These nuns are the first to conclude their studies and His Holiness presided over the historic event at Drepung Monastery in south India. It coincided with the 600th anniversary of the religious institution. During the ceremony, His Holiness spoke about how important education is for gender equality across the globe and emphasised the need for modern education to focus more on ethics, stating: “Through the power of education, women have been able to rise up to prominent roles including leadership in various societies. Education has played a big role in the advancement of gender equality and material development. However, when you think about secular ethics like compassion, modern education is still not sufficient.” He had previously declared that the move to allow women to reach the same educational heights as men was
his contribution to the advancement of Buddhist Dharma. This historic event was just one element of the spiritual leader’s 13 day round trip, beginning and ending in the Indian capital. Arriving on December 14, his time in Delhi was brief but busy. He gave several talks, the first of which was an interview with Kailash Satyarthi, founder of the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation and co-winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. His Holiness declared her work wonderful, saying: “Every child
The geshemas receiving their degrees from His Holiness the Dalai Lama Photo:Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
should be free to be a child…If the 21st century is to be different those who are children today must make the effort to create a more peaceful, compassionate world.” He was the guest of honour at the fifth annual convocation of Ambedkar University, and spoke at the 50th anniversary of Tibet House. The event also marked 100 years since the founding of the medical and
astrological institute,Men-tsee-khang and the celebration included prayers, dances and readings. It was then onwards to Bengaluru, where His Holiness inaugurated a new academic building at the Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Studies before flying on to a wet and windy Mysuru. There, the spiritual leader attended The University of Mysore’s 97th convocation where he stated: “I am happy and honoured to participate in this ceremony at one of the country’s oldest universities. I have a special link and a fondness for Karnataka which goes back to Nijalingappa’s friendship and generosity to Tibetans.” Next stop was Mundgod and on December 18, His Holiness stood before 3000 monks, 260 nuns – including the 20 new Geshemas – hundreds of local Tibetan children and many foreigners for the first international Emory Tibet Symposium. The debate addressed how science and Buddhism could complement each other and comes as a result of the Dalai Lama’s desire for dialogue between the two disciplines. Over the years, a close relationship has developed between Emory University and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, culminating in this important event. Before flying home, from December 25 – 27, the Tibetan spiritual leader will give teachings on Shantideva’s A guide to Bodhisattva’s Way of Life for a Russian group in Delhi.
A Special Message to Tibetans Inside Tibet
His Holiness the Dalai Lama sent a special message to Tibetans living in Tibet, assuring them in a speech of his “good health”. He told them not to be anxious, saying, “I may be 81 years old but I am physically very healthy and maybe in few years time, we will soon be reunited in Tibet”. Most of the visitors from Tibet will have to leave India before the Kalachakra initiation, having been Contact
called back to Tibet by the Chinese authorities who have threatened their families there if they do not return. His Holiness assured them of his of prayers and blessings. He urged people to study and understand thoroughly Tibetan Buddhism, which, he said “would be more beneficial” than just prayers and rituals. His Holiness also had a message for 5
young Tibetans, saying it is not only important to study but to accumulate wealth for social causes. “It is important to earn riches…[which] should be used in social works such as helping poor people with their education, building schools and hospitals”, he said. His Holiness was speaking on the sidelines of the Emory Tibet Symposium at Drepung Loseling in Mungod Tibetan settlement. DECEMBER 2016
NEWS & ISSUES Continued from page 1
ceremony will form the centrepiece of this year’s Tibetan spiritual calendar. The initiation is likely to be attended by more than 100,000 people, including thousands of Tibetans who will travel from around the Indian subcontinent to take part in the ceremony. Previous Kalachakra initiations at Bodhgaya and Ladakh have attracted 200,000 and 150,000 attendees respectively. The teachings, initially requested by the CTA to be performed earlier this year, were delayed after requests from Tibetan community leaders to reduce His Holiness’s schedule following advice from His Holiness’s doctors, and to provide adequate time for the complex ceremonial preparations. His Holiness’s preparations for next month’s ceremony are now well underway. What is the Kalachakra? The Kalachakra, or “wheel of time”, ceremony is considered to contain the essence of Tibetan Buddhist teachings, conferring upon the initiate the wisdom and merit necessary to become a fully enlightened Buddha. Many devotees receive the teachings as a simple blessing and exposition of the Dharma, while others will dedicate themselves to the continued daily practice of the Kalachakra Tantra. The ceremony itself is a varied mixture of teaching, dance and meditative visualisation. The next eight days will see the construction of a highly intricate sand mandala, containing representations of 722 deities set in a palace of five floors, leading to a central lotus flower representing enlightenment. The mandala is constructed in secret and will not be seen by the initiates for a further two days. The students are invited back on the ninth day to undertake a vow of selflessness and compassion. At this stage, initiates remove a ceremonial red blindfold from across their Contact
Kalachakra 2017
foreheads. This represents their readiness to receive the teachings of the Kalachakra. The students then undertake a symbolic rebirth, receiving the Seven Childhood-like Initiations from their spiritual teacher; seven actions representing the stages of childhood in ancient culture (receiving a name, having the first bath, getting the first haircut, first experiencing the five senses, getting pierced ears, saying the first word, and learning to read). Having been “reborn”, the supplicants are now ready to view the mandala. The teacher then guides the students through a series of visualisations, taking them on an internal journey through the palace, towards the lotus,
Kalchakra Mandala Photo: dalailama.com
and the deities of Shri Kalachakra and his consort Vishvamata, at its centre, representing enlightenment and the union of wisdom and compassion respectively. On the twelfth and final day dissolution of the mandala takes place, and the sands are taken to a nearby lake, where it is believed to release the energy of the Kalachakra into the world. Open secret Despite the usual expectation of discretion around Tantric practices, the Kalachakra is notable for its tradition of being bestowed upon large audiences of lay practitioners. Tibetan spiritual leaders, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, have long hoped that by sharing this 6
esoteric practice, they might help to cultivate peace and compassion in a world beset by greed and war. His Holiness performed his first public Kalachakra initiations in Lhasa, at the palace of Norbulingka in 1954 and 1956. Since then he has delivered the rite across four continents, and eight countries, to audiences of up to 200,000 people. One commentator at the 2012 Kalachakra ceremony at Bodhgaya, writer and photographer Parul Panthri, observed this diversity among Kalachakra initiates, writing, “Buddhism is one religion that has managed to break the barriers of culture and region...Where else can you find a monk from Spiti...a film maker from Peru...and a journalist from Paris on the same platform, seeking the same answers?” Chinese issues Not everybody shares this enthusiasm for the upcoming initiation. Residents of the Tibetan populated provinces of Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan were ordered to return their passports to government officials last month, with many speculating that the move was intended to prevent Tibetans from travelling to attend the upcoming Kalachakra ceremony. Meanwhile, hundreds of Tibetans travelling outside of the occupied region have been ordered home by the Chinese government, some under threat of harm to their families and loved ones. His Holiness responded to the directive by delivering a special audience to more than one thousand of the homeward-bound travellers in Dharamshala at the end of November. Despite the Chinese government intervention at least one pilgrim is determined to attend the Kalachakra as planned. “I came from Tibet to see His Holiness and receive the Kalachakara teachings,” he said. “No matter what the consequences may be on my return, even if I am detained, I am ready to face them.” DECEMBER 2016
NEWS & ISSUES
International Recognition for Shokjang by Charlotte Wigram-Evans The case of the prominent Tibetan writer Druklo has attracted the attention of the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Despite denying all allegations, Druklo – known by his pen name Shokjang – was imprisoned for “separatism” in February this year. He
out of 259 journalists imprisoned worldwide, 38 are in China. Last year this figure was even higher and China topped the list with 49. Author Gartse Jigme is also among
and a half years for leaking state secrets and reports suggest that his health is deteriorating. His articles were critical of the Chinese government’s policies in Tibet and included pieces on environmental degradation, freedom of speech, the 2008 uprising and the spate of selfimmolations that were used against him during his closed door trial. Writer Kunchok Tsephel was arrested at the end of 2015 for the same reason as Jamyang. A few years previously he had established
Gartse Jigme Photo:tchrd
Shokjang Photo:SFT
was given a three year sentence, and Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) in the UK have been working tirelessly ever since to raise awareness of his plight. The case has been brought to the attention of the Chinese Ambassador to the UK at a human rights dialogue, as well as during Parliamentary Questions and in the FCO’s annual Human Rights Report. Giving the lawsuit a considerable boost, on December 2 the SFT received a letter from the British government office assuring the organisation that their concerns were shared. “Separatism” is an umbrella term covering anything deemed to threaten Chinese authority and Shokjang, it is thought, was arrested for this reason. He was outspoken, his blog and social media posts telling of the increased presence of armed security forces in Tibet, in addition to political repression and environmental degradation. Shokjang, who was born in Sangchu County, is one of four Tibetans included in the 2016 list of jailed journalists in China. The report, published on December 15, was compiled by international press freedom group Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and revealed that Contact
the four incarcerated Tibetans. The monk previously lived in the Rebgong Gartse monastery in the Malho prefecture of Qinghai province but was sentenced to five years in May 2013 on charges almost identical to those of Shokjang. Sources say that his conviction was in connection with the second volume of his book, Tsenpoi Nyingtob (The Warrior’s Courage) where he Kunchok Tsephel Photo:freetibet.org
Lobsang Jamyang Photo:freetibet.org
expressed his views on issues which included Chinese policies in Tibet, self-immolation, minority rights, and the Dalai Lama. His whereabouts and condition are unknown. Writer and blogger Lobsang Jamyang– also known as Lomig– was arrested in April 2015 by Chinese police in Ngaba County in Sichuan province. He was sentenced to seven 7
a website to serve as an open news and literary platform for Tibetans living in western China. The Chinese authorities heavily censor the internet, especially in potentially volatile areas and Tsephel’s boldness earned him a 15-year sentence. Reports of torture and maltreatment in Chinese prisons are rife, and the release of these writers – as well as all Tibetan prisoners being held in Chinese prisons on dubious charges largely depends not only on nongovernment organisations such as Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), but on international communities. Gaining the recognition of government groups such as the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office is vital if enough pressure is to be applied to China to secure their release. DECEMBER 2016
NEWS & ISSUES
Latest News From Larung Gar
by Tenzin Samten and Mary Trewartha Appeal to the UN The leaders of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), also known as the Tibetan government-in-exile, Sikyong (or Prime Minister) Lobsang Sangay and the Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel have appealed to the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights for an immediate intervention to save Larung Gar, the largest Buddhist academy in the world. In a press conference on December 5, Sikyong and the Speaker called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid bin Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, to take immediate action
language, culture and religion…and must be treasured and protected. China’s disregard for fundamental freedoms is currently demonstrated in the destruction of a large swathe of Larung Gar” said Khenpo Sonam Tenphel.
teachers from Larung Gar, Khenpo Tsultrim Lodroe, Khenpo Rigdar, and Khenpo Tsultrim, visited the camp to examine the facilities and to ask the nuns about conditions there. KhenpoTsultrim Lodroe gave a short teaching.
