The Tibet Museum Newsletter-December 2019

VOLUME XIII

ISSUE II

DECEMBER 2019

THE TIBET MUSEUM NEWSLETTER IN THIS ISSUE The Tibet Museum Hosts 2019 Asian Sites of Conscience Regional Meeting Page 1 Temporary Exhibition on the Life and Leagacy of the 10th Panchen Lama

Page 2 Exhibition to Honor Four Fact-Finding Delegations Visit to Tibet Page 3 The Tibet Museum Holds Exhibition in Geneva

Page 3 Exhibition on “60 Years of Tibetan Resistance”

Page 4 42 International Museum nd

Day Page 4 The Tibet Museum Attends 15th Seminar of the IATS Page 5 “Why Tibet Matters”, a Talk by Michael Buckley

Page 5 Objects & Artefact Collection Page 6 Interns & Volunteers

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

Participants of 2019 Asian Sites of Conscience Regional Meeting during audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence, September 11, 2019.

Photo: Tenzin Jamphel/ OHHDL

The Tibet Museum Hosts 2019 Asian Sites of Conscience Regional Meeting September 10-14, 2019 The Tibet Museum in collaboration with the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience hosted the 2019 Asian Sites of Conscience Regional Meeting from September 11 - 13, 2019 here in Dharamshala, the headquarters of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).

Twelve representatives from seven Asian countries representing museums, historical sites, and memorial initiatives took part in this conference along with staff of the Tibet Museum and representatives of museums and Tibetan civil society groups in Dharamshala.

Tenzing Ramjam

Published by: The Tibet Museum, DIIR Page 1

The theme of the conference was “Reconstructing Memories: Objects, Narratives and the Legacies of

Colonialism.” The conference began on a propitious note with participants receiving an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence on the morning of September 11.

At the inaugural ceremony held in the auditorium of the new Tibet Museum, chief guest Kalon Karma Yeshi of the Finance Department and special guest, Secretary Tsewang Gyalpo Arya of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) addressed participants.

After the inaugural function, representatives from Tibetan museums in Dharamshala gave a short introduction of their respective museums. Tibetan civil society groups including the Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, and others gave presentations to apprise participants of the activity and advocacy work of their respective organizations.

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The photo exhibition installed in the temporary section of the Tibet Museum was inaugurated

by Ven. Ngachen Rinpoche of Tashilhunpo Monastery, Bylakuppee in the presence of Kasur Kirti Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, CTA President Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the president of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society, Mr. Ajay Singh Mankotia, Kalons and staff of the CTA. Chief Guest Kalon Karma Yeshi addressing the inaugural ceremony of 2019 Asian Sites of Conscience Regional Meeting. Photo: Tenzin Phende/DIIR

On September 12, DIIR Secretary Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, SARD Director Kaydor Aukatsang and Thinlay Chukki, special appointee for Human Rights, Tibet Bureau, Geneva, Switzerland, spoke on the theme, “Confronting a Colonialist Past: The Tibetan Experience.”

The three-day conference saw a lively participation from representatives who shared and exchanged ideas from their personal and institutional experiences.

Workshops on object collection, improving visitor experience and collecting oral history were conducted for participants.

Temporary Photo Exhibition on the Life and Legacy of the 10th Panchen Lama April 25, 2019 The Tibet Museum of the Department of Information and International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration commemorated the 30th birth anniversary of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, by organizing a photo exhibition on the life and legacies of his predecessor, the 10th Panchen Lama.

Kirti Rinpoche and CTA President Dr. Lobsang Sangay looking at the exhibits on Panchen Lamas Page 2

The exhibition was a tribute to the 10th Panchen Lama for his contribution and sacrifices for Tibetan culture, language and religion and to raise awareness about the current status of the 11th Panchen Lama who was kidnapped by China when he was six years old and whose whereabouts and well-being remain unknown to this day.

The photo exhibition chronicled the life and legacy of the 10th Panchen Lama and how despite threats of retribution from China, continued to speak for the Tibetan people and its language, religion and culture.

Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, director of the Tibet Museum said, “the sole objective of this exhibition is to introduce the life and legacy of the 10th Panchen Lama and to recall his struggle to bring progress in Tibet both culturally and politically.

