Dharamshala: Members of the 16th Tibetan parliament, Geshe Monlam Tharchin and Sonam Norbu Ratsa successfully concluded their 13-day official tour spanning Tibetan communities in Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, and Lugsam Tibetan Settlement Bylakuppe on 5 September.
The parliamentary delegation began their official engagements in Bangalore on 25 August. They visited the Chief Representative Office of South Zone, Office of TCV Tibetan Youth Hostel and hostels of TCV Youth Hostel. The delegation also addressed students and public gathered at a hall of TCV Youth Hostel.
They later visited and met with Physicians of Men-Tse-Khang at Koramangala and Mahalakshmi. They discussed the current status of Sowa-Riga (Tibetan Medicine) and efforts towards its preservation. The parliamentarians also visited Tibetan shop owners at Tibet Bazaar in Dubai Plaza, Bangalore.
On 26 August, they visited Tibetan woollen garment sellers of Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore and heard their grievances. Later, they visited the Tibet Mall, Bangalore.
Thereafter on 27 August, the delegation visited the Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education (DLIHE) and departed for Mysore where they met with the President and Vice President of Mysore Tibetan Students Association.
Later in the evening, they addressed Tibetan college students in Mysore and also actively interacted with them.
On the second leg of the official tour, the delegation visited Lugsam Tibetan settlement on 28 August where they visited the Settlement Office, Tibetan Cooperative Office, Sera Thekchenling Lachi Monastery, Sera Mey, Sera Jey, Thekchok Namdroling Monastery, Tsogyaling Nunnery, old age home, Local Justice Commissioner’s office and Tso Jhe Hospital. They also addressed monks and nuns at Namdroling and Sera Jey respectively.
On 29 August, the parliamentary delegation visited Thekchenling monastery at camp 2, the office of Regional Tibetan Freedom Movement (BRDL), Sambhota Tibetan day school, Sakya Tsechen Chokhorling, and Karma Shri Nalanda Monastery.
They addressed teachers, staff and students of Sambhota Tibetan Day School and TCV Bylakuppe. An interaction was also held with monks of Sera Mey Thoesam Norling Monastery.
Later they visited the primary school and baby crèche of Kialashpura and ARlikumari.
On 30 August, they visited Dukar Thoesamling Monastery, baby crèche and primary school at Golathala, chikhang (community hall) of camp 5 and 6, Mani Dungdup Lhakang, Karuna Home, Tibetan cooperative Society and its various departments, camp 7 which houses recently built quarters for the Tibetans who have newly arrived from Tibet, animal husbandry project, agricultural projects and other projects.
Later in the evening, they held a general meeting with the Settlement Officer, Chairman of Local Tibetan Assembly, President and Secretary of Tibetan Cooperative Society, Heads of organizations, and camp leaders.
On 31 August, the Parliamentarians visited His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s phodrang at Lugsam, Drikung Kagyu Monastery, Sera Jey Middle School, etc.
Following the visit, the Parliamentarians addressed the general public at Lugsam cooperative hall, addressed their questions and doubts.
Finally on their last visit, the delegation visited Tibetan students in Mangalore and on 2 September which is observed as Tibetan Democracy Day, the delegation addressed the Tibetan college students studying in Mangalore in NITTE Nursing Institute.
They also addressed the students in an official ceremony to mark the Tibetan Democracy Day.
The next day, they visited the Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education enroute to Bangalore and addressed the members of the Institute.
The official 13-day tour concluded successfully with a total of 11 public addresses and a general meeting with the local authorities of Tibetan communities conducted fruitfully.
-Filed by Tibetan parliamentary secretariat