Petition The CTA urged Tibetans and supporters to sign the petition Stand with Larung Gar Now which calls on the UN to intervene and stop the demolition of Larung Gar. This petition was initiated by the group Safeguarding Buddhism, via change. org, and now has around 150,000 supporters.
Video footage Video footage circulating on social media shows monks and nuns watching their fellow monastics being sent home. Another video showing Tibetan nuns, believed to be evictees of Larung Gar, performing dances to Chinese pop songs on stage has caused deep distress across the Tibetan community around the world.
EU Resolution Larung Gar was specifically mentioned in a European Parliament urgent resolution on the breaches of human rights, democracy, and rule of law in China [see separate article on page 9]. The temple at Larung Gar
to halt the demolition of Larung Gar academy and assess the human rights situation inside Tibet. They also urged him to raise the issue during the forthcoming 34th UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva in March next year. A film We Stand Solidarity With Larung Gar was released at the press conference. The seven-minute film shows a large area of the monastery being demolished and the forced eviction of monks and nuns. “What we see happening…is reminiscent of the bitter experiences of the Cultural Revolution. [Then] the three great monasteries of Tibet - Sera, Drepung and Gaden - were destroyed and downsized… The current destruction of Larung Gar indicates that the other major monasteries in Tibet could face the same tragic fate”, said Dr Sangay. “Larung Gar…is of great impor-tance in terms of Tibetan Contact
New Students Students hoping to study at Larung Gar are reported to be facing tight restrictions and passing a “political examination” is now a condition of entry. An official from the religious affairs bureau in Kardze said, “Now nobody can go there and study Buddhism without the approval of the local party committee and local government.”
Camp for Evictees News has come through that more than 800 nuns evicted from Larung Gar Buddhist academy have been housed by the authorities in camps built at a remote location near Chinese Policy Ahkyab village in Kardze Prefecture. Larung Gar, the largest Buddhist The camp, with its concrete houses academy in the world, is located in and tin roofs, is for the nuns who Serta county in Tibet and was home were originally from the Kardze to over 10,000 residents. The Chinese region. “The government nuns began i s moving into demolishing this new dwellings facility on and forcibly December evicting 1 and have monks and been put into nuns with 700 metalthe aim of r o o f e d halving the Camp for nuns expelled from Larung Gar houses, number of Photo : RFA with one to residents by two nuns living in each two-storey next year. According to the CTA’s house,” said a local source, speaking latest reports, around 4,600 residents to Radio Free Asia on condition of have been evicted and 1,500 dwellings anonymity. have been destroyed since the start of On December 12, three senior the demolition in July this year. 8
DECEMBER 2016
NEWS & ISSUES EU Parliament Condemns China’s Human Rights Record
by Mary Trewartha The European Parliament (EP) has adopted an urgent resolution on the breaches of human rights, democracy, and rule of law in China, saying that China must respect the freedoms of expression, association and religion of the Tibetan people as enshrined in the Chinese Constitution. The resolution, adopted on December 15, condemns Chinese government policies in East Turkestan [in Chinese, Xinjiang] and Tibet, and their enforcement of these policies against the Uyghur and Tibetan populations. European Members of Parliament (MEPs) called on the Chinese Government to “Resume the dialogue with Tibetan representatives… in order to find an inclusive political solution to the crisis in Tibet”, and in addition the resolution “Urges the Chinese authorities to stop the demolition of Larung Gar and the eviction of its residents” [see article on page 8].
The European Parliament says it is “Deeply concerned by the deterioration of the human rights situation in Tibet which has led to an increase in the number of self-immolation cases; criticises the increase in military displays on the Tibetan plateau that will only lead to escalating tension in the region; condemns the increase in the use of surveillance systems in Tibetan private households.” The resolution addresses the case of the imprisonment of Uyghur economics professor Ilham Tohti who is serving a life sentence on charges related to “separatism”. The EP demands Tohti’s immediate and unconditional release, citing his scholarly work on Uyghur-Han relations and his nomination for the Sakharov Prize 2016. Also mentioned is that the EP is “Worried about the adoption of the
package of security laws and its impact on minorities in China.” Major European political groups proposed the resolution, including the European People’s Party, European Conservatives and Reformists, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Europe for Freedom and Direct
Democracy and the Greens/European Free Alliance. Many of the MEPs who sponsored the resolution have either, “Met His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his recent visit or they have been met by the Representative and EU Advocacy Officer of Office of Tibet, Brussels, in recent times”.
Solidarity Prayers on Nobel Peace Prize Day by Tenzin Samten Tibetans, supporters and friends of Tibet gathered at Tsugla-khang, the main temple in Dharamshala, to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on December 10, 1989. Following the event at the temple,
Sikyong and the Speaker lighting butter lamps in memory of Tibetan self-immolators Photo: tibet.net
a special solidarity service was jointly organised by the Tibetan governmentin-exile and the Tibetan Parliament to pray for the monks and nuns of Larung Gar Buddhist academy and for Tashi Rabten, the latest Tibetan to Contact
self-immolate inside Tibet. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, and the Speaker, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, graced the special day, along with other dignitaries of the Tibetan Government-in-exile. The special prayer service for the monks and nuns of Larung Gar and to commemorate the death of the latest self-immolator Tashi Rabten was attended by hundreds of Tibetans and supporters. Referring to the recent selfimmolation, Sikyong said, “to pray for all those Tibetans who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet especially the 145 self-immolators, including Tashi Rabten, is our sacred spiritual duty. I hope his aspirations are fulfilled.” In his address, Dr Sangay said, “Today marks the 68th year since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, the serious 9
human rights violation in Tibet doesn’t leave much for the Tibetan people to celebrate.” Referring to His Holiness as the guiding light of all Tibetans, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel lauded His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s contribution towards the promotion
of world peace. He said, “On behalf of all Tibetans I, with happiness, faith and elation, and with remembrance of his kindness, offer my greetings.” The Tibetan government-in-exile and parliament members congratulated Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia, on his award of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize. DECEMBER 2016
NEWS & ISSUES by Tenzin Samten China’s imposed sanctions on Mongolia in retaliation for their welcoming Tibet’s spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama to their capital Ulaanbaatar last month have born fruit. Mongolia has capitulated and says it will not invite His Holiness to return to Mongolia in the future, and will respect China’s “one China” policy. The visit by His Holiness went ahead despite warnings from Beijing, who reacted to the situation by raising tariffs on Mongolian trucks passing through Chinese territory. Mongolia’s Ambassador to India, Gonchig Ganbold, asked for India’s support. “India should come out with clear support against the difficulties that have been imposed on Mongolia by China, which is an overreaction to the religious visit by His Holiness Dalai Lama. We have
China Retaliates
not changed our ‘One China’ policy, so Beijing’s response to Mongolia
His Holiness visiting Mongolia last month Photo:dalailama.com
hosting the spiritual leader is really not justifiable,” he said. He also said that, with winter temperatures already around minus 20 degrees, an arbitrary transport obstruction caused by China was likely to create a humanitarian crisis in Mongolia. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said,
“The erroneous action taken by the Mongolian side on Dalai’s visit hurt the political foundation of ChinaMongolia relations and exerted negative impact on the development of bilateral relations. The Chinese side requires the Mongolian side to genuinely respect China’s core interests and major concerns.” Following the four-day visit by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Ulaanbaatar, China froze all official ties with Mongolia, postponing all bilateral interactions and cancelling scheduled talks –ignoring Mongolia’s assertion that His Holiness’s visit was purely religious. China labels His Holiness the Dalai Lama as “separatist”, saying that he promotes separation of Tibet from China. His Holiness visited Mongolia for a four-day trip from November 18.
