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APRIL 2018
THE TIBET MUSEUM NEWSLETTER IN THIS ISSUE New Tibet Museum will Present Tibet’s Power of Truth-CTA President Page 1 Tibet Exposition at Festival of Democracy in Prague Page 2 Tibet Museum Exhibition in Netherlands Page 3 First Meeting of the New Tibet Museum’s Content Developers Page 3 Second Content Developers Meeting Page 3 Photo Exhibition on Dharamshala Page 4 The Tibet Museum Holds an Exhibition at Tibet Fest 2017 in Bangalore Page 4 Photo Exhibition in Bodh Gaya Page 5 Artifact and object collection tour Page 5 Australian Parliamentary Delegation Visits the Tibet Museum Page 6 Tibetans of Mixed
New Tibet Museum will Present Tibet’s Power of Truth-CTA President January 12, 2018 The Tibet Museum of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) organized a press conference to inform the public about its new Tibet Museum project currently under construction at Gangchen Kyishong, the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamshala. CTA President Dr. Lobsang Sangay, accompanied by DIIR Secretaries Sonam Norbu Dagpo and Tenzin Dhardon Sharling, chaired the press conference. Tashi Phunstok, director of the Tibet Museum, delivered the introductory remarks. In his address, Dr. Sangay spoke about the Kashag’s Five-Fifty vision and how the Tibet Museum’s exhibition of Tibetan cultural and historical facts
and artifacts can strengthen the Tibet narrative on the global stage. “Following His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s advice of preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, the Kashag devised the 5/50 vision. Under the 5/50 vision, we will try to achieve genuine autonomy for Tibet through the Middle Way Approach in the next five years,” Dr. Sangay said. “In case we aren’t able to do that in the next five years, we need to strategize in order to strengthen and sustain our cause for the next fifty years. And the Tibet Museum’s role of raising awareness about Tibet and presenting Tibet’s history play a critical part in the fifty-year strategy,” he added. “Raising awareness about Tibet is pivotal to strengthening international support for the Tibet issue. The Tibet Museum will present Tibet’s sixty years of tragic history under Chinese occupation and the several thousand years of history
Heritage visits the Tibet Museum Page 6 Workshop & Training Page 7 Tibet Awareness Talk Series Page 7 The Tibet Museum Newsletter is published bi-annually and welcomes articles, letters, photos and materials that are relevant to the Tibetan culture and history. Articles may be submitted by e-mail to tibetmuseum@tibet.net
Edited by: Helmut Obermeir and Tenzing Ramjam
Published by: The Tibet Museum, DIIR Page 1
Dr. Lobsang Sangay, president of the CTA, DIIR Secretaries Sonam N. Dagpo (2nd from left) and Dhardon Sharling (right) and Tashi Phuntsok (left), director of the Tibet Museum at the press conference. Photo: Tenzin Phende/DIIR
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as an independent nation to build an understanding of what happened to Tibet under China,” he explained. Secretary Sonam Norbu Dagpo announced a master’s degree scholarship worth 2,00,000 INR to one Tibetan student. “In our effort to groom and incubate competent and qualified staff for the new Tibet Museum, we are announcing a scholarship worth two lacs rupees for one student willing to pursue master studies in museology or related to museum management,” he said. Secretary Dhardon Sharling announced an open competition for a concept brief for the new museum’s memorial project. “The most profound objective of any museum is to preserve memories. The memory of the 1.2 million Tibetans who died as a result of the Chinese occupation in Tibet is a poignant one. To preserve their memories and pay obeisance to their sacrifices, we are developing a memorial project in the new museum,” Secretary Dhardon Sharling said. Director Tashi Phunstok spoke about the objectives of the new Tibet Museum and how it will serve not only as one of the centers of Tibetan cultural and political memory, but also as a center of education for students, researchers, scholars, etc. “Our main hope is to develop the Tibet Museum in such a way that it doesn’t feel like the museum of CTA or DIIR or any organization, but one that belongs to Tibet and the Tibetan people. It would carry the hopes and aspirations of the Page 2
entire Tibetan people,” he said. The press conference also saw the launch of a promotional T-shirt and a booklet on the new Tibet Museum.