Also, it was installed to celebrate the 30th birth anniversary of 11th Panchen Lama and to globally raise awareness about the current status of him being the youngest political prisoner in the world.

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Secretary Sonam Dagpo explained that it was the primary aspiration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that in case of a possible dialogue between Tibet and Chinese government, Tibet would have to try a different approach than seek complete independence. He noted that the four fact-finding delegations were formed to represent His Holiness the Dalai Lama and visit and witness the prevailing conditions of Tibetans inside Tibet.

CTA President Dr. Lobsang Sangay addressing inauguration of the exhibition. Photo: Tenzin Jigme/DIIR

The Tibet Museum Hosts Exhibition to Honor Four FactFinding Delegations visit to Tibet August 9, 2019 To mark the 40th anniversary of the first fact-finding delegation visit to Tibet in August, 1979, Dr. Lobsang Sangay, president of the CTA and special guest Lobsang Dhargyal inaugurated a temporary photo exhibition on the four fact-finding delegations visit to the Tibet. The inaugural event was also attended by DIIR Secretary Sonam Norbu Dagpo and representatives of nongovernmental organizations.

President Sangay in his keynote address emphasized the need for more such initiatives to be undertaken in the future. “It is the very motive of the Chinese government to dilute Tibetan culture, language, and religion,” said President Sangay while remarking on the delegations’ visit to Tibet.

Special guest Lobsang Dhargyal, former chief justice commissioner and a member of the first delegation to Tibet, reported that wherever the delegation went, Tibetans poured out heart-breaking accounts of tragedy and suffering. He noted that although the people showed a strong expression of gratitude for their visit, there was still fear written all over their faces about the unforeseeable reaction by the Chinese government against them.

DECEMBER 2019

The Tibet Museum Holds Exhibition in Geneva November 14-15, 2019 CTA President Dr. Lobsang Sangay and Mr. Carlo Sommaruga, honorable member of the National Parliament of Switzerland, inaugurated the Tibet Museum’s travelling exhibition entitled “A Long Look Homeward” at the Place Des Nation, Geneva, Switzerland, which included 15 different speakers invited to the Geneva Forum, 2019. The exhibition was jointly organized by the Tibet Museum and Office of Tibet, Geneva.

The two-day exhibition was attended by many visitors from different countries and communities.

Tibetans in Geneva and Zurich came in large numbers to support and contribute to the Tibet Museum photo exhibition program in Geneva.

Tibet Museum’s exhibition site next to ‘Broken Chair’, Geneva, Switzerland.

Photo Tenzin Nyishon Page 3

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The Tibet Museum Inaugurates an Exhibition on “60 Years of Tibetan Resistance” March 8, 2019 The Tibet Museum inaugurated a temporary photo exhibition entitled “60 Years of Tibetan Resistance” as a tribute to all Tibetans who have resisted Chinese oppression over the last 60 years. The exhibition was jointly curated by museum staff Tenzin Rabjam and intern Lodoe Tsomo. The exhibition featured factual accounts captured in photographs since the Lhasa uprising of March 10, 1959.

The chief guest, Kalon Karma Yeshi, paid tribute to all Tibetans who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet since 1959.

Kalon Karma Yeshi pointed out the important dates on which the mass protests took place since 1959 and reminded the participants to remember their sacrifices. He further added that

most of the self-immolators were born after 1959 and had never seen a free Tibet, nor met His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “This photo exhibition uncovers the blatant lies and propaganda of the Chinese government,” he said, urging all Tibetans to work in unity for the Tibetan cause in years ahead. Before concluding his remarks, he suggested the exhibition materials be digitized to reach a wider audience in the future.

Secretary Sonam Norbu Dagpo of the DIIR shared his views on photography as a powerful tool to inform and galvanize people into action.

The opening remarks of the exhibition were delivered by Tashi Phuntsok, director of the Tibet Museum.

The inaugural event was followed by a panel discussion by former political prisoners Lobsang Yonten, Ngawang Woeber and Dukthen Kyi of the Human Rights Desk of the DIIR.

Tashi Phuntsok , director of the Tibet Museum explaining the exhibition to Kalon Karma Yeshi. Photo: Tenzin Jigme/DIIR Page 4

Chief Guest Sonam N. Dagpo, Secretary, DIIR, addressing the inaugural function. Photo: Tenzin Rabjam/The Tibet Museum

The Tibet Museum Celebrates 42nd International Museum Day May 18, 2019 Joining museums across the world in celebrating this year’s International Museum Day, the Tibet Museum hosted a special talk series on the evolving role of museums in the 21st century with a focus on the Tibetan community.