Crowds Flock to Welcome the Karmapa in Aranachal
by Ana Carolina Gutierrez His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje visited Tawang, the capital of the north eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, on a four-day visit from November 28. This was a particularly significant visit as it was the first time the Karmapa Lama in his current lifetime has been able to go to Tawang and the first visit by a Karmapa for 400 years. The Karmapa first visited this region in a previous lifetime, 1,100 years ago, when he formed a special connection with the area, founding several monasteries there. The visit was also significant due to the border dispute between India and China. Aranachal, which is on the IndiaTibet border, has strong cultural and historical ties to Tibet and is claimed by China who call it “Little Tibet”. It was one of the flashpoints of the IndiaChina war of 1962. China has advised India not to “complicate the boundary question”, and always protests when Indian leaders visit the state. However, the Chief Minister of Contact
Arunachal Sri Pema Khandu supported the visit and welcomed the Karmapa on his arrival saying that His Holiness is an “honoured guest” and that his presence in India is an “internal matter” that should not be interfered with by China. During his time there, the Karmapa Lama spoke to audiences at the Sera Jay Jamyang Choekorling Monastery and Ganden Namgyal Lhatse – or Tawang
Photo:: Karmapa Official Website
– Monastery, one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world. He talked about the importance of a strong faith in Buddhist teachings as well as devotion to His Holiness the 10
Dalai Lama, saying that these values allow for a fulfilled daily life. He said these things are important in continuing the traditions of Buddhist philosophy and science. He spoke of the need for discipline and harmony amongst the varied sanghas so that Buddhism itself can continue in the region. The Karmapa later gave a teaching to 20,000 people at the High Altitude Stadium in Tawang as well as reaching thousands of other people during his stay. The Karmapa Lama is the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and the third highest Rinpoche, or precious one, in Tibetan Buddhism – His Holiness the Dalai Lama being the highest Rinpoche and the Panchen Lama the second. Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, has been held in Chinese custody since 1995. The 17th Karmapa incarnation is the subject of an ongoing dispute. The position is also claimed by Trinley Thaye Dorje, but 31-year-old Ogyen Trinley Dorje is commonly accepted as the true incarnation. DECEMBER 2016
Dec 23: The Bharat Ratna Senior Indian politicians have called on the Indian government to bestow the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the Republic of India, to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for promoting peace and for being a messenger of Indian values to the world since his arrival in India in 1959. This move is supported by the All party Parliamentary members’ forum on Tibet. Dec 21: TWA Donation The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) has donated Rs 6,43,950 (US$9,500 / £7,700) to the traders who lost their shops and stock in a fire at Lal Qila Tibetan Sweater Seller Market in old Delhi last month. Mr Sonam Topgyal, one of the traders, said “So far, we have received donations amounting to more than Rs 30 million (US$445,000 / £360,000), enough to re-establish 40 of the 138 shops destroyed”. Dec 16: Poetry Book Launch Broken Portraits, a poetry book by Kaysang, a third generation exile Tibetan poet, was launched in Mcleod Ganj. The 56-page book was published by Blackneck Cranes, the publishing wing of TibetWrites. Kaysang said, “You bare your heart and soul to the world with words”. Kaysang, who works at the Tibet Fund in Dharamshala, is also a known a Tibetan feminist and promotes women’s empowerment in the Tibetan community. Dec 15: Tibet Group in Japan KhenpoSonamTenphel, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, expressed gratitude to Japanese parliamentarians for forming the All Party Japanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet. “We are tremendously grateful to the government and the people of Japan for receiving HH the Dalai Lama in your country on several occasions and extending support to the Tibetan people and the Tibet cause”, he said. Contact
Tibetan Headlines
Dec 14: Medicare The Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Health announced that enrolment for the Tibetan Medicare System (TMS) for 2017-2018 will open from January 1. TMS is a holistic Secondary and Tertiary Health Care Programme available to all Tibetan refugees under the direct cover of Tibetan Voluntary Health Association. TMS is a charitable Health Plan that aims to improve public health and the well-being of the Tibetan community in exile. Dec 13: Electronic Donations The Kalachakra organising committee has set up direct or online payment facilities for people wishing to donate offerings towards the Kalachakra Puja. This was prompted by the Indian cash crisis and people can now donate by bank transfer, cheque and card payments as well as cash donations. Details are on the tibet.net website. Dec 13: Congratulations! Dr Lobsang Sangay, the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, congratulated Bill English, the new Prime Minister of New Zealand. Sikyong wrote, “The country’s commitment to dialogue was exemplified when it stood up against the might of China for what it believed to be a violation of human rights in Tibet during the UN Human Rights Council session in October 2013.” Dec 9: At Risk The Journal of Glaciology has published a report which says that an avalanche which dumped 70 million tons of ice into a valley in western Tibet this summer was likely the result of meltwater caused by climate change. The report by an international team of researchers says that this region of the Tibetan Plateau, previously thought to be stable, may now be at risk of further disasters. Dec 5: Earthquake hits Tibet A 5.1 magnitude quake hit Nyairong 11
NEWS & ISSUES County in Tibet this morning at 5:34 am, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. The epicentre was at a depth of about five kms, reports Xinhuan news agency. Nyairong County is in the Nagchu prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Dec 3: Award for Community Uber, the global taxi service, has awarded US$7,000 (£5,500) to a Tibetan Uber driver in New York. Tashi Choephel applied for the award under Project Jumpstart, Uber’s new philanthropic programme which aims to bring change to their employees’ communities. The money will go towards the renovation of the New York Tibetan Community Centre. Over 9,000 Tibetans live in New York. Dec 2: Congratulations! On behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay congratulated United States’ former House Speaker Ms Nancy Pelosi for being re-elected as the Democratic Leader in the US House of Representatives. “Your re-election to the crucial post of democratic leader is a reflection of your leadership, integrity and the sharp relevance of your voice as a champion of American ideals,” he added. He also thanked her for being a true friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people. Dec 2: World AIDS Day Tibetans in Dharamshala observed World AIDS Day. Dawa Tsering, Director of Kunphen - a nongovernment organisation - urged people to go for HIV check-ups, saying that, according to the World Health Organisation, nearly half of all people with HIV around the world do not know they are infected. A member of staff at the Department of Health said that in the exile Tibetan community there were over 130 HIV carriers. DECEMBER 2016
NEWS & ISSUES International Headlines Dec 21: Menstruating Girl Dies Roshani Tiruwa, 15, has died in Nepal after being banished to a hut because she was menstruating. She lit a fire to keep warm and suffocated in the poorly ventilated shed. Under an ancient Hindu practice, chhaupadi, women who are menstruating or have just given birth are seen as impure. The practice of banishing them was banned in Nepal in 2005 but still continues in remote western rural areas. Dec 19: Protests in Poland People are protesting in the Polish capital Warsaw against government plans to restrict journalists’ access to parliament. In parliament, opposition MPs have been holding a sit-in, their leaders say they had demanded the proposed press restrictions be dropped and had called for a repeat vote on next year’s budget. They were furious when the repeat budget vote was held by pro-government MPs with the press excluded. Dec 17: Trampoline Danger A senior bone surgeon in the United Kingdom has said that trampolines should be used only under professional supervision. More than 13,000 trampolining injuries are treated each year in the UK. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents advises that children should always trampoline one at a time, and never with an adult. Dec 16: Hot Water Geologists are drilling down to 5km below a volcano in southwest Iceland where they are expecting temperatures to exceed 5000 Centigrade (9320 Farenheit). They want to create the hottest borehole in the world by bringing steam from the deep well back up to the surface to provide an energy source. Dec 15: China Sea Disputes Chinese military defences have been photographed on artificial islands in the South China Sea, an area of disputed territorial rights where China has in Contact
the past committed to not militarising its controversial developments in the region. China’s claims to the area are disputed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. Dec 14: Assassination Attempt? Michael Sandford, 20, a British man, has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for his alleged bid to kill United States President-elect Donald Trump. Sandford pleaded guilty, apologising in tears for what he had done. He was accused of grabbing a policeman’s gun at a rally in Las Vegas in order to shoot at the candidate. Dec 10: Human Rights Day Today is Human Rights Day, commemorating the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The theme this year calls on everyone to stand up for someone’s rights in the face of disrespect for basic human rights, which is widespread around the globe. Dec 9: Cat-Callers Fined In the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, cat-calling and other types of sexual harassment could now land perpetrators with a $60 (£47) fine or community service. NiUnaMenos (Not One Less), a group campaigning against violence against women, says a woman is killed in Argentina every 30 hours simply because of her gender. Dec 8: Plane Crash 48 people were killed when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed in north Pakistan. Flight PK-661 from Chitral to Islamabad went down in the Havelian area, about 70km (43 miles) north of Islamabad. There were no survivors. The airline is to conduct a full investigation. Dec 7: Organ Trafficking At least 25 doctors, nurses and professors in Egypt have been arrested on suspicion 12