Tibet Exposition at Festival of Democracy in Prague October 9-14, 2017 The Tibet Museum collaborated with Forum 2000, the Linhart Foundation, the Tibet Open House, the National Gallery and the Vaclav Havel Library to produce a very successful photo exhibition program in Prague, Czech Republic. The photo exhibition detailing the life and legacies of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was unveiled at Vaclav Havel Square in Prague, Czech Republic from October 9 to 12, 2017. Through photographs and textual descriptions, the exhibition elucidated the contributions and achievements of His Holiness towards world peace, inter-religious harmony and the Tibet cause. In his speech at the opening of the exhibition, Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, the director of the Tibet Museum, said, “We Tibetans have a special relation with the people of the
Visitors at the Tibet Museum’s exhibition in Vaclav Havel square, Prague, Czech Republic
Czech Republic. Your country has suffered under the totalitarian communist regime for 40 years and we Tibetans are still suffering under the repressive and totalitarian regime of the People’s Republic of China since 1959.” Mr. Phuntsok spoke about the special bond that His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Vaclav Havel, the late president of the Czech Republic shared. He added that, “We Tibetans shall always be grateful to former President Vaclav Havel and people of Czech for inviting His Holiness the Dalai Lama to their country in 1990, the first public figure to be invited to visit the country after independence. Since then, His Holiness has visited the Czech Republic around 11 times. With the passing of former President in 2011, we have lost a true friend and an all-weather supporter.” On October 14, Mr. Tashi Phuntsok inaugurated the exhibition at the Tibet Open House, Prague. He spoke about the importance of showcasing exhibitions in Prague and gave a brief presentation on current Tibet Museum programs and the new Tibet Museum project. A documentary film on His Holiness’ life was screened after the presentation. The exhibition was a great success, with more than 150 people from the city attending the inaugural event and many more joining through Facebook live streaming. The exhibition featured His Holiness’ early life and responsibilities, meetings with world leaders, awards and honors received, books authored and co-authored by His Holiness and his three main commitments in life.
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The Tibet Museum Exhibition in Netherlands October 22, 2017
ISSUE II
the Tibet Museum’s programs and the upcoming new Tibet Museum project.
First Meeting of the New Tibet Museum’s Content Developers September 28, 2017
Mr. Tashi Phuntsok addressing the inaugural function at Museum of Contemporary Tibetan Art, Emmen, Netherlands.
The Tibet Museum convened a two-day meeting of curators and content developers of the new Tibet Museum, chaired by DIIR Secretaries Sonam N. Dagpo and Tenzin Dhardon Sharling.
In yet another maiden venture into Europe — made possible through the kind initiative of Tibetan contemporary artist Tashi Norbu — Emmen, a town in northeastern Netherlands, hosted a permanent exhibition on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s three commitments in life at the Museum of Contemporary Tibetan Art.
In his welcome remarks, Secretary Sonam N. Dagpo spoke about the evolution of the museum over the years since it was established in 1998. He said the Tibet Museum serves the indispensable purpose of presenting Tibet’s history, with an emphasis on the period of Chinese occupation, to a wide ranging audience.
The exhibition, which opened to the public on October 22, 2017, is an attempt by the Tibet Museum to spread His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s messages of love, peace, compassion and non-violence across the world.
He also explained the effectiveness of the visual medium as more powerful than the written word. He attributed the success of the museum to the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the hard work of the staff.
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Secretary Tenzin Dhardon Sharling spoke about the immense prospect of the museum as not just as an institution of cultural memory but also as a center of intellectual and educational enrichment. Director Tashi Phuntsok of the Tibet Museum gave the progress report and an update on the development of the new Tibet Museum.
Second Tibet Museum’s Content Developers Meeting January 11–12, 2018 A second and final meeting of content developers and curators of the new Tibet Museum took place at the Norbulingka Institute in Dharamshala. DIIR Secretaries Sonam N. Dagpo and Dhardon Sharling, Dr. Emma Martin and Nicole M. Crawford, curators for the new Tibet Museum and Jacques Lemordant, sound consultant and app developer were among the participants in the two-day conference. Throughout the two day meeting, the content developers presented their respective themes and sought input and suggestions for the further improvement of content.