Observed annually on May 18, this year’s International Museum Day theme, “Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Tradition,” highlights the essential role of museums as active actors in their communities in advocating and mitigating global problems, striving to build bridges for a peaceful world and defining a sustainable future.

In recognition of the growing participation by the global museum community in the International Museum Day celebration, the Tibet Museum launched in 2015 an annual celebration of the day with activities in keeping with the annual theme and the goal of increasing public engagement.

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In accordance with this year’s theme, the Tibet Museum invited heads and students of four Tibetan schools and Tibetan NGOs for a daylong talk series by CTA dignitaries and representatives of Tibetan cultural institutes and a special excursion to some of the prominent Tibetan institutions in Dharamshala.

At the inaugural session, chief guest Sonam N. Dagpo, secretary of the DIIR, discussed how the concept of museums has evolved over the years. “The traditional concept of museum as an institution of memory is no longer the case. Re-invention of museums as an innovative, mobile and creative space for cultural expressions has enabled it to serve an increasingly diverse audience at the global level.”

With a focus on the relevance of museums to the Tibetan community, Information Secretary Tsewang Gyalpo Arya highlighted museums’ impact in shaping collective understanding through their representation of Tibetan history and most importantly, in establishing the pre-1959 independent

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status of Tibet. “Even though contemporary media are increasingly gaining clout, museums today remain equally important in shaping people’s understanding, especially in this time of disinformation and propaganda,” he observed.

Director of the Tibet Museum Attends 15th Seminar of the IATS July 11, 2019 Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, director of the Tibet Museum, attended the 15th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) from July 7 - 13, 2019 at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilization (INALCO) in Paris, France.

During the seminar, Mr. Tashi Phuntsok and Dr. Emma Martin, Tibet curator for the Liverpool Museum and advisor to the new Tibet Museum project, copresented the paper entitled “(Re) presenting Absence: Developing a Tibetan Museology in Exile” for

Information Secretary of DIIR Tsewang Gyalpo Arya speaking at the inaugural function. Photo: Tenzin Rabjam/The Tibet Museum

DECEMBER 2019

the panel entitled “Re-Narrating Tibetan Material Worlds: Other Ways of Reading Objects and Heritage.”

Mr. Tashi’s paper focused on the development of the new Tibet Museum in Gangchen Kyishong, the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration.

Through a PowerPoint presentation, he introduced the plan of the new museum and its 11 sections and spaces for temporary exhibitions, its auditorium and the digital activities-cum-library.

His paper also highlighted the importance of developing objectbased museums and the process and methods used for soliciting the objects from Tibetan communities in exile through settlement offices, collection tours and media campaigns.

Dr. Emma’s paper examined the processes of museum collection, interpretation and display developed for the new Tibet Museum to understand how absence is made present and tangible in this newly conceived museum project. She cited several objects recently collected for the new Tibet Museum as examples of innovative approaches in recollecting Tibet and as a way of recovering small or personal histories of exile.

Earlier, on July 6, 2019, coinciding with His Holiness the Dalai Lama Birthday Celebration in Antwerp, Belgium, Mr. Tashi Phuntsok addressed the gathering about the new Tibet Museum project and highlighted the importance of the Museum as a medium to raise awareness about Tibet’s history, culture, and the current situation in Tibet.

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He emphasized the Tibetan belief that lakes, mountains and rivers are considered sacred and should be kept untouched.

Mrs. Kelsang Chukie, a former artist of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, and her team performed Tibetan cultural songs in praise of mountains and nature to perfectly complement the theme of the talk by Mr. Buckley.

Michael Buckley speaking at the talk organized on the ‘World Water Day.’ Photo: Tenzin Jigme/DIIR

World Water Day: “Why Tibet Matters”, a Talk by Michael Buckley March 22, 2019 To commemorate World Water Day, the Tibet Museum organized a talk at the Tibet Museum by author and film-maker Michael Buckley on the topic, “Why Tibet Matters.” Mr. Buckley is the writer of the book “Meltdown in Tibet” and has directed several movies on Tibet including “From Nomad to Nobody,” “Meltdown in Tibet” and “Plundering Tibet”.

