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འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།
Contact
A Free Monthly Publication For Tibetan Issues and Community Information RGD No. HPENG/2013/51798 Volume: XX Issue:4 MAY 31, 2018
Five Years for Tashi Wangchuk Children Banned from Saka Dawa by Lodoe Gyatso Tashi Wangchuk, 32, a Tibetan activist, has been given a five year jail sentence in China for “inciting separatism,” because he appeared in a New York Times video in 2016, speaking about his efforts to preserve his native language. The video showed Tashi’s attempts in Beijing to get state media and courts to address what he describes as the Continued on page 3
by Tenzin Tso The sacred month of Saka Dawa takes place in May and in Tibet the Chinese government has enforced a series of measures to prevent Tibetan children from taking part in the festival. A leaked document reveals an order issued by the Education Affairs Committee, the Municipal Peoples Government and the Municipal Education Bureau of the Continued on page 3
30 Tibetans Detained
ICT Calls for Worldwide Action
by Tenzin Tso Chinese authorities in Driru County in Nagchu Prefecture have detained and beaten 30 Tibetans, one of whom remains missing, following the protest against a mining project in early April, according to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). The leader of Markor village, Karma, was detained in Continued on page 5
W www.contactmagazine.net
by Mary Ann Ciosk The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) has released a report calling for reciprocity of access by allowing media and human rights observers into Tibet as well as “an end to policies restricting Tibetan freedom of movement and speech”. It urges “a deeper engagement by governments worldwide on China’s Tibet policy”. The report, Access Continued on page 4
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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 20 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
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Lha is an award-winning, grassroot and non-profit institute for social work and education 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, German, Tibetan, 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
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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 MAY 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
Continued from page 1
Five Years for Tashi Wangchuk
diminishing of the Tibetan language and the “systematic slaughter of our culture.” Tashi spoke in the video in Mandarin, talking about the “pressure and fear” felt by Tibetans but he has never advocated independence from China. Tashi maintains his call for Tibetans to be educated in their mother tongue is their legal right under the constitution of China. Tashi, was detained two months after the video and accompanying article were published, and went on trial in January this year where he pleaded “not guilty” to the charge of incitement to separatism. He was not sentenced until May 22. Tashi’s lawyer Liang Xiaojun has said that he plans to appeal against his sentence and international Tibet support groups have started a petition. The conviction and sentence have been widely reported in the international media, including the New York Times, the Guardian, the Telegraph, the BBC, Deutsche Welle (Germany’s international broadcaster) and the Times of India.
The Times of India commented that “The case highlights the authoritarian government’s extreme sensitivity to issues involving ethnic minorities as well as the risks Chinese citizens run when criticising government policies to foreign media.“ The American State Department made a statement in support of Tashi Wangchuk. “We urge Chinese authorities to release Tashi Wangchuk immediately, and to protect the distinct religious, cultural, and linguistic identity of Tibetans.” The Chair of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights issued a statement expressing concern over China’s harsh sentencing of Tashi Wangchuk, calling on China to drop the charges and release him in line with an official resolution passed by the European Parliament in January. Amnesty International’s statement criticised the sentence: “Today’s verdict against Tashi Wangchuk is a gross injustice. He is being cruelly punished for peacefully drawing attention to the systematic erosion of Tibetan culture. To brand peaceful
activism for Tibetan language as ‘inciting separatism’ is beyond absurd,” said Joshua Rosenzweig, East Asia Research Director at Amnesty International. “Tashi’s treatment exposes the ruthless lengths to which the Chinese authorities will go to silence those who ask the government to stop cultural assimilation. Tashi must be immediately and unconditionally released.” Canada has also lent support in a tweet saying, “Canada calls on the Government of China to release Tashi Wangchuk immediately and unconditionally. Canada urges the Chinese government to uphold its own Constitution and laws, and to respect its international human rights obligations. Canada supports the February 2018 United Nations Special Rapporteurs statement, which condemns the detention of Mr Tashi Wangchuk as the criminalisation of linguistic and cultural rights advocacy,” To watch the New York Times video of Tashi, please visit: http://nyti.ms/1jvdJMG
Children Banned from Saka Dawa Continued from page 1
Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) that Tibetan parents should not take their children to monasteries or let them engage in any other religious events during this month. One school in Tibet is reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA) as sending a notice to parents: “If your children miss any days of school, and are later found to have been secretly taken to a monastery or religious festival, your family will be reported directly to the City Education Bureau…Action will be taken against anyone not complying with this order”. The Chinese authorities have stated that this imposition was driven by the notion of keeping religion and education separate, saying that religion hinders state education. RFA reports a school teacher in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa as saying Contact
“the ban on monastery visits has always extended to teachers and staff in the schools. But they can always recite mantras by themselves.” RFA reports another source as saying that on May 16, “an unusually large number of Tibetans were out walking devotional circuits on both the outer and inner ring roads of the Barkhor in Lhasa’s old Ban notice Photo: DIIR, CTA city centre” and that Tibetans are still observing this holy month despite the numerous restrictions set by the Chinese authorities. Saka Dawa began this year on 3
the 16th of the month in accordance with the Tibetan calendar. Saka Dawa marks the birth, enlightenment, and the Pari nirvana (demise) and noble activities of the Lord Buddha. The full moon day, the 15th day of Saka Dawa, celebrates the Buddha’s three most important deeds, making it the most important and holy day of the month. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama began the month of Saka Dawa by blessing his devotees with the Avalokiteshvara six-syllable empowerment ( Joluk Chenrisig Yege Drukmey Jenang) in Tsuklagkhang, the main temple in Dharamshala. His Holiness said, “these teachings help us counter our self-cherishing attitude and ignorance. All the happiness and joy come from dependence on others. The right attitude for taking care of oneself is in taking care of others”. MAY 2018
NEWS & ISSUES ICT Calls for Worldwide Action Continued from page 1
Denied: China’s enforced isolation of Tibet, and the case for reciprocity, details new policy changes in China focused on increasing control and censorship in Tibet and limiting the mobility of its Tibetan citizens. President of the ICT, Matteo Mecacci, is currently meeting parliamentarians across Europe to discuss the ICT report’s findings and encourage MPs to take action. The first meeting took place in London in the United Kingdom at a round table discussion of the AllParty Parliamentary Group for Tibet (APPGT) on May 9. The discussion focused on finding solutions for the severe restrictions for foreigners wishing to enter Tibet and China’s enforced limitations on Tibetan mobility. Also mentioned was an increase in the dissemination of Chinese propaganda about Tibet to Western countries. According to the ICT report, over the past ten years there have been three times more Chinese officials sent to the West to “tell the world the story of Tibet in China” than Western government representatives permitted to enter Tibet. Following the 2008 uprisings in Tibet and subsequent crackdown, the Chinese state media declared Lhasa the “happiest city in China”. Without outside journalists and officials gaining access to Tibet, information about events in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) cannot be verified. Permits to visit Tibet are extremely difficult to obtain. Additionally, each year in March, the month which marks
the 1959 Lhasa uprising, the TAR is closed to all tourists. A 2016 article in the Washington Post reported that “the Tibet Autonomous Region […] is harder to visit as a journalist than North Korea.” Those who do manage to gain access to Tibet are closely supervised. In February 2018, two New York Times journalists were detained in Chinese custody for 17 hours before being expelled from the country. Additionally, as a result of the tighter restrictions for foreigners accessing Tibet, several NGOs have been forced to close. An additional concern voiced by Matteo Mecacci is that severe restrictions on movement currently in place within the TAR are being expanded to Sichuan, which has a large Tibetan population, and there is concern that in the future this could be rolled out across China. The concerns about reciprocity extend to access to news sources. Countries worldwide have access to Chinese news while Chinese citizens face severe restrictions on their access to news sources from outside the PRC and their communication channels are closely monitored. Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Wikipedia and YouTube are all banned in China: the alternatives that are available are all state controlled. Comments posted which relate to protest or those that are derogatory towards the PRC are censored and can result in the authorities personally questioning the comments’ authors. In his meeting with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, Matteo