of being involved in an international organ trafficking ring with “millions of dollars and gold bullion” being found. Organ purchase is illegal in Egypt. Egypt says the group is “the largest international network for trading human organs”. The allegations are so far unproven. Dec 6: Safe! Bana Alabed, the seven-year-old girl who tweets about her life in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo, has been reported as safe. She disappeared from the social network recently as a government offensive was launched on nearby rebelheld areas. Her mother tweeted “Under attack. Nowhere to go…Pray for us”. The Twitter account has over 160,000 followers. Dec 5: Referendum Defeat Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has resigned after around 60% of the electorate in Italy voted “No” in a referendum, defeating his plans to reform the constitution. Italy faces financial instability and the referendum was seen as a barometer of anti-establishment sentiment in Europe. Dec 3: Trump Annoys China The United States President-elect Donald Trump has antagonised China by speaking to Taiwan’s President Tsai IngWen when she called to congratulate him on his election. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway Chinese province. Mr Trump’s call is the first between an American and Taiwanese leader for decades. Dec 3: Diplomats Summoned Top diplomats from France and Germany have been summoned by the Chinese Foreign Ministry after both countries honoured human rights activist Wang Qiaoling with the prestigious French-German human rights award. Wang Qiaoling’s husband, Li Heping, is a prominent Chinese lawyer currently being held in detention.The French and German foreign ministers have both called for Li’s release. DECEMBER 2016
DHARAMSHALA VOICES Finding Contentment by Tenzin Dadon I was born and raised in a very loving environment. A caring mother, an understanding father, lovely sisters and trustworthy friends. I feel very fortunate that I am a Buddhist and thoroughly blessed for having had the opportunity to study. I hope my story will relate to some people. My parents, especially my mother, worked really hard to educate me and my siblings. Even though she is illiterate, my mother has always encouraged us to do higher studies and most importantly, to be able to serve the Tibetan community and fulfil His Holiness’s wish. When I graduated from high school at 17 years old my father guided me into nursing. In the Tibetan community nursing is regarded as a very safe course, but no nursing graduate came to advise us that doing nursing is not just a safe harbour: there is so much more to this field. This I learned later when I was studying. Not only can one do an MSc in nursing but also do MSc physiology, anatomy, neuroscience, molecular biology etc. And the entrance is much easier for nursing graduates as they are already well versed in physiology and human anatomy learned during their nursing years. Generally, in the Tibetan community most nursing students stop after completing their BSc to start work and this is probably this why we don’t have many highly qualified nurses. Because of the limited knowledge about the nursing field, I thought that nursing is not a hard-core science, but more like just learning how to make beds for patients, or just a safe future. I respect and love science too much, so I decided to do a degree. So off I went to do a BSc in biotechnology, biochemistry and genetics. I studied very hard and later was selected for one of the special reserved seats for Tibetan students at the All India Institute for Biomedical
science, available by the grace of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. I couldn’t have been happier! All my class mates were top university students, the competition was stiff and at first I enjoyed it. But soon it started becoming stressful and the only thing on my mind was study, study and study. The library became my second home and books my best companion. However, I graduated first class with distinction! I then decided to study medical lab technology, not knowing that it would be the most tormenting year of my life. Even though I joined a well known institute and the course was affiliated to one of the most reputed medical institutes in south India, I had to learn everything on my own. The course demanded more practical exposure and hands-on experience. I can’t just learn the techniques of phlebotomy, histopathology and blood banking from text books, or for that matter, just by seeing some tutorials. I needed proper guidance from real experienced medical technologists to be well versed with the tools and techniques. So one day I took my certificates and went randomly to search for a clinic where I could volunteer. A small Christian hospital took me in and I would go every day after class until 8pm. I learnt clinical pathology and phlebotomy there. Then I went to a well known diagnostic centre and did observational training in their histopathology lab every Sunday. I also volunteered at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital to learn techniques in blood banking and transfusion. Only then could I actually visualise the practical skills and it was easy to keep it in mind. It seems very easy to pen it down but it was very difficult to live those moments. I had to rush here and there, wait for hours to meet people at the
faculties. It wasn’t at all easy. In Chennai, most girls would cover their face with a scarf to protect them from the hot, bright sun and so it was easy for me to shed tears as I went about on the bus and local train, as my face was hidden under the scarf. In the end, my hard work paid off. I was the only student who passed the university exam, that too first class with distinction. But after these very stressful years I lost all hope in these institutions with big names, and my zeal to study as well. I had lost so much weight and the stress and constant pressure made me easily irritable and damaged my digestion. By the end of my course instead of making my parents proud, I had made them worried and sad. Now I realise for them my health and happiness are more important than getting a high percentage. I hadn’t realised how my passion for science, which always made me happy, had become a constant source of pain and stress. So I decided to stop for a while and went to Mungod where I attended the Lamrim teaching by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We all desire happiness. If scoring high was supposed to be happiness for me, then why wasn’t I the happiest person? And so I realised this is not what I’m searching for. Each day of teaching made me calmer, less agitated and my mind became clearer. I visited Pondicherry and felt a spiritual connection with the place. It gave me time to stop and reflect and somehow I felt free, liberated and light. I realised I am happiest when living science, and not competing in it. I’m happiest when I am learning Buddhist philosophy because it makes so much sense. Those few months of listening to His Holiness’s teaching, knowing Geshe las and debating with them, gave me an insight, but I guess more important were those six stressful years because living through those years actually gave me this insight. Back then, when I graduated high school I was just a happy girl, carefree and naïve. Now at the age of 24, I am not only happy but wiser and more content.
Every month we feature somebody from the Tibetan community on our Dharamshala Voices page. You can read more Dharamshala Voices stories on the Contact website: http://www.contactmagazine.net/dharamasla-life/ Contact
13
DECEMBER 2016
LHA NEWS AND PROJECTS
Lha Annual Report for 2016
Contact magazine is published by Lha Charitable Trust which works to provide services for the Tibetan and Himalayan communities in the region. Please see our full Annual Report at www.lhasocialwork.org Lha Charitable Trust is pleased to present our Annual Report for 2016. This year we carried out 36 significant projects and programmes which are expected to have a positive impact on at least 30,770 people. Lha is continuing to expand its activities worldwide while focussing on five areas: social services, educational resources, awareness of the Tibet issue, volunteering opportunities, and cultural exchange programmes. We continue to be inspired by the compassion, dedication and contributions of so many generous supporters and volunteers from around the globe. Thanks to you, 2016 has been a great success. About the Organisation Lha Charitable Trust is an award-winning, grassroots, 12AA and 80G non-profit organisation and one of the largest Tibetan social work institutes based in Dharamshala, India. Lha was founded in 1997 and registered as a charitable trust by the Indian Government. Lha’s financial accounts are audited annually and all tax return certificates are issued by the Income Tax Department, Government of India. Mission and Programmes Lha’s primary goal is to provide meaningful, multi-levelled social and educational services to help ease the transition for the Tibetan refugee community. Lha’s services are also open to the local Indian population and people from nearby Himalayan regions. On a daily basis Lha serves over 200 people, hosts between 15 to 25 volunteers and provides around 20 different kinds of services. In addition we organise cultural exchange programmes for international student groups and reception and orientation services and home-stays for visitors to McLeod Ganj. International Language Classes This year we have registered 550 new students; the total number of students since 2006 is 11,558. There were daily averages of 170 students attending 12 classes. We provide four levels of English classes, three in both Chinese and French and basic level German and Tibetan. In addition, we provide one-to-one tutoring for our students and this year personal tutors were assigned to 160 students. Computer Classes 87 new students enrolled in our computer classes, including 23 students who were given a full scholarship by Lha. Our computer classes include basic introduction to computers as well as introduction to Photoshop and Indesign. We also arrange special courses depending on the availability of professional volunteers. This year we organised two web design classes. Contact
Clothing and Book Distribution Donations of used clothes and books from visitors and tourists in town are redistributed throughout Dharamshala where required. At this year’s distribution event around 300 local needy Tibetans and Indians were able to choose from over 28,000 items of clothing. Clear Vision and Tibetan Smiles Projects Under this year’s Clear Vision Eye Care Programme, 124 people received free eye checkups. This led to 17 people receiving medicine for their eye conditions, and 102 people received free eye glasses. Our Tibetan Smiles Dental Programme provided free dental care for 118 people. Beneficiaries of these programmes were nuns, monks, lay people, and people from the Himalayan region living in and around the Dharamshala community. Lha’s Clear Vision Project was started in 2009 and the Dental Care programme began in 2011. Contact Magazine This year we produced 11,100 copies of Contact magazine. Over 33 international volunteers, together with Lha staff writers, have written 151 articles for Contact. In line with our remit to promote democracy, we have given priority this year to coverage of the elections for Sikyong (or Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-inExile) and chitue (members of parliament). Our “Election Special” issue gave comprehensive coverage in the run-up to voting in March. Contact’s coverage of the human rights situation inside Tibet is our contribution to being a “voice for the voiceless”. Contact magazine is the only monthly English news magazine distributed free of charge around the Tibetan communities and posted to subscribers around the world. This year, we have introduced“people” stories– profiles of the people who make up the Dharamshala community. Contact magazine is visited online by 4,000 visitors a month at www.contactmagazine.net and is also available at http://issuu.com/. Clean Water Project Since 2010, Lha has installed 24 water filtration systems in different institutions, giving over 13,700 people free access to filtered water, thus helping to keep the community healthy. This year we have serviced all the water filtration systems we have installed. Our volunteers Tine Niklasson and Ashley Summers, who are studying Global Nutrition and Food Policy at VIA University College in Aarhus, Denmark, conducted an evaluation survey of our Clean Water Project and found that 60% of teachers in schools with access to clean water (provided by our filters) reported 14
