DHARAMSHALA: The President of Central Tibetan Administration Dr Lobsang Sangay today condoled the demise of Gene Sharp, a revolutionary figure in the realm of non-violent political resistance.
“I express my deep condolence on the demise of Gene Sharp, a stalwart, intellectual, and a powerful advocate of non-violence as a potent political tool in motivating grassroots leaders,” President Dr Lobsang Sangay said.
“His writings, through which he has advanced the ideas of non violence, has given activists all over the world an ideological base and a hope that people could rebel successfully using non-violent means against repressive regimes,” he added.
“In the din of violence and rise of extremism globally, his ideas are a soothing reflection of maturity and the compassionate notion that violence is a vicious cycle of futile political approach,” Dr Sangay noted.
“As the leader of the Tibetan political movement which is based on the key principles of non violence, Gene Sharp and his advocacy of non violence has an even greater resonance with the Tibetan people. His writings have inspired us for decades, and we are confident in his belief that the legacy of non violence will outlive violence in the long run,” Dr Sangay wrote.
Winner of numerous peace awards and a multiple nominee for the Nobel Peace prize, Gene Sharp has died peacefully at his home in Boston at the age of 90 on 28 January 2018.
Born on the 21st January 1928, Gene was the founder of the Albert Einstein Institution in Massachusetts. He has authored many books including his seminal work ‘From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation’ expounding the concept of non-violence as a strategic political movement.
He is attributed as the godfather of non-violent revolution, and his writings are believed to have influenced the Arab Spring, the peaceful non-violent revolution that toppled dictators in several Arab nations since 2010.