Mecacci said, “it is crucial that the principle of reciprocity is implemented not just in terms of trade and the economy, but also in relation to freedom of movement, information and the exchange of peoples.” Following Matteo Macacci’s meeting in London, a number of NGOs met in private to discuss possible solutions at the UK level. In the United States, members of Congress have introduced the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2017 which calls for reciprocity in freedom of movement by allowing access for “United States officials, journalists, and other citizens to Tibetan areas of the People’s Republic of China”. If United States citizens continue to be prevented from entering the TAR, the bill provides for the US government to restrict entry into the United States for Chinese officials. Matteo Macacci’s meetings across Europe will look at ways of encouraging other countries to introduce similar bills to challenge Chinese restrictions. The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) is based in the United States and works to promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet. The Tibet Society in the United Kingdom seeks justice for Tibet through parliamentary lobbying, campaigns and actions.The APPGT is a group of UK MPs with a special interest in Tibet who work closely with the Tibet Society. To read the full ICT report, please visit: www.savetibet.org
Arrest and Release in Tibet this Month
May 21: Man Detained Gangye, a Tibetan man in his 50s living in Trido Town in Sog County in Kham, has been detained after attending a workshop on the new Chinese regulations. Books by HH the Dalai Lama and video CDs of the Kalachakra initiations by His Holiness were found in his house. His family say he has been under surveillance for some time and he and his two sons have been questioned in the past. His current whereabouts are unknown. May 18: Prisoner Freed Dashar, a Tibetan who was jailed for ten years for protesting against Beijing’s rule in Tibet, has been released after serving his full term and has returned home to southwestern China’s Sichuan province. Dashar was a monk at Wonpo Monastery in Sershul and was detained after taking part in the uprising in 2008. He was held for an additional two months after the completion of his sentence. Contact
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NEWS & ISSUES 30 Tibetans Detained Continued from page 1
late February this year after refusing to sign a document which would allow the mining of the sacred mountain in Shakchu, Sebtra Zagyen. All residents of Markor, Wathang and Gochu villages were informed that their refusal to sign the document would be considered a punishable “separatist act”. After news of the mining project and Karma’s detention was leaked to Tibetan exile sources, authorities detained all Tibetans suspected of involvement with the information leak and any related “separatist activity”. Khenrab, a 36 year old government official in Shakchu, lectured Shakchu residents on the value of environmental protection. As a result, he was detained on charges of separatist activities and his whereabouts remain unknown. Sebtra Zagyen is considered the
“supreme, sacred place of mind” according to the first Drong Ngur Choje Gyalwa Gangpa Rinchen Woser, founder of the the Drong Ngur Kagyu Phelgyeling Monastery in 1248. In addition to being a sacred place of worship, Sebtra Zagyen mountain is home to several endangered species
including the tsoe (Tibetan antelope), naur (Himalayan blue sheep) and gowa (Tibetan gazelle). It is also
feared that the mining activities at Sebtra Zagyen could cause landslides at the nearby sacred mountain of Drakar. Such an incident would likely block local villagers’ access to their water supply from the Shakchu and Khechu rivers. The mining activities at Sebtra Zagyen demonstrate the invalidity of the Chinese authorities’ claims that they have not engaged in mining in the Tibetan Autonomous Region for the past four years in order to “prioritise ecological preservation over economic development” in the area. TCHRD calls for the “immediate and unconditional release of all Tibetans detained” and demands that the “whereabouts and condition of all 30 Tibetans as well as the village leader Karma be made available to their family members without further delay.”
Renewed Concerns Along India-Tibet Border
by Marvin Westerveld China continues to expand its mining activities in south Tibetan border areas. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the relatively independent newspaper published in China, geological surveys have found large deposits of gold, silver and precious minerals in Lhunze county – a mere 15 kilometres away from the disputed border with India’s Arunachal Pradesh. The report raises concerns about the motive behind China’s mining activities there. According to an interview with Zheng Youye, a professor at the Chinese University of Geosciences in Beijing, the discovered ores are expected to have a value of US$ 58 billion / £ 44 billion. But the article reports Zheng Youye as suggesting that the development of border areas might also be aimed at gaining control of Indian territories which are claimed by China [Arunachal Pradesh]. Contact
Within the last year, Lhunze county has turned into the biggest mining area within the Tibetan Autonomous Region, says the SCMP report. But there are signs that China intends to further develop the area as construction is underway on an airport with the capacity to handle passenger jets.Several tunnels and roads have already been built in close proximity to the 3,488 kilometre Line of Actual Control [LAC, or the McMahon Line, the de facto border between India and Tibet agreed in the early 20th Century by India, Tibet and the United Kingdom but never recognised by China]. Speaking about the South China Morning Post article in a press briefing the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said the area mentioned by the report “totally belongs to China.” He pointed out “China’s sovereignity” regarding geological surveys and mining in its territory. 5
While it is possible that the Indian side of the border offers similar minerals, the area has not been the focus of geological surveillance or development – causing many residents to leave the area. At the same time, Lhunze county on the Tibetan side shows an immense economic growth, with the average income of residents tripling during the last few years. The McMahon line south of Lunze county is held to be illegal by the Chinese government. They claim Arunachal Pradesh – an Indian state – as “Little Tibet” which, they say, is Chinese territory. “[China] never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh”, said Geng Shuan, a Chinese government spokesperson, earlier this year. The SCMP quotes Professor Zheng as saying, “China conquered South Tibet after launching a war against India in the early 1960s. But our troops had to retreat quickly because we had no people there to hold the land”. MAY 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
TCHRD Exposes HR Abuse in Tibet
2017 Annual Report on HR in Tibet by V Chandni The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) released its Annual Report 2017, Human Rights Situation in Tibet, on May 7. The report introduction says it, “presents an analysis of major human rights abuses committed by Chinese authorities in 2017 and provides
specific recommendations to the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on ending repressive policies and practices in Tibet. Key areas of concern the report highlights are mass surveillance and its repercussions on right to privacy and freedom of expression and opinion; right to freedom of religion and belief; arbitrary detention and torture; and development policy with special focus on poverty alleviation programmes”. The report details the arrests, detentions and torture of prisoners taking place in Tibet along with the forced removal of farmers from their ancestral lands with very little, or no, compensation, the demolitions
by Mary Trewartha TCHRD have published a report of a first-hand account of conditions inside the Chinese “re-education centres” in Tibet. A former monk, who remains anonymous for security reasons, and who spent four months in a reeducation centre in Sog Countyin the Tibet Autonomous Region, has given evidence to TCHRD which validates anecdotal evidence collected by them over recent years. The monk said he was among many other monks and nuns forced to abandon their religious studies,to attend the training – or their families Contact
of religious institutes and the introduction of new surveillance technologies to monitor the activities of the community. The report introduction continues, “Further restrictions were imposed on the right to freedom of religion and belief with the introduction of the revised Regulations on Religious Affairs. Tightening control over religious institutions indicates that the raft of monastery management measures implemented in the past five years would become a permanent feature. This would further contribute towards the securitisation of Tibetan religious and cultural issues resulting in increased religious freedom violations. “The top-down economic development model has had deeply disempowering effects on Tibetans and has led to an artificial growth in Tibetan economy fuelled by massive state subsidies and dominance of Chinese migrants in urban centres. The designation of large swathes of Tibetan land as protected areas has resulted in the steady removal and relocation of Tibetan nomads from the most productive pasture lands thus depriving them of their livelihood sources. Tibetans are not involved during the design and implementation of anti-poverty programmes and their livelihood interests are not protected or given proper consideration.”
A Monk’s Testimony
would face severe sanctions. He said the re-education centre was “a prison” and the education aimed at neutralisinghis faith and loyalty for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Classes were conducted in Chinese and involved self-criticism. Inmates were subjected to torture, food deprivation, sleep deprivation, prolonged wall standing and beatings; he reported sexual abuse, particularly targeted at nuns. The food was so bad it made them ill. He spoke of people, “beaten up so severely with electric batons that they would lose consciousness” only to be revived and beaten again. 6
The report makes recommendations for the PRC and calls on the international community to lobby for their implementation, including cessation of mass surveillance and legislations that “go beyond the reasonable requirements of state security”, revise the Criminal Procedure Law to ensure fair trials, prohibition of torture, release of prisoners of conscience and allowing monasteries to be administered independently and not by the state. It calls on the PRC to “Cease vilification campaigns against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the persecution of those who possess photos or any material concerning the Tibetan spiritual leader”. The report also highlights the
Photo: phayul.com
revisions that were made to China’s Religious Affairs Regulations to give state control over the reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist leaders. Mention is made of the excavation and abuse of Tibet’s natural resources.