an increase in their students’ class attendance. 79% of students reported an improvement in their overall health since drinking filtered water. Community Soup Kitchen This year 79 new beneficiaries registered to eat at the Lha Soup Kitchen, where we serve healthy and nutritious lunches daily to 5060 Tibetan refugees. 408 people have eaten there since its inception in 2011. One of our volunteers, Todd Rawls, a survey sociologist, conducted an assessment survey to enable us to look at ways of improving the service. He found that 98% of the beneficiaries are satisfied with the quality, nutrition and variety of the food served at the Community Kitchen. Prof Samdhong Rinpoche’s Website Project Lha manages a bilingual website www. samdhongrinpoche.com, in line with our remit to help preserve and promote Tibetan culture and language. The teachings, writings and speeches of Professor Samdhong Rinpoche are freely available on the website, which has6,000 visitors monthly,in written or audio format. This year we uploaded 39 pages of transcriptions, 113 translations and transcriptions, and published 300 quotations, allin English,together with 15 transcriptions and translations in Tibetan. 875 audio files of Rinpoche’s teachings and 100 videos have been uploaded onto Youtube, and 1,185 photos to Rinpoche’s online gallery. There have been 100,000 Youtube views and 82,000 visits to the audio uploads on Sound cloud which has over 2,000 regular listeners. Lha published and launched the 7th Volume of Rinpoche’s book Collected Works of His Eminence Prof Samdhong Rinpoche. The 500-page volume in Tibetan is a continuation of the series edited by Dr Tenzin Dhonyoe. 500 copies of the book were printed for free distribution. Environment and Healthcare Awareness Programmes This year Lha organised two mass clean-up events in Mcleod Ganj,the first in collaboration with Tibet Charity to mark World Environment day and the second with the Tibetan Settlement Office, Dharamshala. A tremendous amount of garbage was collected from the Mcleod Ganj area. This ongoing project aims to educate through our tri-lingual brochuresandthe mass clean-upsin addition to our environment website http://www.tibetnature.net/en/ which has over 4,000 visitors monthly and focuses on environmental issues faced inside Tibet. This year 63 articles and translations were published on this website. DECEMBER 2016
LHA NEWS AND PROJECTS
Lha Annual Report for 2016 Educational Talks Two events to promote early childhood literacy took place, in collaboration with the Tibet Fund. Mr JamyangGyaltsen, a former Education Officer at the Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration, led this project, in collaboration with Tenzin Dekyi. Over 300 children and their parents took part in the first event which took place on World Storytelling Day and 42 parents attended a second workshop which focused on the importance of reading and its contribution to the development of their child’s imagination. One thousand children’s books were distributed free of charge to participants. Three talks by His Eminence Professor Samdhong Rinpoche,as well as talks by Geshe Lhakdor, Director of the Tibetan Library, were held for our Cultural Exchange Programme students. Cultural Exchange Programme Under this programme we hosted 13 different student and professional groups with 142 participants from across the world taking part. Many gave language tuition to Lha students while the medical professionals helped us with our eye and dental care and medical projects. The participants visited Tibetan institutes and attended talks to learn about Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan Medicine and the political situation in Tibet. Volunteering Opportunities We are the largest volunteer host and coordination organisation in the Tibetan community with a daily average of 15 – 50 volunteers. This year 587 volunteers from across the world have donated their valuable time and service. We offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities for both skilled and unskilled people and while most work directly with Lha, others are placed throughout the Tibetan community. Volunteers play a crucial and much-appreciated role in the continuation of our services to the community. East Meets West: Mindful Medicine Conference In October this year Lha organised its first medical conference East Meets West: Mindful Medicine with ten doctors from the United States, five from the Tibetan Delek Hospital and three from Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan traditional doctors) participating.We are planning to make this an annual event in future. Nutritional Guidance This April, Maria, a nutritional expert and consultant from Switzerland and a Lha volunteer, gave a basic course in nutrition to Lha students and covered the physiology of digestion, nutrition, minerals, vitamins, eating habits, and more. Spreading the Word in North America Mr Ngawang Rabgyal, Lha’s Director, travelled Contact
to the United States and Mexico for a month to raise awareness about Lha and its activities. He met and paid tribute to the many organisations who work in partnership with Lha – their support and participation enables us to carry out our social services. Multi-Purpose New Hall This summer saw the inauguration of a new multi-purpose hall on the top floor of Lha’sAhimsa House by His Eminence Prof Samdhong Rinpoche. As well as using the hall for ourselves for the sustainability and selfreliance of the organisation, it is available to other organisations to rent for their events. Fundraising Event In July, our volunteers Hewlet and Paulina Wrotynska from Poland organised and funded a barbeque, working with Lha staff hold a barbeque fundraiser open to the public, at Ahimsa hall, which was attended by more than hundred people. Achievements Lha was awarded the first Environmental Care Award by the Tibetan Settlement Office (TSO) for Dharamshala at the inaugural TSO local leaders meeting in November. TSO Awards honour outstanding service for the Tibetan community, dedication to the Tibetan cause and for social services. Lha’s award was in recognition of Lha’s environmental days of action and mass clean-ups, and in acknowledgement of Lha’s committed workforceof staff, students and volunteers. Financials The Lha Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year 2014-2015, as per the Audit Report required under section 12A (b) of the Income Tax Act 1961, Govt of India, shows a total income of INR 98,20,062.37 (USD 163,667.7) and total expenditure of INR 94,48,025.48 (USD 157,467.09) which includes administrative costs of INR 36,31,463.00 (USD 60,524.38) and project costs of INR 52,78,470.98 ( USD 87,974.51). Donations Income is generated from the student exchange groups and also volunteer accommodation available at Ahimsa house. However, to maintain the operation of our services we continue to rely on generous donations.In addition to our existing activities we are always open to new projects and events, depending on the community’s needs at any time and for these we are highly dependent on donations and sponsors. Thank you On behalf of Lha Charitable Trust and all our beneficiaries, we would like to express our 15
heartfelt thanks to the Louisiana Himalaya Association, Tulane University, The Tibet Fund, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Tibet Freunde Swiss, Lifework International, Rustic Pathways, Loyola University, Centenary College, The Forgotten International, Warwick Valley Rotary Club of New York, Hospice Group from the US, and various other individuals and organisations. Lha has been going strong for many years and continues to be inspired by the generous supporters and dedicated volunteers from all around the world to tend to the needs of the impoverished and underprivileged communities in India. All financial contributions (large or small) are greatly appreciated. In India, even a little goes a long way, and a lot goes very far! Lha Fundraising Needs for 2017 > Lha Soup Kitchen: US $14,400 ($1,200 a month) Funds are needed to buy food as well as provide nutritional education workshops. > Commercial Oven for the Lha Soup Kitchen: US $7,800 To be used for vocational training. Pastries made will be sold to provide an income. > Commercial Coffee Machine: US $47,00 To be used in vocational training. Coffee will be sold along with the pastries to provide an income. > Clean Water Programme: US $5,300 Maintenance and new filters for existing water filtration systems. > Clear Vision and Tibetan Smiles Programmes: US $3,000 and US $7,000 Provide free eye care and glasses, and free dental care for community members in need > Medical Assistance Programme (MAP): US $4,000 Provides free medical care for community members in need. > Solar Energy and Solar Powered Hot Water Programmes: US $4,700 and $3,300 Solar power for a school or monastery: these are totally dependent on new funding. > Computer Training Project : US $13,223 To buy new computers for our computer classes
If you or your organisation is interested in becoming an annual sponsor of one or more programmes, or offering onetime support, please feel free to contact us with questions or fundraising ideas at director@lhasocialwork.org. DECEMBER 2016
around town
Charities and Organisations
Central Tibetan Administration
The CTA serves in Dharamshala as the government in exile of Tibet. It is democratic with judiciary, legislative, and executive branches. Within the Executive branch there is the Kashag, consisting of the departments of Religion and Culture, Home, Education, Finance, Security, Information and International Relations and Health, and Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay. WEB: www.tibet.net LOCATION: Near Library PHONE: 01892-222218 HOURS: Mon-Sat: 9:00 am-5:00 pm EMAIL: kashag@tibet.net
The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama (OHHDL)
OHHDL is the personal office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The office organises his schedule, including appointments and travel plans, diplomatic and personal correspondence, and liaises with officials of the Central Tibetan Administration. WEB: www.dalailama.com LOCATION: McLeod Ganj, PHONE: 01892-221343 / 221210 EMAIL: ohhdl@dalailama.com
Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC)
The TYC is an advocacy and political action organisation with chapters around the world. The TYC organises cultural exhibitions, educational campaigns and social welfare activities. WEB: www. tibetanyouthcongress.org LOCATION: Tipa Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala -176219 PHONE: 01892-221554 EMAIL:president@tibetanyouthcongress.org, tyc@tibetanyouthcongress.org
Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA)
The TWA conducts workshops on gender sensitization and domestic violence throughout Tibetan settlements in India, provides Tibetan women with education scholarships, and connects women with international sponsors. WEB: www. tibetanwomen.org LOCATION: Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 01892-221527 EMAIL: tibwomen@gmail.com
Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV)
TCV provides care to Tibetan children by creating a nurturing environment and fostering Tibetan values and culture while delivering a modern education. There is an Upper and Lower residential school in Dharamshala and day school in McLeod Ganj, with other branches throughout India. WEB: www.tcv.org.in LOCATION: Dharamshala Cantt.176216 PHONE: 01892-221354 / 221348 EMAIL: headoffice@tcv.org.in
Men-Tsee-Khang: Tibetan Medical & Astro. Institute
Men-Tsee-Khang is a facility for research, training and practice of traditional Tibetan medicine. Patients may seek treatment at Men-TseeKhang for both acute and chronic conditions. The facility provides extensive training and produces traditional pharmaceuticals.