The exhibition covers His Holiness’ three main commitments in life - promotion of human values, promotion of inter-religious harmony and preservation of Tibet’s Buddhist culture. The exhibition will be permanently showcased at the Museum of Contemporary Tibetan Art in Emmen. Tashi Phuntsok, director of the Tibet Museum, gave a brief presentation about the exhibition,
1st day of the 2nd Content developers meeting for the Tibet Museum chaired by the DIIR Secretaries Page 3
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of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. After the inaugural ceremony, people from various communities, young and old, visited the exhibition and greatly appreciated the efforts that Tibetans are making for its cause.
Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, inaugurating the exhibition titled, ‘Reimagining Dharamshala at the Tibet Museum. Photo Tenzin Jigme/DIIR
Photo Exhibition on Dharamshala October 9, 2017 A Photo Exhibition on Dharamshala, the headquarters of the CTA and the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, was unveiled to coincide with the golden jubilee celebration of the Dharamshala Tibetan Settlement Office. Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliamentin-exile, inaugurated the exhibition entitled Reimagining Dharamshala. Over a hundred people attended the inaugural session of the exhibition including members of the Tibetan parliament, president and members of the Tibetan Freedom Movement, president of the Tibetan Women’s Association, and present and former Tibetan settlement officers. The photo exhibition depicts the history of Dharamshala, founded by the British in 1846 after the occupation of the Kangra Fort. The exhibition consists of pictures dating back to the first arrival of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala in 1960 and many old heretofore unseen Page 4
photographs of Dharamshala. Tibetans look upon Dharamshala with reverence, as it is the seat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and it is fondly referred to as “Dhasa,” evoking Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Today, well into their sixth decade of refuge here, Tibetans live cooperatively with local Indians and their bond of friendship and brotherhood has continued to strengthen over the years.
The Tibet Museum Holds an Exhibition at Tibet Fest 2017 in Bangalore December 10-14, 2017 The Tibet Museum in collaboration with the Tibetan Cancer Society held a photo exhibition at Tibet Fest 2017 in Bangalore, Karnataka. On December 10, the photo exhibitions entitled A Long Look Homeward and India and Tibet— Ancient Ties, Current Bonds were jointly inaugurated by Shri N. A. Haris, MLA of Shanthi Nagar constituency, Bangalore and Dolma Gyari, former Kalon of CTA, on the auspicious occasion of the 28th anniversary of the conferment
A number of local Indian office staff and students from nearby schools visited the exhibition. Lucky Ali, a renowned Bollywood singer and actor, along with winners of the Mr. and Miss Tibet pageant 2017 visited the exhibition and were led through by the Tibet Museum staff. Mr. Ali conveyed his appreciation of the hard work of Tibetans and expressed his sympathy for the Tibetan struggle and wished His Holiness the Dalai Lama a long and healthy life. Tibet Fest was organized by the Tibetan Cancer Society, which is a non-profit organization aimed at providing free medical care irrespective of social and economic background. As part of their effort to selfsustain and improve the health of communities, the Tibetan Cancer Society organized the first ever Tibet Fest-themed “Thank You India’’ in Bangalore from December 10–14, 2017.
Sh. N. A. Haris and Ms. Dolma Gyari inaugurating the photo exhibition
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The Tibet Museum Showcases Photo Exhibition in Bodh Gaya January 16–24, 2018 Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, director of the Tibet Museum with the fourmember delegation of Australian parliament and Lhakpa Tsokho, representative, Office of Tibet, Australia
Shri Nangzey Dorjee and Amchi la inaugurating the Tibet Museum’s photo exhibition in Bodh Gaya
The Tibet Museum showcased photo exhibition on two themes, Biography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and A Long Look Homeward at Bodh Gaya, Bihar, the place where Buddha attained enlightenment and one of the most sacred sites for the Buddhist worldwide. The photo exhibitions were shown in concurrence with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings at Bodh Gaya during that month. Shri Nangzey Dorjee, secretary of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee, accompanied by Amchi la of Namgyal Monastery, inaugurated the exhibition on January 16, 2018.