The monk finished, “Tibetans are human beings and are entitled to the right to freedom […] We were arrested and detained without committing any crime. No legal proceeding […] was observed”. TCHRD is a non-government organisation based in Dharamshala whose mission is to protect the human rights of the Tibetan people in Tibet and promote the principles of democracy in the exile Tibetan community. To read the full reports, please visit: www.tchrd.org MAY 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
Call for Unity at Middle Way Conference
by Mary Trewartha Over 500 people have gathered for the first international conference on the Middle Way Policy (Umaylam) which is underway in Dharamshala. Members of the Tibetan parliament,
representatives of various nongovernment organisations (NGOs), scholars and students are attending six-day conference which started on May 26. The conference aims to develop a better understanding and to
look at the responsibilities involved for people who are to implement the Middle Way Approach, as well as to call on China to resume dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the genuine autonomy of Tibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed the delegates on May 30 saying, “The Middle Way Approach is the most practical approach and mutually beneficial to both the Tibetan and Chinese”. He continued, “I was the one who introduced Middle Way Approach and I must see it through”. Chinese scholar Prof Ming Xia said that the Chinese people support the Middle Way Approach as evidenced by a very positive response from Chinese people to a statement he had posted online supporting the policy.
Pema Jungney, Speaker elect of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile spoke of the need for unity amongst Tibetans saying, “Whether one supports the Middle Way Approach or independence […] it is important that there is unity within us” and added that Tibetans must face China and not confront each other. He launched a newly published collection of speeches on Umaylam by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and former Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche. The conference has been jointly organised by the People’s Movement for Middle Way, a Tibetan NGO based in Dharamshala and Youth for Umaylam – the Middle Way Approach (Y4U) from Minnesota, United States.
His Holiness Meets Rangzen Conference Participants by Deepak Rana Ngawang Jigme – he was the leader movement. His Holiness the Dalai Lama of the Tibetan delegation sent to The opening ceremony was granted an audience to the exiled China in 1951 to negotiate for Tibet’s attended by Ajay Singh Mankotia, Tibetans supporting the cause for an freedom in the face of the Chinese President of the Dharamshala Indoindependent Tibet on the final day invasion. Today China still uses this Tibetan Friendship Association as of the fifth International Rangzen document to validate its claim that Chief Guest. The guests of honour Conference in Dharamshala. Tibet is part of the People’s Republic included Tibetan writer-activists Rangzen, which is Tibetan Lhasang Tsering and Jamyang for “freedom”, is the name Norbu, veteran Indian of a movement which journalist and long-time Tibet describes itself as a “loose supporter Vijay Kranti and network of volunteers” who Tibetan Parliamentarians believe in and work for Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar, an independent Tibet free Geshe Monlam Tharchin, from Chinese rule. It has no Tenpa Yarphel, Serta Tsultrim official status and its main and Juchen Konchok. objective is to “keep the The conference concluded dream of Rangzen alive”. on May 25 with a declaration More than a hundred Prominent Tibetan independence advocates Jamyang Norbu (left), that the demand for an Tibetan activists, students Lhasang Tsering (second right), Tenzin Tsundue (right), and supporter independent Tibet, which is and community leaders Vujay Kranti, during the Fifth International Rangzen Conference “the will of the dead and hope Photo: Tibet Sun from India, Nepal, United of the living” will be passed States of America and Europe of China and not an independent on as inheritance from father to son attended the three-day meeting which country. and generations to come will treat this began on May 23. During the conference the struggle as their soul. May 23 was chosen for its participants reviewed the Tibetan Rangzen conferences have been held historical significance as the day the freedom movement and discussed since 2012, the first in Dharamshala “Seventeen-Point Agreement” was issues ranging from the ongoing crisis in 2012 since when three more have signed on May 23, 1951, in Beijing. in Tibet to creating and agreeing taken place: Delhi in 2015, New York The agreement was signed by Ngabo practical steps for the freedom City in 2016, and Paris in 2017. Contact
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NEWS & ISSUES
The Panchen Lama: Still Missing
by Nivedita Nair A new report has been published by Tibet advocacy groups, Missing for Over 20 Years, which calls on world leaders to act “urgently and robustly” to confront China over the
abduction and disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima. Gedun Choekyi Nyima was six years old when he and his family were taken by the Chinese authorities from his home in Tibet. May 17 this year marked 23 years since his abduction.
The report calls on the European Union and the United Kingdom to reignite the strong call for tangible evidence of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s well-being. Tibetans and supporters around the world mark the anniversaries of the Panchen Lama’s birthday in April and his disappearance on May 17, with events to draw attention to his plight and demands for answers from the Chinese authorities as to his whereabouts. Dolma Yangchen, President of the Tibetan Women’s Association has said in response to China’s assertion that he is alive and well and receiving a good education, “If the 11th Panchen Lama is receiving a good education, leading a normal and happy life just like any other children as China claims, then why are there so many restrictions and attention from China on the Panchen Lama, unlike any other children?” The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) continues to point out that the Chinese government has defaulted
repeatedly in providing evidence for their claims that the Panche Lama is well, despite repeated approaches made by the Tibetan community, global human rights and Tibet support groups and governments of countries across the world. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was recognised as the 11th Panchen Lama by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 1995 in Tibet when he was only six years old. Three days later he was
abducted by the Chinese authorities and has been unseen and unheard of since making him the youngest – and longest-serving – political prisoner in the world. Following his abduction China selected and established another child – Gyaltsen Norbu – as their “official” 11th Panchen Lama.
Dialogue Between Russian Scientists and Buddhist Scholars by Mary Ann Ciosk His Holiness the Dalai Lama participated in a round table discussion with nine Russian scientists at the conference Understanding the World: The second dialogue between Russian scientists and Buddhist scholars which took place in the main temple in Dharamshala on May 3-4. The discussion focused on the topics discussed in His Holiness’s book The Universe in a Single Atom: the Convergence of Science and Spirituality. The event was organised by several Russian scientific institutions and Tibet support centres as well as His Holiness’s own foundation, the Dalai Lama Trust. In the conference, as in his book, His Holiness examined how quantum mechanics, cosmology, neurobiology and psychology relate to Buddhism and noted how these fields often Contact
overlap. While quantum physics is a relatively new field in the West, he asserts that the same concepts were recorded in Buddhist texts 2000 years ago. For example, Buddhists believe that there were multiple “big bangs” – a concept now gaining acceptance in modern science. While different religions share the common belief that we need to practice kindness, His Holiness contends that this view has failed to be accepted and enacted by the majority of the world’s population. Since the secular perspective of science has a broader appeal, he hopes that it will be a more effective means of showing people the benefits of kindness and compassion. “At this very moment, people are being killed elsewhere in places like Syria and Yemen, while others are dying of starvation. And worst of all 8
there are people killing each other in the name of religion. We contradict our compassionate nature out of a short-sighted failure to recognise the oneness of seven billion human beings.” Russian neurobiologist Prof Pavel Balaban discussed his research finding that 30-40% of rats, in common with other species, reveal a natural sense of compassion. His Holiness agreed that many mammals show emotions and proposed that further research could examine whether insects and reptiles are also capable of showing appreciation and compassion. The two-day conference explored many other subjects at the intersection of science and Buddhism including neuroplasticity, how to control emotions and the relationship between the brain and consciousness. MAY 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
Tibetan Institute Honoured by Vijay Bhatia Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has honoured the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS) with the Vaisakh Samman Prasasti Patra on Buddha Purnima (the Buddha’s birthday) saying, “We are fortunate to have the teachings of Lord Buddha among us even after 2,500 years”. CIHTS is a centrally funded institute, set up in 1967 in Sarnath by Jawaharlal Nehru in consultation with His Holiness the Dala Lama to educate young Tibetans in exile. It aimed to re-translate Indo-Buddhist Sanskrit texts that now exist only in Tibetan into Sanskrit, Hindi and other modern languages.It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture and run by the Central Tibetan Administration which runs programmes for cultural preservation. It is a unique institution in India. The Buddha Purnima celebration took place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi, organised
and hosted by the Ministry of Culture and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and attended by Buddhist monks and leaders from Vietnam, Japan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The celebration included Buddhist cultural performances with chanting of hymns and dance theatre,
Photo: Hindustan Times
The Light of Inner Self, performed by the Bengal Buddhist Association. Addressing the crowd, Mr Modi spoke of India as a country which has always showed values of compassion, kindness and humanity – values which highly resemble the teachings of the Buddha and said the country was proud the Buddhist philososphy had
originated here. He also mentioned that the Government has allocated Rs 360 Crores [$530,000/£390,000] for the development of the Buddhist circuit: The Buddhist Circuit is a series of significant Holy Buddhist Sites – where Lord Buddha was born, attained Enlightenment, preached the first sermon and reached Nirvana. “Lord Buddha’s message of love and compassion can be of immense benefit to the world today”, added Mr Modi. Representing the Ministry of Culture, Dr Mahesh Sharma said, “Our Honourable Prime Minister – as an ambassador of Buddha’s noble philosophy of Compassion, Humanity and Love – has been successfully taking these to the countries across the world which he has been visiting. Lord Buddha did not just preach, he also practised what he preached. He provided human beings the vision of Humanity and Compassion which, when practised, can make this world a better place to live in.”