Contact
WEB: www.men-tsee-khang.org LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, PHONE: 01892-223222 / 223113 EMAIL: info@men-tsee-khang.org
Tibetan Library (LTWA) (Centre for Tibetan Studies)
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives has the purpose to restore, protect, preserve, and promote Tibetan culture in all its aspects. They offer courses in Tibetan and Hindi language and Buddhist philosophy and can provide affordable accommodation for those enrolled in two or more courses. WEB: ltwa.net, tibetanlibrary.org LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong PHONE: 98822-55047 EMAIL: ltwa1970@gmail.com
Delek Hospital
Delek Hospital is a small, Tibetan run hospital in Dharamshala. It has 45 inpatient beds, holds outpatient hours from 9am to 12pm Monday through Friday, and can handle most small procedures. Patients are responsible for a 10 Rupees registration fee. The hospital has a pharmacy on site. WEB:www.delekhospital.org LOCATION: Kharadanda Rd, Dharamshala; Delek Clinic, Bhagsu Rd, Dharamshala HOURS: Outpatient, Mon-Fri: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm; Specialist clinics, Mon-Sat: 2:00 pm-4:30 pm; Emergencies, 24 hours daily PHONE: 01892-222053 / 223381 EMAIL: delek@bsnl.in hospitaldelek@yahoo.com
Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society
The society was established in 1999 to provide educational and administrative guidance to all Tibetan schools in remote areas of India and Bhutan that do not fall under the guidance of Tibetan Childrens Village. Today there are 12 schools under this organisation. WEB: www.sambhota.org LOCATION: Session Rd, Dharamshala176215 PHONE: 01892 - 228877 | 226877 EMAIL: stss1999@gmail.com
Tong-Len Charitable Trust
Tong-Len’s mission is to help displaced communities in North India achieve a secure and sustainable future. Tong-Len projects include educational and health programs, childhood education and sponsorship, primary and nursery tent schools, and children’s support hostels. Volunteer opportunities available. WEB: www. tong-len.org LOCATION: Top Floor, Bank Of Baroda, Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala-176215 PHONE: 01892-223930 EMAIL: jamyang@tong-len.org
Students for a Free Tibet (SFT)
SFT is an international NGO that promotes the Tibetan cause among the non-Tibetan community. The organisation attempts to build international solidarity by advocating for a free Tibet through chapter organisations at Universities around the world. WEB:www.sftindia.org, www.studentsforafreetibet.org LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 9882786875
16
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD)
TCHRD advocates for human rights and provides education on the human rights situation in Tibet. The centre publishes journals and articles, as well as conducting workshops and campaigns. WEB: www.tchrd.org LOCATION: CTA, Dharamshala - 176215 PHONE: 01892-223363 EMAIL: office@tchrd.org
Lha Charitable Trust (Lha)
Lha, a Tibetan grassroots NGO based in Dharamshala, is one of the largest social work organisations providing vital resources for Tibetan refugees, the local Indian population, and people from the Himalayan regions. Lha offers free English, French and Chinese classes, cultural exchange programs, IT classes, vocational training, health and environmental awareness education, distribution of clothes and medicine, a community kitchen, and many other programs and activities. (see page 2) WEB:www.lhasocialwork.org LOCATION: Temple Road, McLeod Ganj, Opposite State Bank of India PHONE: 01892-220992, 988-2323-455 EMAIL: office@lhasocialwork.org
The Kangra Distt. Red Cross Society
The Kangra District Red Cross Society renders its humanitarian services, projects and activities with the help and the co-operation of people at all levels of society by donation. WEB: www.redcrosskangra.org LOCATION: Red Cross Bhawan, Dharamshala PHONE: 01892-224888 / 9418832244 EMAIL: sharmaopl12345@gmail.com
Gu-Chu-Sum Movement Association of Tibet is an organisation of former political
prisoners of Tibet and former activists currently in exile that engages in their complete assistance from medical, financial, basic education and vocational training. It also organises lobby and advocacies about human rights abuses in Tibet. WEB: www.guchusum.org LOCATION: Jogibara Road, McLeod Ganj, PHONE: 01892-220680 / 220679 EMAIL: guchusum1991@gmail.com
Tibet Charity
Tibet Charity provides programs including English and computer classes, an animal care program, and a variety of medical and educational financial support programs. WEB: www.tibetcharity.in LOCATION: Temple Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 01892-221790 / 221877 EMAIL: director@tibetcharity.in
Norbulingka Institue
Centre for Tibetan culture with studios and artists at work. Temple, tour guides of the workshops, and gardens. L O C AT I O N : S i d h p u r, Dharamshala PHONE:9882144210 EMAIL: info@norbulingka.org WEB:www.norbulingka.org
DECEMBER 2016
around town
Charities and Organisations
Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA)
Established in 1959, under the vision of HH the Dalai Lama, TIPA strives to preserve and promote Tibetan theatrical tradition. The Insitute imparts comprehensive training and lessons on Tibetan folk dance, folk song, traditional instruments and tradition of Tibetan opera. TIPA also hosts a beautiful theatrical museum which remains open during working days. We organise a special group tour of our campus every Wednesday (10 am). WEB: www.tibetanarts.org LOCATION: TIPA Road, McLeod Ganj Dharamshala-176219 PHONE: 01892-221478 EMAIL: tibetanarts2012@gmail.com
Learning and Ideas for Tibet (LIT)
Learning and Ideas for Tibet (LIT) is a nongovernment, non-profit adult education centre in Dharamshala, North India. LIT provides Free Education, Health Care and Skills Training to Tibetan Refugees to help eradicate poverty and illiteracy amongst the Tibetan population. WEB: www.learningandideasfortibet.org LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala 176219 PHONE: 01892-220690 EMAIL: learningandideasfortibet@gmail.com
Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution (TCCR)
Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution is a nonprofit, educational organisation dedicated to the non-violent management of conflicts in the Tibetan Community and the world as a whole. They work to promote the approaches and tools of non-violent conflict resolution and democratic processes in the Tibetan community in exile and elsewhere. WEB: http://tccr.org LOCATION: Session Road, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176215 PHONE: 01892-226627 EMAIL: tccrteam@gmail.com
Rogpa Baby Care Centre
The Rogpa Baby Care Centre helps low-income Tibetan families to become self-sufficient by providing free child care for infants so that their parents can work. The centre needs volunteers to help with art, games, singing and other tasks including diaper changing. WEB: www.tibetrogpa.org LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala- 176219 PHONE: 9857973026 EMAIL: rogpa2004@yahoo.com
Gamru Village School
Gamru Village School is a successful NGO that provides free high-quality education to any children who encounter serious barriers to education and who have a low standard of living. WEB: www.gamruschool.com LOCATION: Village Gamru, P.O Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala, Distt Kangra 176215 PHONE: 9816105554 EMAIL: tashu72004@yahoo.com
Contact
Clean Upper Dharamshala Project
Founded in 1994 to provide a waste management system in and around McLeod Ganj, the Green Workers, the Handmade Recycled Paper Factory, the Green Shop and the Environmental Education Centre are part of the Clean Upper Dharamshala Project. Weekly guided tours are offered on Wednesdays at 3 pm. WEB: www.tsodhasa.org LOCATION: Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala - 176219 PHONE: 01892-221059 EMAIL: cudpswm@gmail.com
Nyingtob Ling (Realm of Courage)
Nyingtob Ling supports Tibetan children from disadvantaged families. The children make handicrafts and paintings. They are so friendly and love to have visitors. WEB: www.nyingtobling.org LOCATION: Near Norbulingka, Sidhpur PHONE:01892 211042 / 9816028149 EMAIL: nyingtob_ling@hotmail.com
Women’s Team
Volunteers needed to teach English to Indian women and children in the village of Kaniyara near Dharamshala. Contact Jitender. EMAIL: jitenderje@gmail.com PHONE: 7831956680 / 08894435595
The Active Nonviolence Education Center (ANEC)
ANEC facilitates trainings, workshops and open forum discussions on nonviolent strategies to help resolve disagreements and differences at all levels of human society. ANEC welcomes volunteers from western countries to participate in informal panel discussions on ideas of regional and global peace and nonviolent strategies. Free lunch and tea and many more benefits for volunteers. LOCATION: No. 262, 1st floor, Khajanchi -Mohalla, Khunyara Rd, Lower Dharamshala PHONE: 9882077708 / 9882921477 EMAIL: wangduemiddleway@gmail.com Website: www.anec-india.net Facebook: www/facebook.com/anecpeace
National Democratic Party of Tibet
The NDPT is currently the only Tibetan political party. With 5000 members in 36 regional chapters throughout the world, the main aim and objectives of the NDPT are to prepare for the establishment of a political party in a future Tibet, to promote democracy, to educate the Tibetan people about the significance of political parties and to create awareness among the people about Tibetan issues. WEB: www.ndp4tibet.org LOCATION: Dharamshala–176219 EMAIL: tibetparty4@gmail.com PHONE: 9882787633 / 9882673330
BUS SCHEDULE
* Times and prices may vary. Please check with the bus stand ahead of departure. Leaving from the McLeod Ganj bus stand, unless otherwise stated: Delhi: Ordinary Bus: 4:45am, 6pm, 6:45pm, 8:15pm and 8:30pm (Rs524) Semi Deluxe Bus: 6pm (Rs544) , Full Deluxe Bus: (Rs683) AC Volvo Semi-Sleeper: 8pm (Rs1121) AC TATA: 4pm (Rs830) Amritsar: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs245) *from Dharamshala Dehradun: Ordinary Bus: 8pm (Rs524); AC Deluxe: 2pm (Rs664) Manali: Ordinary Bus: 7:10am (Rs676) *from Dharamshala Pathankot: Ordinary Bus: 10am, 11am, 12:10pm, 12:30pm, 2:10pm, 3:50pm, 5pm(Rs150) Shimla: Ordinary Bus: 5am, 5:30am, 6am, 8am, noon and 4:55pm (Rs360) *from Dharamshala, Semi-Deluxe Bus: 8:22am, 7:45pm and 9:30pm (Rs450) *from Dharamshala FOR BOOKINGS: Location: Ticket stand under McLLo’s, McLeod Ganj Main square Hours: 10am-5pm, daily Phone: 220026 (McLeod bus stand), 224903 (Dharamshala) For deluxe buses, book through any travel agency.
TAXIS
A private taxi to Lower Dharamshala will cost you Rs 200. Cram into a jeep (from the bus stand), and it’ll only cost you Rs15.
