TENZIN TSUNDUE`S VISIT

This is the second visit of Tenzin Tsundue to Pune, and as expected it was a very inspirational and he made us realize so many things that which we are ignorant of. There were around 15 Tibetans and 2 Indians in the meeting. We started our meeting with a introduction of everyone and then he started with the “His Holiness’s devolvement of powers to an elected leadership and Tibetan people’s responsibility” So, the most striking thing about his speech was his comparison of His Holiness the dalai lama caring the Tibetan people like a mother does to her son like the case in which the mom teaches her son cycling but the son is not confident enough to ride on his own and so insists his mom to help more but rejected for his earlier self reliant. This comparison made us realize that the decision taken by the His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the wise and the best for the Tibet.
After the meeting we bid our farewell and thank you notes to all and Tenzin Tsundue left on Moiyat`s bike waving his hand and made us realize that we are here for a purpose because we are born refugee.

4th April 2011

What prompted a monk to burn himself, knowing that when the burning wrath takes to his body, it will hurt like when a candle burns your finger but a thousand times more. First the clothes will rip off burning, then the hair will vanish like it wasn’t there to start with, the skin will melt and drip off leaving a trail and when people try and succeed putting off the flames, only a charred and smoky resemblance is all that will remain in the end. This is how heroes die these days.
Phuntsok Jarutsang, a monk from Tibet’s Amdo Ngaba immolated himself on the 16th March 2011, he was only 20 years old. The extreme Chinese military scrutiny and the violent crackdown of the region took yet another victim, this time of this brave monk who couldn’t take the “shut up and get on with the raw deal” treatment anymore, his is an example of courage of a different league, in fact the elite.
SFT, Pune on the 4th of April 2011 sat together and prayed for his well-being and chipped in the ‘SFT Fast For Freedom’ to show solidarity and cohesion to his sacrifice and the people in Tibet who still continue to suffer. We Tibetans believe if you dedicate your life for the good of greater interest, you will see your labor bear fruit in the next, we hope and whisper prayer for Pawo (martyr) Phuntsok Jarutsang and mourn the life of this willing victim.
Take notice people, in the scheme of things this is how a hero dies these days.
Tenzin Dharpo

10th MARCH

The first thing I did when I entered the auditorium was look for the dreaded bunch of unoccupied seats, the relative danger of addressing an empty room was in fact the lesser of our worries as people did show up and the evening at the engineering college auditorium was more or less consumed with an energy best described as 'support'.
The screening of documentary did what it was supposed to do, garner people's interest and on a basic stage, tell the story of Tibet and 10th March to the hitherto unaware, uninterested and unrelated hoards of people that otherwise might have gotten surprised on reading a new word in the newspaper that actually turns out to be a nation called 'Tibet'. On seeing the graphic images in the film, the audience erupted in subtle ohh's and ahh's and claps after the documentary films gave us the notion of uniform sympathy towards Tibet and her tribulations.
The market for the product called Tibet is quite infinite and the assortment of the people present spelled likewise, besides Tibetan students, Indian students quite understandably, Bhutanese , African, Indonesian, Nepalese, Mongolian and others who-we-were-too-busy-to-ask-where-they-were-from sat through the showcase of the cult Tibetan documentary 'Cry of the Snow Lion', and three other short documentaries. Later the SFT members set up food stalls that boast momos and laphings further intrigued the audience into a rather prosperous social pot(place where ideas were hatched, friendships made and 'thank you for the experience' exchanged )and finally coming together for a goodwill group photo that captured each present gleaming, some with hope, some with satisfaction, some with collaboration and few of just belly full of momos and laphings but to say it was a good evening for Tibet, her clause and SFT,Pune wouldn't be a farfetched observation.

MOVIE SCREENING

Time : Thursday, March 10 · 4:30pm - 8:30pm
Location : Institution of Engineers India,
Opp.COEP boys hostel,JM road,Shivajinagar
Pune, India

More Info

Tibet

(The story of a forgotten nation)

For centuries, living in peace and tranquility, humble and righteous, happy and contented, were the faithfully religious people from the roof of the world --- Tibetans. All ended with the advent of the atheist Chinese communist onslaught that came burning, killing, looting, raping and destroying, and thrown the heavenly kingdom into hell. Twenty percent people of the nation were slaughtered, ninety-nine percent monasteries plundered and burnt, monks were sent to labor camps and nuns were raped and forced to marry. Religion to them was a laughing stock and so to worship was a crime! Cultural genocide, environmental destruction and exploitation of natural resources have since then been intensely going on for the past 50 years.

Fortunately, their spiritual and temporal leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama succeeded escaping the Chinese assassination attempt into India along with many of his followers as refugees who brought the struggle here and fought this epic battle against the Communist China for 50 years.

Thus, our screening of the documentary film, 'Tibet: Cry of The Snow lion' on March 10, coincides with the historic uprising of Tibetans on March 10, 1959 against the Chinese invasion. This film depicts the unimaginable pains of the Tibetans and their courage for the struggle which we tend to forget. Please come, if not help, let's at least know the pains that this forgotten nation is undergoing. Let's stand for a cause!

NEW MEMBERS AND EXECUTIVE

Following are brief introductions of the members of executive body of SFT Pune 2011:

Dr. Passang Thopchen: He is a well-known and respected doctor here in Pune. Having stayed in Pune for more than 10 years, he is the senior-most member of the executive body and his familiarity to this place and rich experience will be an indispensable factor for our organization to grow and succeed. His designation is Advisor.

Ogyen: Being a recipient of Gaden Phodrang Student Merit award for topping All India CBSE class XII exam among all Tibetans and completed his bachelors in the most prestigious college, St. Stephen's college, he is going to utilize his expertise for this organization to thrive and he will be an important component of our success.He currently works in an IT company. His role is also Avisor.

Tenzin Tendhar : He does his animation after completing BA. He has always been one of the most active and enthusiastic participants of our public activities which is clearly shown by him being elected as the president for this year. He is the overall head of the executive body of SFT Pune 2011.

Dolma Sinon :She does her first year LLB in ILS Law College. Her being energetic and enthusiastic towards our nation's cause is very well-known here. That's why she has been elected as the General Secretary, second highest post of SFT Pune 2011.

Tsering Dorjee :His pursuit of M.Sc Maths in Pune University naturally makes him one of the brightest Tibetan students here. Being good at numbers, he is our cashier.

Tenzin Dharpo :Known for his expressive and beautiful English, he has been requested to keep and update our exclusive blog for SFT Pune.

I am sure, SFT Pune 2011 is going to excel with these pioneers!