12th TWA General Body Meeting by Choeyang Wangmo The 12th General Body Meeting of the Tibetan Women’s Association, one of the largest non-government organisations in the Tibetan community, was held from May 11 – 16 at Tibetan College for Higher Studies, Sarah, near Dharamshala. 190 Tibetan women from 37 different regions gathered to present each chapter’s work and financial reports and to discuss resolutions for the next three years. The inauguration of the meeting was done in the presence of Chief Guest Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, former Prime Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration and Special Guests including Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and Mrs Rinchen Khando, Director of the Tibetan Nun’s Project, Dolma Contact
Ling. The opening ceremony was also attended by other dignitaries including members of parliament and heads of various organisations in the Tibetan exile diaspora. The participants were granted an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on May 14, during which His Holiness spoke about women’s capability for the promotion of compassion in the world and went on to emphasise their responsibility to promote compassion. His Holiness said, “As mothers, you have a special responsibility to instill the sense of compassion and love in your children. I loved my mother very much because she was a very compassionate woman. Not one day did I ever see my mother with an angry face but my father was not as compassionate”. The meeting concluded with the 9
election of new executives; Dolma Yangchen was re-elected President with 137 votes; Kalsang Youdon was elected Vice President – she was formerly Public Relations Officer. Others included Tsering Choezom (General Secretary), Dolma
Tsering (Permanent Executive), Tenzin Dolma ( Outstanding Executive-Bylakuppe), Tashi Lhamo (Outstanding ExecutiveDelhi), DechenDolkar (Outstanding Executive-Italy) and Tashi Dolma (Outstanding ExecutiveUttarakhand). MAY 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
Conference Calls for Human Rights and Freedom Across Asia
by Kyra Grue The First International Conference Building Freedom, Democracy and Peace in Asia took place from May 11 – 12 at the India International Centre in New Delhi. Participants agreed a statement that universal human rights and freedoms are under threat across Asia and that immediate action is necessary to stop destructive policies and oppressive regimes that are negatively impacting Tibet and the larger region. The conference, organised by the Tibetan Youth Congress, brought together delegates from Tibet, Vietnam, Hong Kong, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Japan, Philippines, Southern Mongolia, Taiwan and Thailand. A joint statement was released after the conference saying that
constructive strategies had been formed, including a call to the Government of China to “ensure freedom, human rights and selfdetermination for the people of Tibet, Southern Mongolia, Hong Kong” and also to “stop their aggressive policies that are expansionist and interfering
Photo: TYC Facebook
in nature on neighbouring countries like Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Myanmar.” Delegates also agreed that the
people and nations of Asia have an opportunity to be part of the solution by proactively voicing the need for equal human rights within their own countries. Tenzing Jigme, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress, reflected, “This is a good first step. The concern regarding China’s expansionist policies are real and all the participants recognised the need for us to work together in order to overcome the challenges we face. The hope is to build upon the ideas and strategies laid out during the conference to ensure that rights of all people are respected.” The conference was held on the date of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and also the 25th anniversary of the Vienna Conference on Human Rights.
Sustainability Practice by Simon Cavendish, Marvin Westerveld and Amelia Rozelle World Environment Day is held on June 5 every year. The day gives us a chance to think about how we live – and whether it is sustainable or not. Sustainability means to develop in a way that does not negatively affect future generations. It means thinking about the impacts of our behaviour for the economy, society and environment. Sustainability has been practised for over 30 years. In 1990, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “As people alive today, we must consider future generations: a clean environment is a human right like any other. It is […] part of our responsibility […] to ensure that the world we pass on is as healthy, if not healthier, than we found it“. And it is possible for the economy, society and environment to benefit at the same time, as the series of articles in Contact magazine have shown over
the last few months. Some initiatives have a set up and maintenance cost, or the need for a change in approach or behavior, which can offset the benefit. One example is elimination
of car horns in Kathmandu which was behavioural, but this is one example which could apply in McLeod Ganj. Following a product from its raw materials through the production, distribution and consumption to its
disposal may show inefficiencies which can be economically costly or have negative impacts on people or the environment.Waste prevention is especially important. Undertaking an eco-footprint analysis will show how sustainable your behaviour is and how to best reduce your footprint. Because of unsustainable production, use and disposal, plastic is becoming a severe problem world wide. For this reason, Lha Charitable Trust invites the readers of Contact magazine to write an essay on the topic Beat Plastic Pollution, details are to be found on page 24 (back cover). All of us have a responsiblity to think about how sustainable our behaviour is – and what can be done to improve it. World Environment Day gives us a great opportunity to do that. For full details and links to the series of articles please see this article online at www.contactmagazine.net
This the final article of our series of articles about the environment leading up to World Environment Day on June 5 and our essay competition. Contact
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NEWS & ISSUES Delek Hospital: Serving the Community This article about Delek Hospital is the first in our new series of articles about the NGOs (non-government organisations) in the Tibetan exile community. Contact is launching this series to highlight the actions, achievements and concerns of the NGOs – to support them in their work and to inform our readers about their activities and the causes they support.
by Lodoe Gyatso Delek Hospital is built into the side of the mountain where it stands defiantly but solidly against the laws of gravity. Outside, the road between Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj winds its way up the steep incline past the Central Tibetan Administration head office. C h i e f Administrator of the hospital Dawa Phunkyi Dawa Phunkyi cuts a similar Photo: Lodoe Gyatso/ steadfast look. Contact He started at the hospital in 1987 has been there ever since apart from a three-year break doing a stint at the Department of Health. He has been in his current position for the past ten years. As he speaks, he draws one into the institution and its trials and victories. Delek Hospital has been in existence for 47 years. In that time it has grown from a small outpatient clinic to a full hospital which has made a name for itself around the world. It provides services to all who need health care without discrimination. For example, 10% of the hospital’s patients are Indian nationals. The vision for the hospital was first espoused by Tswewang Rinchen Rishing, a man without medical training but with drive and determination. He faced major financial hurdles which he overcame with the help of selfsacrifice. For example, on one occasion he organised a lottery for his wife’s prized Tibetan jewellery. When the overseas winner donated the jewellery back to him, he pawned it and used the funds for construction work. This ethic of service to the community has been a hallmark of the hospital throughout its existence. Dawa Phunkyi is particularly proud of the fact that all are welcome. Charges at the hospital are minimal. Outpatients are charged Rs 10 (US$ 15 cents / Contact
£ 11p) for a doctor’s consultation. If they are admitted to the hospital, patients pay Rs 40 per day, including 3 meals, 2 teas, bed and nursing. The hospital receives no grants from the Tibetan government. Instead it raises the majority of its funds by generous donations from dedicated supporters and contributors worldwide. The Outpatient Department is situated in the hospital, with a second clinic at the Community Health Centre located next to the Green Hotel on Bhagsu Road in McLeod Ganj. 50-60 patients are attended to each day at the hospital. The Community Health Centre on Bhagsu Road sees a minimum of 15 patients per day and provides services such as ante natal checkups, child immunisations and administration of tuberculosis (TB) medication. The hospital also provides dental, eye care and pharmacy services.The Inpatient Department has a capacity of 45 beds, the majority of which are occupied by TB patients.The Laboratory and X-Ray Department has a fully digital x-ray machine, ECG and TB screening equipment. The laboratory has facilities for a wide variety of tests such as hepatitis, HIV, lipid profile, sugar, dengue and sputum tests. A major part of the history of the hospital is the fight against TB, and Dawa Phunkyi is very eager to talk about this. A book has been published this year telling this story, entitled Overcoming Tuberculosis: A History of Tibetan Delek Hospital’s TB Programme. It highlights the fact that Tibetans have some of the highest rates of TB infection in the world at 431 cases per 100,000 population. As the majority of TB cases are found among the Tibetan youth and children, a new initiative, Zero TB in Tibetan Kids, has been started with the support of Johns Hopkins University. It has as its long-term aim the elimination of TB among Tibetan children in schools, monasteries and nunneries and includes: active TB case finding 11
using the latest diagnostic technology; contact tracing to identify the source of TB infections; using TB prophylaxis to treat children with latent TB and reporting and surveillance to highlight those at risk of infection and disease. The initial phase of the project will be in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand where over 10,000
Delek Hospital based in Dharamsala
