Essay competition in memory of Panchen Lama

Tribune Reportes

Dharamsala, May 17

Tibetans-in-exile observed the remembrance day for Panchen Lama, the most revered leader after the Dalai Lama. Panchen Lama went missing in Tibet, occupied by China, 21 years ago.

The Human Rights Desk, Department of Information and International Relations, organised a drawing and essay competition at Sherab Gatsel Lobling to mark the 21st anniversary of the enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, one of the most revered religious leaders in Tibet. Till date, his whereabouts and well-being remain unknown.

Chief guest Sonam Norbu Dagpo, secretary of International Relations, distributed prizes to the winners of essay and drawing competition, themed “Remembering 21 years of enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima”.

In his keynote speech, the secretary asserted the role of the Panchen Lama lineage in preservation of Tibetan culture, tradition and language. He said, “It is important to know the special relationship between the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama called as the tutor-student relation. The elder has responsibility to recognise the reincarnation of the younger.”

“The case of Panchen Lama is not only a story of an innocent six-year-old child, who disappeared for 20 years, it is a blatant symptom of human rights violation, political repression and lack of religious freedom.”

The Dalai Lama named Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th incarnation of the Panchen Lama on May 14, 1995. Within three days of the announcement, he was abducted, making him one of the youngest political prisoners in the world.

Dalhousie: Tibetans in Dalhousie town today observed a ‘black day’ at the local Gandhi Chowk seeking the release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the eleventh Panchen Lama from the Chinese captivity.

Members of the Tibetan community also organised a 12-hour hunger strike to impress upon the Chinese authorities to start dialogue for the freedom of Tibet and for the earliest release of Panchen Lama.

Dr (Capt) GS Dhillon, president of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society, Dalhousie, in his kenynote address on this occasion said the present Tibetan community of Dalhousie had given it a very unique dimension through their very peaceful and tranquil disposition and supported their cause for the release of religiously designated 11th Panchen Lama.