IMPORTANT CONTACTS
Ambulance: 01892-102, 222189
Police Superintendent: 01892-222244
Tibetan Delek Hospital Location: Gangchen Kyishong, CTA Hours: Outpatient services: 9am-1pm, MonSat; Specialist clinics: 2-4:30pm, Wed only; Emergencies: 24-hrs, daily. Phone: 222 053,223 381
Police Contact Information Location: Past St.John’s Church on the road to Dharamshala in Cantt. area. Phone: 221 483
Kangra Airport: 01892-232374 Bhagsu Taxi Union: 01892-221034 Tourism Office: 01892-224430 , 223325 Rail Booking & Enquiry: 01892-265026
17
McLeod Ganj Post Office Location: Jogiwara Rd, past Peace Cafe Hours: 9:30am-1pm and 2-5pm, Mon-Fri; 9:30am-noon, Sat. Parcels and money orders can be sent in the mornings only. Phone: 01892-221 924
DECEMBER 2016
activities and information Upcoming Events Dec 26 - Jan 31st 2017 : Lha Charitable Trust is closed for Kalachakra holiday and will reopen from Feb 1, 2017 Jan 1: New Year Jan 3-14: Kalachakra in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
BUDDHIST PHILoSOPHY Library of Tibetan Works and Archives WEB: www.ltwa.net/library LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala HOURS: Mon-Sat: 9-10 am, 11-12noon PHONE: 921-842-2467
Public Audience with HH Karmapa WEB: www.kagyuoffice.org LOCATION: Sidhpur HOURS: Wed & Sat: 2:30pm PHONE: 01892-235307
yoga and reiki Om Yoga, Meditation and Reiki Centre LOCATION: Ketan Lodge, behind Akash Hotel, on Jogiwara Rd HOURS: 8:00am-5:30pm PHONE: 980-569-3514
Sunita Singh Yoga Class
LOCATION: Singh Corner, nr Magic Tree Upper Bhagsu PHONE: 98058-89060 WEB: www.maashakktiyoga.com
Siddhartha Retreat and Yoga Centre LOCATION: Upper Bhagsu PHONE: 098165-65138 WEB: www.siddharthayogacentre.org
MASSAGE Nature Cure Health Club
Shiatsu massage LOCATION: Near Tibetan Ashoka, Jogiwara Road PHONE: 941-813-0119 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com
Men-Tsee-Khang
LOCATION: Mcleod Ganj Branch Clinic, 1st floor, TIPA Road (2 mins from Main Square) PHONE: 98828-60505 EMAIL: therapycenter@men-tsee-khang.org
Om Massage Centre
LOCATION: Bhagsu Road, Opposite the Green Hotel, Mcleod Ganj PHONE:9857999373/9805895574 EMAIL: kunsangdolma75@gmail.com
Contact
MEDITATION Ocean of Harmony
Taught by an experienced and qualified coach WEB: www.oceanofharmony.org PHONE: (+91) 99798-94585 EMAIL: ohlifeandwellness@gmail.com
Tushita Meditation Center WEB: www.tushita.info LOCATION: Dharamkot HOURS: Mon-Sat: 9:30-11:30am PHONE: 0898-816-0988 EMAIL: spc@tushita.info
Siddhartha Retreat Centre
WEB: www.siddharthayogacentre.org LOCATION: Bhagsu Nag, Near High Sky PHONE: 09816565138 EMAIL: yogi_shivam@yahoo.co.in
Taxi services Rinku Taxi Services
LOCATION: Opposite Club House, near Tourist Information Office, Hotel Surya Road PHONE: (+91) 9418687343, 9857030707 WEB: www.rinkutaxihimachal.com
COOKING Lha Tibetan Cooking Classes - for groups LOCATION: Lha Soup Kitchen, Temple Rd, Just below the Dalai Lama’s temple HOURS: Registration, 9:00-11:00am PHONE: 01892-220992
LANGUAGES Tibetan Language Courses
WEB: www.thosamling.com LOCATION: Thosamling Institute, Sidhpur (near Norbulingka) PHONE: 9882455065 EMAIL: thosamling@gmail.com *see ad on opp. page for more information
LRZTP Tibetan Language Program LOCATION: near Mentsekhang, VOT building EMAIL: Lrztp108@gmail.com WEB: www.LRZTP.org *see ad on pg 23
Rita Thakur Hindi Classes
LOCATION: Ketan Lodge, Jogiwara Rd, beside the Korean Restaurant PHONE: 981-649-4732
Hindi Lessons with Sunil
LOCATION: Kunga Guesthouse, Bhagsu Rd and in Dharamkot PHONE: 01892-21942, 98055-96741 EMAIL: sunilsharma81in@yahoo.co.in
Tibetan Language
LOCATION: The Tibetan Library *see Buddhist Philosophy Listing
Hindi Lessons with Kailash
LOCATION: At Bhimsen’s Indian Cooking Class PHONE: 01892-20063, 941-816-1947
Esukhia Online Tibetan Courses and Tibetan Immersion Spoken Location:Tilak Ray Building, Bhagsu Rd PHONE: 8679502538 / 98820-04965 EMAIL: contact@esukhia.org
art and museums
Indian Cooking and Knitting with Ms Rita Kapoor
Tibet Museum
Indian Cooking Classes
Tibet Photo Exhibit: 50 Years of Struggle and Oppression
LOCATION: Old German Bakery, 1st Floor, Room No. 2, Opp. Buddha Hall, Bhagsunag PHONE: 94592-06586 LOCATION:Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guesthouse HOURS: 10:00am-6:00pm PHONE: 941-813-0119 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com
Lhamo’s Kitchen: Tibetan Cooking Classes
LOCATION: Bhagsu Rd, near the Green Shop HOURS: 8:00am-9:00pm PHONE: 981-646-8719
Nisha’s Indian Cooking Class
LOCATION: The flourishing flora, Opp. TIPA, Dharamkot road, Mcleodganj HOURS: 4:00-6:00pm PHONE: 9882599093 EMAIL: nishaanilsarin@hotmail.com
Sangye’s Kitchen: Traditional Tibetan Cooking Classes
LOCATION: Lung-ta Restaurant, below the Tashi Choeling Monastery on Jogiwara Road HOURS:10:00am - 4:00pm PHONE: 981-616-4540 EMAIL: sangyla_tashi@yahoo.co.in
18
LOCATION:Near the Main Temple and Namgyal Monastery gate, McLeod Ganj HOURS: Tue-Sun: 9:00am-5:00pm
LOCATION: Gu-Chu-Sum hall, Jogiwara Rd HOURS: Mon, Wed & Fri: 2:00pm-5:00pm
The Tibetan Institute for the Performing Arts (TIPA)
WEB: www.tibetanarts.org LOCATION: Tipa Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 1892-221478 EMAIL: tibetanarts2012@gmail.com
Kangra Art Museum
LOCATION: Near Bus Stand, Kotwali Bazaar PHONE: 01892 224214 HOURS: Tue-Sun: 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
Men-Tsee-Khang Museum
LOCATION: Near CTA, Gangchen Kyishong PHONE: 01892-223222 / 223113 EMAIL: info@men-tsee-khang.org HOURS: 9am-5pm. Closed on Sun, 2 and 4th Sat
Form Gallery
LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd. near Oasis Cafe PHONE: 8894-060602 HOURS: Daily, 12:00pm-6:00pm
DECEMBER 2016
activities and information HEALTH SERVICES Perfect 32 Dental Clinic Dr Natasha Mehra LOCATION: Near Hotel Mount View, Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 09218742046 EMAIL: perfect32dentalclinic@gmail.com Tibetan Physiotherapy Clinic Specialised in Muscle and Joint Pain LOCATION: Near Delek Hospital, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176215 HOURS: 10am - 5pm (Appointment Bases) PHONE: 9882322783 / 9882321532 EMAIL: jigten17@yahoo.co.in WEBSITE : tibetanphysiotherapy.com Tibetan Delek Hospital LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala PHONE: 01892-22053 / 223381 HOURS: Outpatient services, Mon-Sat: 9:00am-1:00pm; Specialist clinics, Mon-Sat: 2:00-4:30pm; Emergencies: 24 hrs daily Maanav Health Clinic LOCATION: Main Square HOURS: 10:00am-12:30pm and 2:00-5:00pm PHONE: 941-815-5795 EMAIL: maanavcare@yahoo.co.in Men-Tsee-Khang LOCATION: Below Delek Hospital, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176215 PHONE: 01892-223222 / 223113 EMAIL: info@men-tsee-khang.org Primary Health Centre LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd, main market HOURS: 9:30am-4pm, Mon-Sat Nature Cure Health Club LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guest House-Map #10 HOURS: 9:30am-6:30pm PHONE: 7833047078 / 9882320136 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com Dr Tandon Advanced Dental Orthodontic & Implant Centre Location: Opp. AP Travels, Mcleod Ganj Phone:9418462936 Email: dr.rahultandon@gmail.com
Tibet-Related Websites
News:
rfa.org/english/news/tibet - Radio Free Asia’s mission is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press voatibetanenglish.com - Voice of America’s Tibet pages - VOA is an international multimedia broadcasting service funded by the US government contactmagazine.net - Contact magazine online news phayul.com -Phayul is published in Dharamshala,has opinion, reviews, photos, etc guardian.co.uk/world/tibet - the UK Guardian newspaper’s Tibet pages scmp.com/news/china - the South China Morning Post – one of the more independent news sources in China thetibetpost.com and tibetexpress.net are both sources of news and information
News, information and campaigning:
tibet.net - official website of the Central Tibetan Administration in exile dalailama.com - for broadcasts of His Holiness’s teachings, his schedule and information about Tibet and the Dalai Lama tchrd.org - Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy - a nongovernmental organisation and a research centre to protect the human rights of Tibetan people and promote the principles of democracy tibetanyouthcongress.org - an international non-governmental organisation that advocates full independence for Tibet from China studentsforafreetibet.org - a global grass roots group campaigning for full Tibetan independence tibetanreview.net - news, opinions, reviews and information freetibet.org: - UK-based campaigning organisation, also a good news source savetibet.org - international campaign for Tibet and a good resource for news, campaigns, fundraising and projects tibetnetwork.org/home - a coalition of more than 190 Tibet organisations dedicated to campaigning to end human rights violations in Tibet and restoring rights to the Tibetan people
Kalachakra 2017:
kalachakra2017.net or www.kalachakra2017.org - Official website. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will confer Kalachakra Initiation at Bodh Gaya from January 3 - 14. The website provides information on facilities for the event including tents, medical and sanitation and registration.
Interested in a Tibetan Homestay?
Is Arriving in India a Nightmare?
Thinking about Volunteering?
Lha Charitable Trust can arrange homestays of one month with a Tibetan refugee family. By sharing day-to-day life with a Tibetan family you will have an opportunity to experience Tibetan culture at first hand as well as making friends and memories that will last a lifetime. Accommodation, breakfast and dinner included.
Next time you come, use the Lha Reception service at Delhi airport. We will meet you at the airport, look after you in Delhi and give you a safe place to stay while you wait for your overnight bus to McLeod. We’ll put you on the bus and make sure you are on the right seat! Use our service especially when you are arriving late at night or early morning.
Lha offers you the opportunity to share your knowledge and skills while gaining practical experience with a social work organisation – good for your CV as well as being fun and interesting! Lha volunteers develop friendships as well as learning at first handabout the issues facing the Tibetan refugee community.