schoolchildren and approximately 2,000 young students in monasteries and nunneries will be screened. In the next phase the project will be extended to Tibetan schools across South India. Delek Hospital is recognised both nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence for the treatment of TB. Another new development is the construction of accommodation for patients in Chandigarh. This was funded by a Tibetan family in Switzerland. Asked about obstacles that Delek Hospital is facing, Dawa Phunkyi becomes grave. A continuing concern for the hospital is fundraising. In the past it has been supported by a wide variety of organisations, each of which assisted for a critical period in the history of the hospital. This gives one hope that at the right time a financial backer will be found to take the work forward. Another concern is the lack of specialist staff such as heart specialists and gynaecologists. Delek Hospital assists by providing diagnostic services and referring patients to the appropriate service provider. At the end of the meeting one can’t help but to be passionate about Delek Hospital as a vital service to the people of Dharamsala. MAY 2018
NEWS & ISSUES May 30:Tibetan Radio Australia! SBS, the top Australian radio service, has launched a weekly Tibetan language programme, along with four other languages, in their new radio app. The programme will share stories and celebrate the Tibetan culture and people and will include community updates and a settlement guide with expert advice and tips. The service will be produced by Pema Dolkar. May 26: Sherab Gatsel Lobling Sherab Gatsel Lobling, a school for new arrivals from Tibet, especially young Tibetans aged between 18 and 30, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an event for this year’s graduation. The school was founded in 1993 under the administration of the Tibetan Reception Centre. Currently, it is under the Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) Education Department. May 25: Tibetan Business Community The 13th Annual General Meeting of the Tibetan Chamber of Commerce is underway. Dr Lobsang Sangay, President of the CTA, attended the meeting and stressed the moral responsibility of the Tibetan business community towards social welfare and, most importantly, towards the Tibetan cause. May 23: Livelihood Fund The second Tibetan Refugee Livelihood Support Programme has been launched by the CTA. INR 21 Crore (US $ 3 Million / £ 2 Million) is earmarked to provide loans to the most needy members of the Tibetan community at a minimal 4% interest rate. The pilot programme last year supported nearly 900 Tibetan sweater sellers who repaid in full earlier this year, earning the admiration of USAID, the funding agency. May 22: Leadership Training The third leadership workshop for young Tibetans is underway at the Tibetan Administrative Training Centre which is based in the Tibetan Reception Centre near Khanyara. 34 students from colleges across India are participating in the six-day workshop which has been organised by the Department of Education of the CTA. Topics covered will include leadership, the Tibetan Charter, democracy and the Middle Way Approach. Contact
Tibetan Headlines
May 19: Case Against Kashag Former North America Representative PenpaTsering has filed a legal case against the Kashag (Tibetan Cabinet) for their decision to oust him from his role as the Representative of the Office of Tibet in Washington DC last year. PenpaTsering has taken the matter to the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission. May 16: Concerns in Nepal The Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Geneva has expressed concern about the conditions for Tibetans living in Nepal and the “absence of legal protection for refugees and asylum seekers; appropriate humanitarian assistance for migrants and the [non] availability of personal identification documents for Tibetan refugees”. May 16: Monks Banned Tibetan monks who have been educated in India have been banned by the Chinese authorities from teaching Buddhism in Lithang County in Kham in Tibet. A Chinese spokesperson said, “Those awarded the degree overseas are not acknowledged by China and are not qualified to teach Buddhism in the country”. May 15: Nomads Appeal Around 60 nomad families are appealing to the Chinese authorities for the return of their grazing land which has been seized for a tourist development at Marthang township in Nyemo county. The land has been the main source of livelihood for the nomads who have farmed there for generations; deprived of their grazing, their animals are now starving to death. May 15: Helium in Tibet China has discovered helium which could be exploited industrially in the Ngari prefecture of western Tibet, reports the Tibetan Review. Helium is an inert gas widely used in aerospace, low temperature superconductivity, the nuclear industry and scientific research. Until now China has imported helium. May 11: EU Support A three-member European Union delegation visiting Dharamshala has condemned China’s re-education policy and the suppression of minority languages as well as expressing admiration of the 12
“fair and democratic” Tibetan election process. MEP Thomas Mann said he hopes “That you have the chance to exercise real autonomy soon”. May 10: Tibet Festival in Japan Hundreds of people gathered for Prayer for World Peace, a nine-day Tibet festival held at the Aida Mitsuo Museum in Tokyo. Monks from Sera Jay Monastery in south India showcased the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism with morning prayer sessions, cham or ritual dance, Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice and a programme of talks. May 4: National Award Tenzin Kunchok, a young former Tibetan Village School student, has won a top award for a professional in the film and TV industry – the 2017-2018 National Award for editing. He has edited for the BBC and NDTV as well as the Tibetan film Girl from China. His award was presented at the 65th National Film Awards in New Delhi. May 2: Task Force The Tibetan exile government’s Task Force on Sino-Tibetan Dialogue is in session in Dharamshala and will review prospects for dialogue between envoys of HH the Dalai Lama and Chinese representatives. The Task Force expressed hope that the current political climate, with the recent meeting between the South and North Korean leaders, could bode well for Tibet. The last dialogue with China took place in 2010. May 2: New Website A new website tibterminology.net has been launched by the CTA’s Department of Education, together with the 11th volume of the Glossary of Standardised Terms. The website is aimed at increasing awareness and use of Tibetan terminology and was developed by a young Tibetan entrepreneur. The project was funded by DANIDA, Denmark. May 1: China Retaliates China has responded to the Special Resolution passed in the United States supporting the right of Buddhists to select their own reincarnate lamas, including HH the Dalai Lama, without interference from China saying, “China’s laws and regulations should not be interfered [with] by anybody or any foreign country”. MAY 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
International Headlines
May 31: Killer Virus The outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in Kerala has claimed two more victims, with the death toll now confirmed at 15. The rare virus, which has no known cure, causes inflammation of the brain and severe respiratory symptoms. No cases have been confirmed outside Kerala despite fears that it had spread. May 25: Social Media Rumour Mobs in south India have killed at least five people and injured over 20. Gang mobs in south Indian states are targeting “strangers” - migrants from north India - all because of social media rumours of “child kidnapping gangs”. The lynching of a 55 year old woman saw more than 30 people arrested in one incident. May 24: Baghdad Suicide Bomb At least four people were killed and 16 wounded in a suicide bomb blast in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, when an attacker detonated an explosive vest after he was surrounded by security guards at the entrance to the Saqlawiyah Park. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
May 23: Hindus Killed An Amnesty International (AI) investigation has revealed that Rohingya Muslim militants in Myanmar killed up to 99 Hindu civilians last August, many of them children. The massacre, bythe Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa),took place during the uprising against Burmese forces. Arsa has denied any involvement. May 22: Film to Go Ahead A documentary film about the life of Taiwanese legislator and rock sensation Freddy Lim is due to be screened at Taiwan’s biggest indie film festival, the Urban Nomad festival, despite pressure from China. Freddy Lim is a supporter of HH the Dalai Lama and Tibet, sparking China’s anger in the past. May 21: Eating Pork China is compelling Uighurs – the Muslim inhabitants of Xinjiang (East Turkestan in north west China) – to eat pork and drink alcohol during the Muslim Ramadam, threatening arrest and detention in mass re-education camps for those who refuse. Reports suggest that up to one million Muslims have been confined, including foreign nationals. Contact
May 18: Explosive Eruption Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has erupted sending ash 30,000ft (9,100m) into the sky. Lava has wrecked dozens of homes and forced hundreds of people to be evacuated. A red aviation code has been issued warning pilots to avoid the potentially damaging ash cloud. People in the area affected by ash have been advised to stay in their homes. May 16: Border Protests The Israel-Palestine border at Gaza has seen dozens killed as Palestinians attempted a mass border crossing in protest at the relocation of the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The move demonstrates US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and has sparked protest from Palestinians who see Jerusalem as a sacred place for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. May 15: GAP Apologises The clothing company GAP is the latest big corporation to apologise to China for causing offence. GAP’s new range of T-shirts include a map of China, omitting Taiwan and the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh both of which China claims as its own territory – and threatens sanctions when this is not respected internationally. GAP is still selling the T-shirts in America. May 11: Flood Devastation Heavy rains in Kenya have caused a dam to burst, killing at least 41 people, flooding schools and homes and leaving more than 2,000 people homeless. The breach was at Solai, 190km (120 miles) north-west of the capital Nairobi.The Kenyan Red Cross has rescued about 40 people. May 10: World’s Oldest Leader Malasia has the world’s oldest Prime Minister after their former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 92, defeated Malasia’s ruling coalition in a surprise election. Dr Mahathir Mohamad was Malaysia‘s Prime Minister between 1981 and 2003. He will be sworn in today for the new term.
Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the ninth outbreak there. In 2014 more than 11,000 people died in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The World Health Organisation has released $1m (£738,000) and deployed 50 experts to work in the Congo. May 5: First Step North Korea is to move its clocks forward by half an hour to match South Korea’s time as “the first practical step” towards reunification. Two clocks side by side in Panmunjom, the town in the “Demilitarised Zone” where the two countries’ leaders recently met, show North and South Koreas’ times. May 4: Sunscreen Banned Hawaii has passed a bill banning the sale of sunscreens containing chemicals known to harm coral reefs, these include those containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, which some scientists say contribute to coral bleaching, and which are used in over 3,500 popular sunscreen products. May 3: China’s Influence Business Insider Australia, the business news website, has published a report drawing attention to the growing attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to influence international politics and societies. China is shown to interfere with the Australian media with Chinese agents using intimidation and financial incentives to further their interests and control discussion of “sensitive” topics. May 2: Football Crazy! Iranian women are disguising themselves as men, wearing wigs and beards, so they can attend football matches – although there is no official ban on women going to sporting events, they are often refused entry and in the past have been punished for attending games.
May 9: Ebola Returns An Ebola outbreak has been declared after two cases were confirmed in the
May 1: Informal Summit The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with their support delegations, are holding an informal summit in China, described as a “trust building exercise” to “solidify relations”. Modi was given a grand welcoming ceremony and it is hoped the meeting will be positive, in contrast to recent hostile exchanges.
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DHARAMSHALA VOICES by Nancy Metashvili Back in 1969, when I was a rather young girl who really wanted to meet the Dalai Lama, I set out overland to go to India. Shall we point out, travel was not easy then? Quite a few of us were traveling to India, the media called it the “Hippie Trail to Kathmandu” but I was the only one I met who was heading to McLeodGanj. A f t e r hitchhiking to Srinagar with a friend, and a spell on Dal Nancy still lives in Lake, I rode on Mcleod Ganj the top of a lorry (with just my pet mongoose) heading down to Himachal. The villages we passed were tiny, traditional, and the people gawked at foreigners. They were also quite afraid of the mongoose; at a rest stop I set him free to flourish in the forest and find a partner and start a family. He had been originally rescued from captivity in a tailor’s shop in Khainndahar, Afghanistan. His descendants no doubts are the ones we see today, scurrying around town. Arriving finally in Lower Dharamshala, I started walking up the hill. Night was coming on, so I accepted the invitation of two sadhus to spend the night at the little Krishna temple en route. It was a bad idea, and an uneasy night. Some things never change. Kindly neighbours helped me out, and the next morning I continued hiking. McLeod Ganj then was tiny, just one little street and a few low dim houses. Nowrojee’s shop was there, and one tiny café. There was a giant prayer wheel in what is now the main square, and a patch of mud surrounded it. Monsoon mud. One Tibetan family had a tent in this muddy square, one of
Perhaps, Someday…. those old-fashioned canvas tents, cold and wet looking, and every morning they would emerge on hands and knees, big smiles on their faces. Then they would begin to circumambulate around the prayer wheel. I found a small room overlooking the prayer wheel, and soon started to meet the Tibetan refugees living in town. They were very kind but still traumatised by what they had gone through. I remember one lady, tears streaming down her face, in broken English telling me “They deaded (sic) my husband.” As I had almost no money, I was living on cups of tea people offered, and never did get to taste any momos! I was given an old-style chuba, green colour, which I wore for years. The refugees, despite their own poverty, were so kind and generous. And of course, very devout. The surrounding hills were thickly forested, with trees everywhere you looked. No hotels! No restaurants! No tourists or roads! No trash! Life was
Early Tibetans working on the roads Photo: Tibet News Facebook
simple, maybe some electricity or not. Herds of goats and sheep. People walked everywhere (no rickshaws, no taxis, no huge buses!). The Parliament was not yet built, nor the Library, nor the Tsuglagkhang Temple. I saw no other foreigners. I don’t remember seeing any monks. The main work available to people was breaking rocks, you would see families living by the roadside, squatting and hitting
rocks over and over, making them into gravel. The children were either helping if they were big enough, or playing quietly in those dangerous conditions. And the Dalai Lama… Despite that being my main reason for being there, I never did meet him. People said, “oh just go along that path, and turn up and ….” And I
First anniversary celebration for the nursery for Tibetan children in Dharamshala on May 17, 1961Photo: Tibet News Facebook
started out. Then I got a bit lost, and lost my nerve. Why would the Dalai Lama want to meet me? Nowadays I think maybe he would not have minded, as there were so few making the pilgrimage then. But I was so shy and timid, I let the chance pass. Perhaps it was also a Buddhist idea that it wasn’t right to be attached to desires. Reckoning that if it were meant to be, I would meet him someday. It is still a regret. And so many years later I returned. The town was unrecognisable, with its crowding, flashing lights and chaotic noises. The jumble of ugly constructions, swarms of tourists, honking traffic, monks by the dozen, and Tibetans no longer so friendly, overwhelmed with it all. Now I’ve seen the Dalai Lama many times, and had a brief touch on the hand in blessing, but I am rather sorry at missing the opportunity to chat with him. Perhaps if it is meant to be, that will someday come about.
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/ The People stories on the Dharamshala Voices page online tell the stories of the people who make up the Tibetan exile community in Dharamshala and elsewhere, as well as the stories of Lha students and volunteers, told in their own words. Contact
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Workshop for NGOs
Two Lha staff members, General Secretary Dorji Kyi and Office Receptionist Choeyang Wangmo, participated in a two-session workshop Strengthening Tibetan Civil Societies for Tibetan non-government organisations (NGOs) based in McleodGanj, Dharamshala. The first, four-day session from May 16 to 19, provided training on self-assessment and strategic planning with Pratik Kumar, a senior consultant. The second, three-day session from May 28 to 30, provided training on fundraising by Dawa Dem, a development specialist. The two workshops were organised at Lha’s Ashimsa conference hall by the Tibet Fund, US for the benefit of the NGOs funded by them.
GapForce Student Group
Lha hosted the second group of students from GapForce through our Cultural Exchange Programme. The 11 students and their group leader stayed with us for a week-long programme and were introduced to the Tibetan community here in Dharamshala by taking part in various activities including our English conversation classes, visiting the Tibet museum, Tibetan library, Tibetan Medical and Astrology Institute and attending a teaching by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We provided two talks for them - one talk on human rights issues in Tibet by Tibetan parliamentarian Mr Lobsang Yeshi, and a talk on Buddhist meditation in daily life by Geshe Lhakdor, the director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
LHA NEWS AND PROJECTS Lha could not provide the services we do without the support of our wonderful volunteers who help in so many ways and inspire us with their enthusiasm. Every month we ask a volunteer to share their story. This month Corinne Dobinson from the United Kingdom tells us her story. Volunteer Job at Lha: News writer, tutor and conversation class assistant
A Deeper Experience through Volunteering I had the pleasure of volunteering for Lha in April. I was involved in tutoring two students in conversational English, joining the drop-in conversation class in the late afternoons and writing for Contact magazine. I stayed at Ahimsa House, the volunteer guesthouse just below the main temple, which had good facilities and was competitively priced. Having not taught English conversation before I was a little daunted to begin with, but I soon found common ground with my two students, who I believe were thoughtfully matched with me by Lha. We developed a lovely relationship and as well as having interesting discussions, things were light-hearted and we had a lot of fun. Inevitably, during conversation classes, I heard people’s stories; a first hand account of the struggles people have had and are still undergoing. This might have included crossing the mountains by foot from Tibet into Nepal or India, or taking a long bus journey of the same kind, but in either case, separation from family. What impressed me though was the cheerfulness and determination of the people I met, despite their hardships. It is wonderful that organisations such as Lha are there to help them, providing affordable education to help them build
a new life. Volunteering for Lha means one makes a contribution to that. I had never written in a journalistic style before, so writing for the magazine was also a new experience for me. I wrote two different articles; one reported on the lectures given by Professor Samdhong Rinpoche and another focused on a Tibetan refugee in Sweden being charged with espionage. The former was written from my personal experiences from attending the lectures and the latter, very differently, reporting from other media sources. I received some useful feedback from the editor before the articles were published. Staying for a whole month and volunteering gave me the opportunity to “get beneath the skin” of the community. It allowed me to see how McLeod Ganj functions on a day-to-day basis. It wasn’t long before I began to bump into people I recognised and who recognised me, and a sense of belonging developed. I would therefore recommend lingering a while in McLeod Ganj and getting to know the people. Volunteering for Lha can provide you with a much richer and satisfying experience than staying in a place for a short period of time and moving on once the novelty wears off.
