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Kalon Tripa pays tribute to late Nirmala Deshpande
Saturday, 17 May 2008, 2:01 p.m.
Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche (R) attends a memorial meeting in honour of Nirmala Deshpande in New Delhi on 16 May/Photos:Phayul |
Dharamshala: Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche on Friday paid tribute to the non-violent struggle of the eminent Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande, who passed away on 1 May.
A memorial meeting in upholding her works and legacy of non-violent principles was held at the India International Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, on 16 May, Phayul online reported.
Kalon Tripa said her contribution to the Tibetan cause had been immense.
"We gather to discuss how to carry on her legacy, her prominence and strive to live up to her achievements. We can pay our respect by continuing the work she started decades ago and by adopting a non-violent stance in our actions," he added.
Eminent speakers included Swami Agnivesh, Dr (Smt.) Kapila Vatsyayan( Rajya Sabha Member), Shri Rajiv Vohra (Director of Non-Violence Peace Force Asia), Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche and close aide of the Late Nirmala Despande, Shivnath Ram.
Smt. Nirmala Deshpande (17 October, 1929 - 1 May 2008) |
In his address, Swami Agnivesh said: "We need a new paradigm. Problems have always been there and will continue to exist. There are two solutions to these tribulations - finding an answer through violence or coming to mutual terms with non-violence...She was a milestone. We need to take inspiration from her rare courage and continue the work she has left behind. Be it the Dalai Lama or Nirmala Deshpande, the question in our mind is, will we be able to live up to their greatness and spirit? This poses a serious challenge to us."
Nirmala Deshpande had devoted more than 60 years of her life towards promoting communal harmony and serving women, tribal and the dispossessed.
Born on October 17, 1929 in Nagpur, she joined Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan Movement in 1952 and undertook padyatras across the country to carry Mahatma Gandhi's message of Gram Swaraj.
She firmly believed that although it was difficult to practice Gandhian principles, it was the only way towards a truly democratic society.
She received the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award and the Padma Vibhushan in 2006.
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