Mr. Buckley began his presentation with an opening statement that, “there’s nothing more important than water.”

Water as the core medium for the existence of every living being on earth serves every purpose either through direct consumption or indirectly in industry, mining or other activities. He asserted that it is crucial for the world to discuss Tibet’s current environmental issues as Tibet supplies fresh water to more than ten countries downstream in Asia.

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A photo exhibition was displayed in the documentary screening hall of the Tibet Museum featuring photographs of mountains, lakes, dams and mining sites to present how the Chinese regime is bent on exploiting these resources in the once pristine environment of the Tibetan plateau.

Tsering Norbu travelled to Nepal to solicit objects and artifacts of traditional and historical value from Tibetan residents in Kathamandu and Pokhara, Nepal. In Pokhara, Director Tashi Phuntsok and Tsering Norbu visited the Paljorling, Tashi Palkhel, Tashiling and Jampaling settlements. In Kathmandu, they visited the Tibetan Reception Center, Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office and Samdupling Settlement. They also met with sculptors and Tibetan artists to discuss developing content for the new Tibet Museum.

Object and Artefact Collection for the New Tibet Museum April 9 - 23, 2019 With the aim of collecting and soliciting objects and artefacts for the new Tibet Museum under construction in Dharamshala, Tibet Museum staffers Rinchen Dorjee and Tenzin Rabjam travelled to three Tibetan settlements in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Over the course of two weeks, they met Tibetan residents in the Lugsung Samdrupling, Dickyi Larso, Hunsur Rabgayling and Kollegal Dhondenling settlements and apprised them of the new Tibet Museum project.

May 22 - June 5, 2019 Director of the Tibet Museum Mr. Tashi Phuntsok and staffer

Director of Tibet Museum receiving objects from donors in Jampaling Settlement, Pokhara, Nepal. Photo: Tsering Norbu/The Tibet Museum

Aug 13 - Aug 19, 2019 Tibet Museum staff members Tsering Norbu and Tenzin Youtso undertook an artefact and object collection tours in five Tibetan settlements in northern India, namely Paonta Cholsum, Sakya in Puruwala, Gapa in Kamrao, Kham Kathok in Sataun and DoeguYulgyelling in Herbertpur. The traveling staff apprised Tibetan residents in these settlements of the new Tibet Museum project and solicited objects and artefacts related to Tibetan history, religion and culture.

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Interns and Volunteers at the Tibet Museum

Lodoe Laura Lodoe Laura is currently finishing her final year of the Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management MA program at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. From January to June 2019, she spent six months at the Tibet Museum, assisting with the implementation of cataloguing standards for the archival database and facilitating preservation of the cultural heritage material held in the photography archives.

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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 to speak on issues related to Tibetan history, culture, environment and the current situation in Tibet.

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.

Zamlha Tempa Gyaltsen, researcher, TPI delivering his talk at the Tibet Museum. Photo: Tenzin Rabjam/ The Tibet Museum

January 30, 2019

All past talk series can be viewed online via www.youtube.com/ thetibetmuseum

Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha, researcher at the Environment and Development Desk of the TPI gave a presentation entitled, “Garbage Crisis on the World’s Highest Plateau.” At the end of his presentation, Mr. Gyaltsen fielded questions from audience members comprised of Tibetans and foreign and domestic tourist.

January 9, 2019

February 20, 2019

Tenzin Tseten, research fellow at the Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) of the CTA, delivered a talk entitled, “Nationality Policy: Discussing One of the Challenging Issues of China” at the Tibet Museum.

Tenzin Dalha, research scholar at the TPI gave an insightful presentation entitled, “Social Media: Prevalence, Implications and Impact on Tibetan Communities.”

Neerja Sutaria Neerja Sutaria completed her History-Psychology BA in from Jai Hind College, Mumbai. She has also studied archaeology as well as preservation and conservation of artefacts in Mumbai. From May 20 to August 20, 2019, she assisted the museum in social media marketing, cataloguing and preserving and conserving the newly acquired artefacts for the new Tibet Museum.

TPI Researcher Tenzin Tseten speaking at the bi-monthly Tibet Awareness talk series, January 9, 2019. Photo: Tenzin Rabjam/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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