Contact magazine is published by Lha Charitable Trust
Lha Charitable Trust is an award-winning, grassroots, non-profit organisation and one of the largest Tibetan social work institutes based in Dharamshala, India. Lha has been striving to provide vital resources for Tibetan refugees, local Indian communities, and people from the Himalayan regions for 20 years. Lha was registered as a charitable trust by the Indian Government in 2005. For more information, please visit www.lhasocialwork.org To keep up to date with news of what’s happening in Tibet and in the Tibetan exile community, follow Contact magazine online at www.contactmagazine.net Facebook: Contact News / Twitter: Contact News Contact
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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: www.tibetanlibrary.org LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong PHONE: 9882255047 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
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PHONE: 9882786875
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. LOCATION:Sidhpur, Dharamshala PHONE:9882144210 EMAIL: info@norbulingka.org WEB:www.norbulingka.org
MAY 2018
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
Tibetan Dubbing Society
Tibetan Dubbing Society, founded in 2015, is a non-profit organisation working towards preserving Tibetan language through various forms of entertainment and dubbing animation movies into Tibetan language for Tibetan children. LOCATION: Near Norbulinga Institute WEBSITE: www.tibetdub.org EMAIL: savetiblang@gmail.com CONTACT: +91-8629837735
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: 4:00am (Rs 554), 6pm (Rs 580), 7:30 pm (Rs 570) Semi Deluxe Bus: 5pm (Rs 590) , 6:30pm (Rs 590) Full Deluxe Bus: (Rs683) AC Volvo Semi-Sleeper: 8:15 am (Rs 1243), 5:35pm (Rs 1275), 7:00pm (Rs 1275), 8:50pm (Rs1275) AC TATA: 5:50pm (Rs 972) AMRITSAR: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs257) *from Dharamshala DEHRADUN: Ordinary Bus: 2pm (Rs 560) 8pm (Rs 551); VOLVO: 7pm (Rs 1199) MANALI: Ordinary Bus: 7:10am (Rs358 *from Dharamshala / VOLVO: 11:30 pm (Rs 782) PATHANKOT: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs 136) * from Dharamshala SHIMLA: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs 408), 6am (Rs 360), 7:50am (Rs 375), 8:am (Rs 520) 7:45 pm (Rs 363), 12pm (Rs 367) *from Dharamshala, Semi-Deluxe Bus: 9:30pm (Rs455) *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. TA X I S 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.
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MAY 2018
activities and information UPCOMING EVENTS June 6 to 8, 2018: His Holiness will give three days of teachings on Shantideva’s A Guide to the Boddhisattva’s Way of Life (chodjug) June 28, 2018: Universal Prayer Day July 6, 2018: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday July 16, 2018: Buddha’s first teaching (Choe Khor-Duechen)
BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives WEB: www.tibetanlibrary.org LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala HOURS: Mon-Fri: 10:30 - 11:45 am PHONE: 9882255047
Public Audience with HH Karmapa WEB: www.kagyuoffice.org LOCATION: Sidhpur HOURS: Wed & Sat: 2:30pm PHONE: 01892-235307
YOGA AND REIKI Yoga & Reiki Courses
Location- Om Yoga Ashram,Near Dal Lake Mob- 9805693514 /981649432 Email - om.yoga@ymail.com web- http://www.omashram.in
Shivam Neelkant Yoga Kendra LOCATION: Upper Bhagsu PHONE: 098165-65138 WEB: www.shivamneelkant.yoga.com
MASSAGE Nature Cure Health Club
Shiatsu massage LOCATION: Near Tibetan Ashoka, Jogiwara Road PHONE: 07833047078 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:7018483961/9857999373 EMAIL: kunsangdolma75@gmail.com
Dorjee Spa LOCATION: Pema Thang Guest house, Hotel Bhagsu Road PHONE:9816393673 / 9857108408 WhatsApp: 9816393673
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
Shivan Neel Kanth Yoga
WEBSITE:www.shivamneelkant.yoga.com LOCATION: Bhagsu Nag, Near High Sky PHONE: 09816565138 EMAIL: yogi_shivam@yahoo.co.in
Om Meditation Ashram
Location-Om Yoga Ashram,Near Dal Lake Mob-01892 220333 /9805693514 web - www.himalayanashram.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
Indian Cooking and Knitting with Ms Rita Kapoor LOCATION: Old German Bakery, 1st Floor, Room No. 2, Opp. Buddha Hall, Bhagsunag PHONE: 94592-06586
Indian Cooking Classes
LANGUAGES Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translators Program LOCATION: Rato Chuwar Labrang, Phuntsok Gatsel Session Road Hours: 10:45-5pm Email: lrztp.manager@gmail.com
REETA THAKUR HINDI CLASSES Location: Near Dal Lake Mob - 9816494732 Tibetan Language
LOCATION: The Tibetan Library *see Buddhist Philosophy Listing
Hindi Lessons with Kailash
LOCATION: Hotel India House, Bhagsu Rd 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
Sanskrit Language Study Program at Vikramashila Foundation India (VFI) Location: Vikramashila center, 1st flr, Ketan Lodge,Jogiwara road, McleodGanj, Dharamshala, H.P Email: vikramashilafoundation@gmail.com
ART AND MUSEUMS Tibet Museum
LOCATION:Near the Main Temple and Namgyal Monastery gate, McLeod Ganj HOURS: Tue-Sun: 9:00am-5:00pm
LOCATION:Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guesthouse HOURS: 10:00am-6:00pm PHONE: 07833047078 / 0988230136 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com
Tibet Photo Exhibit: 50 Years of Struggle and Oppression
Lhamo’s Kitchen: Tibetan Cooking Classes
The Tibetan Institute for the Performing Arts (TIPA)
Sangye’s Kitchen: Traditional Tibetan Cooking Classes
Kangra Art Museum
LOCATION: Bhagsu Rd, near the Green Shop HOURS: 8:00am-9:00pm PHONE: 981-646-8719
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
COMPUTER CLASSES Tibetan Career Centre, Dharamshala LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj HOURS: 9:00am-6pm PHONE: 9882321424 /9880969175 Email at : yesheadconsultant@tibet.net
Lha Charitable Truse
LOCATION: Near Dolma Chowk, Mcleod Ganj PHONE: 9882323455 / +91 (0)1892 -220992 WEB: www.lhasocialwork.org
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LOCATION: Gu-Chu-Sum hall, Jogiwara Rd HOURS: Mon, Wed & Fri: 2:00pm-5:00pm
WEB: www.tibetanarts.org LOCATION: Tipa Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 1892-221478 EMAIL: tibetanarts2012@gmail.com
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
Center for Living Buddhist Art WEBSITE: www.livingbuddhistart.com EMAIL: sarikalochoe@hotmail.com
PHONE: 9418655401 HOURS: 9 am- 5 pm LOCATION: Khanyara Road
MAY 2018
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:
tibet.net - official website of the Central Tibetan Administration in exile phayul.com -Phayul is published in Dharamshala,has opinion, reviews, photos, etc contactmagazine.net - Contact magazine online 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 thetibetpost.com - Tibet Post International online news tibetexpress.net - Tibet Express online news 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:
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 - Website of the 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 tibetanjournal.com - Tibetan Journal - news, reviews and opinions
Writings:
highpeakspureearth.com/category/woeser - occasional translations of Woeser’s enormously popular blog – Woeser lives in Beijing and is continually harassed by the Chinese government for her courageous writings.