Visitors at the Tibet Museum’s photo exhibition in Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Following the inauguration, enthusiastic devotees and pilgrims visited the photo exhibition. Visitors included the general public, monks and nuns, foreigners, Indians, police officials, and students, among others.
Artifact and Object Collection Tour December 6-22, 2017
Mr. Phuntsok donating an old Buddhist scripture for new Tibet Museum project
Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, director of the Tibet Museum and Tenzin Rabjam, archivist, travelled to Gangtok, Kalimpong and Darjeeling in December 2017 to collect and solicit from Tibetans objects or artifacts related to Tibetan history, culture and religion. This initiative was undertaken with the view to equip the new Tibet Museum, whose construction is underway in Gangchen Kyishong, CTA, with these works of Tibetan art and culture.
Australian Parliamentary Delegation Visits the Tibet Museum November 20, 2017 A four-member Australian parliamentary delegation led by Senator Derryn Hinch, Justice Party of Australia; Hon. Kevin Andrews MP, deputy leader and former defense minister, Liberal Party; Senator Kimberly Kitching, Labor Party of Australia and Meryl Jane Swanson MP, Labor Party of Australia; visited the Tibet Museum. Lhakpa Tshoko, representative of the Office of Tibet, Australia accompanied the delegation.
Tibetans of Mixed Heritage Visit the Tibet Museum October 10, 2017 A 14-member contingent of Tibetans of mixed descent were in Dharamshala to attend the “Tibetans of Mixed Heritage Conference 2017” — visited the Tibet Museum. Ms. Yeshi Wangmo, a staff of the Tibet Museum, introduced the Tibet Museum and then the contingent was led through the exhibition. Page 5
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Worshops and Trainings The Tibet Museum Holds Workshop on Museology January 10, 2018 Ms. Nicole M. Crawford, Chief Curator, University of Wyoming Art Museum, US, conducted a daylong workshop on Museology at Norbulingka Institute. She shared her knowledge and expertise with the wokshop participants from the Tibet Museum and museum representatives from Norbulingka Institute and Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute. The participants along with Ms. Crawford also toured the Norbulingka Museum and workshops to further experience and learn the art of Museum management. The one-day workshop organized by the Tibet Museum covered various aspects of Museum management fields like collection, storage, labeling, artifact inventory management and Ethical Guidelines.
Workshop on Collection and Documentation of Objects March 29, 2018 The Tibet Museum organised a workshop for its staff on ‘Collection and Documentation of Objects’ at LTWA Conference Hall. The workshop was conducted by Dr. Emma Martin, the overall curator of the new Tibet Museum. Dr. Emma, who is by profession, a lecturer in Museology and also senior Curator Ethnology for National Museums Liverpool (NML) expounded the importance of documenting each collection digitally or manually. During the workshop she has Page 6
practically shown how to provide accession number and other details of an object manually followed by exercises.
The Tibet Museum Exposure Trip April 10, 2018 Dr. Emma Martin, the over-all curator of the new Tibet Museum and Ms. Trine Brox, Tibetologist has personally initiated a site visit to Kangra Museums for the Tibet Museum staff. The purpose of the site visit is to engage and educate the museum staff by visiting two different museums in Kangra namely Maharaja Sansar Chand Museum, privately owned by the Royal family of Kangra and Nagarkot Fort Museum, run by the state government. The aim of the exposure trip was to obtain different ideas regarding museum structure, administration, placement, public engagement and use of artifacts in museum, use of audio guides tool, narration of stories in museum and many other.
‘Open Day’ Session at the Tibet Museum April 11, 2018 The Tibet Museum has organized an ‘Open Day’ session in the afternoon to solicit ideas and suggestions from visitors for new Tibet Museum slated to be opened at Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala in 2019. The Staff of the Tibet Museum were assisted by Dr. Emma Martin from Liverpool Museums, Dr. Trine Brox and Dr. Miriam Koktvedgaard Zeitzen from University Copenhagen in this initiative.
