BENGALURU: It has been over a decade since Kunchok, now 25, a third year law student at city based CMR University School of Legal Studies, fled his native place –
Driru County
in
Tibet which has been the epicentre of Tibetan resistance to China’s rule and victim of China’s repression for years.
For six years now, Kunchok hasn’t spoken to his parents and siblings, nor met with them and does not know whether they are safe, all for one cause –‘Tibet ki Azaadi, Bharat ki Suraksha (Independence for Tibet and Safety for India) which was the clarion call of over Tibetan Youth Congress whose 48th annual working committee meeting began at
Tibetan Youth Hostel
in Koramangala, Bengaluru on Tuesday.
The five-day meeting is being held for the first time in Bengaluru. The TYC has 35,000 members on its rolls.
Kunchok, former president of Tibetan Youth Congress, Bengaluru chapter was among 100 student representatives and delegates who had gathered in Bengaluru from across India, Nepal and Bhutan to discuss strategies about various political campaigns to be conducted for Tibet’s freedom movement.
Tenzing Jigme
, president of Tibetan Youth Congress headquartered at Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, said: “The present political situation between China and Tibet is pretty critical and India has always been a great support for the Tibetan government in exile. Keeping in mind the situation of Tibet, this annual meeting will look towards preserving our culture, religion and language with India’s help.”
“We will also look into instances of self-immolation as since 2009, we have lost over 150 fellow Tibetans who have burnt and killed themselves as an act of sacrifice for freedom of Tibet. We recently had another self-immolation in Himachal Pradesh which we need to stop through our strategies and campaigns,” he added.
The meeting will end with a peace march on September 3 from Freedom Park to Town Hall where several issues about Tibet would be raised and the committee would ask for support from Indian government.
As a token of gratitude towards the centre and state government, several volunteers from Tibetan Youth Congress, Bengaluru chapter have been contributing to Modi’s Swachh Bharat Mission by conducting cleanliness drives in several parts of the city.
“This year’s Independence Day saw a group of over 40 volunteers cleaning the entire stretch of MG Road and Brigade Road. We have been conducting such drives every year on Independence Day to express our gratitude to this nation,” said Kunchok.
He added: “Also during Diwali celebration, we organise campaigns on MG Road encouraging boycott of Chinese goods among Bengalureans and buying of more of made-in-India products.”