DHARAMSHALA CONTACTS Ambulance: 01892-102, 222189 Tibetan Delek Hospital Location: Gangchen Kyishong, CTA Hours: Outpatient services: 9am-1pm, Mon-Sat; Specialist clinics: 2-4:30pm, Wed only; Emergencies: 24-hrs, daily. Phone: 222 053,223 381 Kangra Airport: 01892-232374
Contact
Bhagsu Taxi Union: 01892221034 Tourism Office: 01892-224430 , 223325 Rail Booking & Enquiry: 01892265026 Police Superintendent: 01892222244 Police Contact Information Location: Past St.John’s Church on the road to Dharamshala in
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Cantt. area. Phone: 221 483 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
MAY 2018
advertisements
To advertise here, Contact Lha office at Temple Road, McLeod Ganj Or Call on our number 9882323455 Price of advertisements depends on the size of your Ad
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
TO POST YOUR ADVERTISEMENT HERE Call on our number - 9882323455
TO POST YOUR ADVERTISEMENT HERE Call on our number - 9882323455
8 AUSPICIOUS HIM VIEW HOTEL
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
Nature Cure Health Club
Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guest House - Map #23 Mobile: 07833047078 /09882320136 / Email: mahinder_m@ hotmail.com 20+ yrs’ experience: Swedish massage courses & treatment, Zen Shiatsu courses, treatment, reflexology treatment, SPA, Singing Bowl Treatment and many more!
TIBETAN OM MASSAGE THERAPY Bhagsu Road, Opp.Green Hotel Mcleod Ganj - Map #27 Email: kunsangdolma75@gmail / Mobile : 7018483961 / 9857999373
I) COURSES
• Thai Massage ( 90 minutes for 3 days - Rs 4500 ) • Traditional /Ayurvedic Acupressure (90 minutes for 3 days - Rs 4500 ) • Litho Us Therapy (60 minutes for 3 days - Rs 4000) • Deep Tissue (90 minutes for 2 days - Rs 3000) • Swedish Massage (90 minutes for 2 days - Rs 2000) • Foot Reflexology (90 minutes for 1 day - Rs 2000) • Back Massage (120 minutes for 1 day - Rs 2000) • Head Massage (90 minutes for 1 day - Rs 1500) • Chair Massage (90 minutes for 1 day - Rs 1500) • Yoga Classes (5 days course - Rs 1000)
II) MASSAGES
• Lithos Therapy ( 70 minutes - Rs 1600) • Thai Massage ( 60 minutes - Rs 1500) • Deep Tissue Massage ( 60 minutes - Rs 1300) • Compresss Therapy ( 60 minutes - Rs 1300 ) • Kerala Traditonal Massage ( 60 minutes - Rs 1000) • Swedish Massage (60 minutes - Rs 1000 / 90 minutes - Rs 1500) • Reflexology ( 30 minutes - Rs 600) • Chair Massage ( 30 minutes - Rs 600) • Baliness Back Massage ( 30 minutes - Rs 500) •Ayurvedic Head Massage ( 30 minutes - Rs 500)
Contact
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MAY 2018
advertisements
Contact
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MAY 2018
advertisements Map not to scale
Map of McLeod Ganj showing locations of places of interest
BHAGSU NAG 16
See advertisement pages for details of advertisers TIPA
21
DHARAMKOT
27
26
Vipassana Centre
Naddi Village Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV)
15
Tushita Centre
22
MAIN SQUARE
3
McLEOD GANJ 25 Main Bazaar
27
Cantt Police Post
6
23
4
20
28
1
24
12
11
10
5
Lha
29 14
2
13
Road to Dharamshala
1. Lha Headquarters and Tibet Fair Trade 2. Namgyal Cafe 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 16. Shivam NeelKanth Yoga Kendre
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. Smile Dental Clinice & Implant Center 26. Himalayan Yoga Retreat 27. Om Massage Centre 28. Chapri Handicrafts 29. Dorjee Spa
Enjoy traditional Taiwanese and Chinese food and peaceful environment, just one minute from the Bus Stand, just behind Asian Plaza! (Map # 3)
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17 18
Road to Dharamshala
Shifted to new location! First floor opposite Municipal Parking near HH Dalai Lama temple #Temple Road
NEED A DENTIST?
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 Email: perfect32dentalclinic@gmail.com /Call: 09218742046 Website: www.perfect32dentalclinic.in
Shivam Neelkanth Yoga Kendra YOGA TEACHER TRAINING May 7- 30, 2018 200Hour / One Drop Meditation with Yogi Shivam. Experience a taste of love. One drop of love, happiness & joy. Daily meditation @ 11:30 am
BOOKWORM - THE COMPLETE BOOKSHOP is the oldest bookshop in Mcleod Ganj, where the Lonely Planet Guide (India) calls it the Best bookshop in town.
Location: Pemathang road, few steps from Dolma Chowk • •
LOCATION: UpperBagsu, next to Namaste Cafe & behind Reggae Cafe Yogi Shivam has 28 years of yogic practice experience from from his master Dooni Nath Babaji! Daily Yoga - 7 am to 9:30 am Website: www.ShivamNeelkantyoga.com Email: yogi_shivam@yahoo.co.in Phone: +91 9816565138
Lhamo’s Croissant Vegetarian and Vegan Food
Bakery, Coffee shop, Gluten Free and Fresh seasonal juices and salads
Roof top terrace with stunning views
Facebook: Shivam Neelkanth Yoga Kendra
Contact
Online shopping gives us only the books we already want. Bookshops draw us into the ones we didn’t know we wanted
Bhagsu Road, just after Tibetan Settlement Office Map#15 22
MAY 2018
lha news and advertisements Smile Dental Clinic & Implant Center
Oppo. Walia Medical Store Near State Bank of India ATM, Mcleod Ganj. MOBILE NO: 7018354594 / 8629011445 Map#25 website: smiledentalclinicmcleodganj.com
Ocean of Harmony Programmes for Wellbeing Meditation Intensives Meditation Therapies Intensive Yoga Courses/Retreats Stress Management Integrated Healing Therapies Wellness Retreats
To advertise here, Contact Lha office at Temple Road, McLeod Ganj
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)
Phone: (+91) 9979894585 Email: ohlifeandwellness@gmail.com
Lha’s New Director Following Mr Ngawang Rabgyal’s resignation from the post of Director at Lha Charitable Trust on May 31, 2018, Ms Dorji Kyi, the former General Secretary of Lha, is appointed as the new Director. Mr Ngawang served as the Director of this organisation for over 11 years from 2007 to May 2018 and over the years, under Ngawang’s leadership, Lha Charitable Trust has progressed to become one of the biggest nongovernment Tibetan organisations focusing on social work. On behalf everyone at Lha and its beneficiaries, we thank him for his years of service and dedication. We wish Ngawang la every success in his next ventures and we will continue to seek his support and guidance. Ms Dorji Kyi has assumed the post of Lha’s Director, effective from June 1, 2018. She and Ngawang have worked together over the last month to effect a smooth handover and she was welcomed to her new post with a humble traditional ceremony for her journey as Director. Ms Dorji joined Lha in 2015 as the Programme Manager and then was promoted to General Secretary in 2016. Before joining Lha, Dorji worked for the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) as the Environment and Development officer and with them, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP20 held in Lima, Peru in 2014. During her second year at TWA, Dorji travelled to 15 Tibetan settlements and 13 Tibetan schools in north Lha’s outgoing Director Ngawang Rabgyal with staff and trustee members India as part of the TWA project Legal Empowerment of Tibetans in Exile to raise awareness of the issues around legal protection for women and children under Indian law. Ms Dorji Kyi graduated from Madras University with a masters degree in Mass Communication and a bachelors degree in Journalism. She did her early schooling in Tibetan Children’s Village schools Gopalpur and Suja after coming to exile in 1993. Dorji is appointed as the new director by agreement of Lha’s advisory board and board of Trustees. Contact
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MAY 2018
OPEN ESSAY COMPETITION WITH CASH PRIZES! Lha Charitable Trust invites the readers of Contact magazine to write an essay on the topic Beat Plastic Pollution. Essays should be 1,300 to 1,500 words long and written in either Tibetan or English, the deadline is June 5 at 23:59 pm. Essays should be sent to office@lhasocialwork.org. The winners will be announced on June 15. Cash prizes are INR 7,000, INR 5,000 and INR 3,000 respectively.
To advertise call Lha office: 01892-220992 or visit Lha office at Temple Rd, McLeod Ganj Map #1
འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།
Contact Newsletter Managing Director Ngawang Rabgyal
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Editor-in-Chief Jenny James Editor Tenzin Samten Assistant Editor Dorji Kyi Circulation Manager Lobsang Rabsel Published by Lha Charitable Trust Web:www.lhasocialwork.org www.contactmagazine.net www.samdhongrinpoche.com