Workshop on Content Management and Web Development April 17, 2018 The Tibet Museum organised a workshop on “The Content Management and Web Development” for the Tibet Museum and CTA staff at TCRC Conference Hall. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Ingo Schmid from Germany and was attended by two groups divided into two sessions. The first group includes 18 staff from different CTA departments who are majorly working on web designing and content management in their respective offices. And the second session workshop was allotted only for the staff of Tibetan Computer Resource Centre. The workshop began with warm welcome speech delivered by Mr. Sonam Norbu Dhagpo, secretary of DIIR and was followed by Ingo’s presentation.
Sites of Conscience Asia Regional Meeting April 22- 25, 2018. Ms. Yeshi Wangmo, project officer of the Tibet Museum attended 2018 Sites of Conscience Asia Regional Meeting held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The meeting was also attended by Asia network members from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Nepal, Philippines and Sri Lanka. Two members from Human Rights Media Center, South Africa and Museo de la Resistencia, Dominican Republic also attended the meeting via Skype. The meeting was co-organised by the Peace Institute of Cambodia, Youth for Peace.
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Tibet Awareness Talk Series
In order to enhance awareness of Tibet and its overall situation, the Tibet Museum conducts a talk series every month inviting researchers, scholars and others. The target audience is comprised of Tibetan and Indian participants, as well as tourists from different parts of the world. The audience gets the opportunity to participate in question and answer sessions and other post-talk activities. All past talk series can be viewed online via www.youtube.com
September 13, 2017 Tenzin Dalha, Tibet Policy Institute spoke on ‘Chinese Censorship vs Tibetan Activism on Social Media with Special Reference to Contemporary Issues’ to visitors consiting of foreign and domestic tourists.
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September 27, 2017 Tenzin Phuntsok Doring, author and researcher, gave a talk on ‘Tibetan Electoral System’ to an audience consisting mostly of foreign tourists.
October 18, 2017 Tenzin Tseten, researcher, Tibet Policy Institute, CTA gave a presentation on the title, “China’s management of Tibetan Buddhism””
November 9, 2017 Tenzin Desal, researcher, Tibet Policy Institute, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) gave a talk cum presentation on the topic, “Perilous Journey of China’s magic weapon: An organization that seeks to exert global influence” to an audience consisting of foreigners, domestic tourists and Tibetans.
Mr. Tenzin Phuntsok Doring giving his presentation
November 22, 2017 Tenzin Nyima, Department of Finance, CTA, gave a talk-cumpresentation on the topic, Bluebook: Tibetan Solidarity Alliance for Tibetan Movement.
Tenzin Dalha, researcher, TPI giving his presentation at the Tibet Museum Page 7
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How to support the Tibet Museum 1. Donate Funds to the Tibet Museum The Tibet Museum project was made possible through the kind support of our donors, both individuals and organisations. Your financial contribution can help us keep history alive through exhibitions on Tibet’s history, culture and traditions. If you are interested in contributing to the Tibet Museum you can do it by sending us a cheque or bank draft in favor of “SARD” (Social and Resource Development Fund). We cannot accept cash donations.
Your support will benefit the Museum’s core projects: the Tibet awareness program, the digitization of our collections, capacity building programs for the Museum staff, the photo identification project, traveling exhibitions, and others. Supporters will receive a letter of acknowledgment and will be mentioned in our next newsletter. In addition, they will be subscribed to our future newsletters.
benefited from donations from friends and supporters. If you have an object, photograph or collection that would be pertinent to the Tibet Museum, we would be happy to receive and display it.
3. Donate time The Tibet Museum greatly benefits from volunteers from different communities, and it is always in need of graphic designers, archivists and museum specialists.
2. Donate Artefacts and Photographs
3. Host our exhibition in your community
The Tibet Museum is collecting contemporary and historical objects and photographs related to Tibet and Tibetans from around the world. We have always greatly
You can also support the Tibet Museum by hosting the Museum’s traveling exhibition in your community by sponsoring traveling and other expenses.
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