Find out more! Call into the Lha office, see Map # 1 Contact
19
DECEMBER 2016
advertisements
DR TANDON’S ADVANCED
Ocean of Harmony
Programmes for Wellbeing
Meditation Intensives Meditation Therapies Intensive Yoga Courses/Retreats Stress Management Integrated Healing Therapies Wellness Retreats
DENTAL
ORTHODONTIC & IMPLANT CENTRE Mcleod Add: Downstairs Opp. AB Travels Temple Road Mcleod Ganj Dharamshala Add: Opp. Canara Bank Kotwali Bazaar Dharamshala
A centre with multispeiciality dental treatment facility since 2000. Map#24 website: www.himachaldentist.com Email: dr.rahultandon@gmail.com Appointment/Emergency call: 9418462936
For upcoming events, visit
www.oceanofharmony.org
For intensive trainings around the world (any country) contact: Shalu Patel (experienced & qualified life and wellness coach for international trainings)
HIMALAYAN YOGA RETREAT Yoga Time: 8:30 am to 9:30 am 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Drop-in Classes/ Weekly Courses/ Reiki Course & Treatment Teacher Training Course (200 hours) Map#25
Mobile no: 988222502 - Surinder
Phone: (+91) 9979894585 Email: ohlifeandwellness@gmail.com
Address: Jogiwara Road, Green View House after Youngling Schoo Mcleod Ganj, Opposite Pink House www.himalayanyogacentre.com / Email:surinderlala@yahoo.in
BLACK TENT CAFE
RINKU TAXI SERVICE
Best taxi & car rental services in Himachal, Tour Packages Free high-speed Wi-fi Pick-up & Drop-in to Airports, Rail station, Bus stop Delicious coffee, authentic homemade Tibetan and western cuisine All food washed in clean filtered water
Free movies on Saturdays at 7.30pm Live Tibetan music every Wednesday at 6.30pm
Jogiwara Road (near post office), McLeod Ganj – Map #5
CARPE DIEM RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA
Opp. Club House, near Tourist Information Office Hotel Surya Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala - Map#16 PHONE: (+91) 94186-87343, 98570-30707
www.rinkutaxihimachal.com
Chapri Handicrafts
Visit Sunanda to see her beautiful shawls, fabrics, gifts, papier-mache, handicrafts, thankas and so much more! MEXICAN, ITALIAN, INDIAN, CHINESE, Shop no 9, Next Alley to State Bank of India ATM, CONTINENTAL, & THAI FOOD, No MSG Temple Road, Mcleod Ganj Map#27 Tel: 98826-04215 • Everything washed with sterilized water • Wood-fired pizza oven & clay Tandoori oven • Relaxed atmosphere & Japanese-style seating • Live music every Sunday - Map#6 Bhagsu Road, Opp. Green Hotel Mcleod Ganj - Map#26 Located on Jogiwara Road, Email: kunsangdolma75@gmail.com across from the Tibetan Reception Center Contact: 9857999373 /9805895574 (down from Post Office) - Map # 9
Om massage centre
HOTEL LADIES’ VENTURE
“The most suitable place for foreigners, holidaymakers, honeymooners, trekkers, and those who wish to commune with nature!”
8 AUSPICIOUS HIM VIEW HOTEL
We offer: Affordable dormitories, well-appointed rooms, boarding, and McLeod Ganj’s FINEST hospitality! Jogiwara Road - Map #11 Mobile - 981 623 5648 Hotel - 01892 22 1559
8 beautiful rooms with balcony facing the Himalayan Range. Enjoy the sunrise from your bed! Phone: 01892-220567 Cell: 9418236603 Jogiwara Rd (Map #12) Email: tseringd@aushimview.com
Your Communication Partner
Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guest House - Map #23 Mobile: 07833047078 Email: mahinder_m@hotmail.com,
Dr Mobile Shop
Mobile Sales, Mobile Repair, Sim Cards, Purchase and Recharge Phone Service
18+ yrs’ experience: Swedish massage courses &
treatment, Zen Shiatsu courses, treatment, reflexology treatment, SPA, Singing Bowl Treatment and many more!
Black Magic Building (underground), Jogiwara Road, Map #4 McLeod Ganj Phone: 9857011101 Contact
Nature Cure Health Club
20
DECEMBER 2016
advertisements
Contact
21
DECEMBER 2016
advertisements Map not to scale
Map of McLeod Ganj showing locations of places of interest
BHAGSU NAG
See advertisement pages for details of advertisers TIPA
21
DHARAMKOT
26 25
Vipassana Centre
Naddi Village Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV)
15
Tushita Centre
McLEOD GANJ
22
MAIN SQUARE
3
Cantt Police Post
23
4
20
1 Lha Main Bazaar
27
5
28
6
16
24
2
12
11
10
29 14
13
Road to Dharamshala
1. Lha Headquarters and Tibet Fair Trade 2. Namgyal Cafe (at Om Hotel) 3. Common Ground Cafe 4. Dr Mobile, Woeser Bakery 5. Black Tent Cafe 6. Carpe Diem Restaurant 10. Perfect 32 Dental Clinic 11. Hotel Ladies’ Venture 12. 8 Auspicious Him View Hotel 13. Ahimsa House and Lha Soup Kitchen 14. Chonor House 15. Lhamo’s Croissant, Dolma Therapy 16. Rinku Taxi Service
17. Central Tibetan Administration,Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Tibetan Library 18. LRZTP Tibetan Language Programme 19. Tibetan Museum and Temple 20. Tibetan Handicraft Centre 21. Taste of India 22. SnowLion Custom Tattoo 23. Nature Cure Health Club 24. Dr Tandon’s Advanced Dental 25. Himalayan Yoga Retreat 26. Om Massage Centre 27. Chapri Handicrafts 28. Marleen’s Thankas & Gifts 29. Dorjee Spa
19
17 18
Road to Dharamshala
Our specialty: Chocolate Vegan cake, Gluten free cake, Fresh Coffee Beans, cappaccino, Chocolate chilli lollipop 9am to 7pm - Closed on Monday
Below “Black Magic Hotel” on Jogiwara Rd -Map#4
Enjoy traditional Taiwanese and Chinese food and peaceful environment, just one minute from the Bus Stand, just behind Asian Plaza! (Map # 3)
NEED A DENTIST?
To advertise here, Contact Lha office at Temple Road, McLeod Ganj
For all your dental requirements under one roof, in a sterile and state of the art clinic
Dr Natasha Mehra @ Perfect 32 Dental Clinic Location: Near Hotel Mount View Jogiwara Rd, McLeod Map #10 Call: 09218742046 Email: perfect32dentalclinic@gmail.com
Tibetan Buddhist Walking Guide
New to the town? Local guide at Mcleod Ganj /Dharamshala. I can tour you around Mcleod Ganj, Triund, Gangkyi, Library, Norbulingka, sight-seeing etc Can speak Tibetan, English, Hindi and Nepali
Name : Dawa Tsering /Mobile no: 8352868671
Contact
22
Lhamo’s Croissant
Vegetarian and Vegan Food Bakery, Coffee shop, French Restaurant Gluten Free and Fresh seasonal juices and salads
Roof top terrace with stunning views Bhagsu Road, just before Kunga Hotel Map#15
DECEMBER 2016
advertisements
Marleen’s Thankas & Gifts We are happy to provide high quality Tibetan thangkas and gifts for all budgets; working with 18 artists we are able to take orders.
Snowlion Custom Tattoo
Artist Passang
Jogiwara Road, 50m down from post office, opposite Tibetan gas office Mc Leod Ganj Map #28 Email: thankas_inn@yahoo.com
May all beings be happy.
snowlion custom tattoo : facebook
Location: near Hotel Tibet - Map#22 Professional Tattto Artist / Traditionally Trained Tibetan Thangka Painter 100% Safe & Hygienic Contact: 9459160626 / 9805286528
Lha Charitable Trust is closed from December 23, 2016 for the Kalachakra. We will resume office from February 1, 2017 For any URGENT enquiry, please contact: Ngawang: 981- 668 - 9222 Rabsel: 981- 615 - 5523 Contact
23
DECEMBER 2016
ལྷ་བོད་ཀྱི་ལུགས་མཐུན་བཟོ་ཚོང་ལས་ཁང་།
Lha Tibet Fair Trade Regd No.U74140HP2013PTC000540 IEC No. 2213006741 TIN: 02060101641 CST: 02060101641 PAN: AACCL5897M
What’s LTFT?
Lha Tibet Fair Trade (LTFT) is a certified Fair Trade company which supports Lha’s charitable work through the sale of traditional Tibetan goods made by local craftspeople.
What we have?
Hand-made woollen carpets, singing bowls, jewellery, goods made from recycled paper, Tibetan home decor pieces and many more!
Why LTFT?
Your shopping and support will contribute to Lha’s numerous social projects and help Lha become more sustainable and self-sufficient.
What we do?
Retail outlet, manufacture, wholesale, import & export, support local artisans, tours and travel.The LTFT is pleased to welcome any businesses wishing to form partnerships and set up exhibition tours.
Drop-in at our store at LHA office, Mon-Sat Phone: +91 (0) 98823-23455 / 1892-220992
W www.tibetfairtrade.com
Lha Tibet Fair Trade
HOTEL D’S CASA Club House Road, Near Liaison Office, Mcleodgan, Himachal Pradesh 176219
D’s CASA McLeodganj
Tel: +91-9857118523 / 9857118380 Email:dscaste;1234@gmail.com :dscasa6@gmail.com Web: www.dscastle.com
Mobile: 98058-75922 Jai Guru Ji 93186-75922 Tour & Travel (A Complete Travel House) 98163-68680 Contact for: All types of Transportation Trekking, Paragliding, Hotels etc ... Address: Club House Road, Mcleodganj, H.P -176219
To advertise here, Contact Lha office at Temple Road, McLeod Ganj
To advertise call Lha office: 01892-220992 or visit Lha office at Temple Rd, McLeod Ganj Map #1
Follow Contact website using the QR code!
Tibet Fair Trade འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།
Contact Newsletter
Managing Director Ngawang Rabgyal Editor-in-Chief Jenny James Editor Tenzin Samten Assistant Editor Dorji Kyi Layout Design Tamdin Yangzom Circulation Manager Lobsang Rabsel Published by Lha Charitable Trust Web: www.lhasocialwork.org www.contactmagazine.net Phone: 91(0)1892-220992 Email:editor@contactmagazine.net Facebook: ContactNews Twitter: @ContactTibet Printed at Imperial Printing, Dharamshala Phone: 222390 Email:ippdsala@gmail.com