Phayul
[Monday, December 31, 2007 17:50]

Dharamsala, December 31: Some 60 Tibetan college students' delegation 
from 18 different students' chapters across India have made it to the 
2nd All India Tibetan College Students' Conference (AITCSC) that 
began yesterday at Sarah College for Higher Tibetan Studies (CHST).

President of the Ghu-Chu-Sum Ex-political Movement accepts an 
honorary award trophy on behalf of Tibetan political prisoner Lobsang 
Tenzing, currently held in Chushul prison in Tibet by the Chinese 
Communist Authorities. (Photo AITCSC)
President of the Ghu-Chu-Sum Ex-political Movement accepts an 
honorary award trophy on behalf of Tibetan political prisoner Lobsang 
Tenzing, currently held in Chushul prison in Tibet by the Chinese 
Communist Authorities. (Photo AITCSC)
A Tibetan student from Norway, and 3 Tibetan Muslim students from 
Kashmir University and 2 from Baroda are among the participants of 
the three-day conference organized by the Sarah chapter.

"The primary goal of holding this kind of organized conference within 
Tibetan college students is to have a platform to create a deeper 
understanding of self-realisation and self-responsibility and, to 
build a mutual bond among Tibetan college students scattered in small 
numbers," the conference's organising president Mr Kunkyab Passang 
told Phayul.

"In doing so, the conference will also focus on encouraging more and 
more young Tibetans to get into professional and specialized lines 
rather than merely opting for usual college degrees," Mr Kunkgyab sid.

Kalon Thupten Lungrig, the Education Minister of Tibetan Government 
in Exile was the chief Guest of the opening ceremony on Sunday. 
Member of Tibetan parliament in Exile Mr. Lhamo Kyab, the Director of 
Upper TCV Mr Lekshey Tenpa, the President of Ghu-Chu-Sum Movement 
Ven. Nawang Woeber, and the principal of CHST Ven. Jamphel Drakpa 
were the other dignitaries present at the function.

One of the key agendas of the conference also includes assessments of 
the "Action Plans and Resolution" set forth in the previous 
conference and at the same time putting forward its next set of 
action plans and resolutions.

The organisers of the conference have also arranged resource persons 
to talk on selected topics like Responsibility of Tibetan youths, 
youth and education, Tibet and world today, Middle-way approach and 
world peace, Tibetanisation, and, Tibet and world environment. 
"Besides, there will be separate panel discussion sessions on other 
important topics suggested by the participating members," Mr Kunkyab 
notes.

In his inaugural speech, Kalon Thupten Lungrig stressed on the 
importance of preserving the unique Tibetan identity and cultural 
values and, at the same time building a well educated and a 
harmonious Tibetan society.

Mr Kunkyab maintains that the conference is purely a Tibetan college 
students' initiative with no organisational affiliations attached to it.

The first day of the ongoing conference began with an overview of the 
Action Plan and Resolution passed at the first 1st All India Tibetan 
College Student's Conference held last year in the Indian city of 
Mangalore and hosted by its Regional Tibetan Youth Congress chapter. 
Students representing the eighteen different Chapters presented their 
reports which explained the actions taken by each of them in their 
respective regions.

The college students also presented two honorary awards to two 
Tibetan figures. The group awarded Ama Jetsun Pema with a trophy for 
her "tireless contribution to Tibetan children's education." Another 
trophy was awarded to Mr Lobsang Tenzin, a student of Tibet 
University in Lhasa and currently a political prisoner held at 
Chushul prison by Chinese authorities.

A brain storming discussion among the student delegates on the "Role 
of Tibetan Youth in Freedom Struggle" concluded the closing session 
of the first day conference.