McleodGanj.Dharamsala.Kangra valley

"Close to Heaven"

Dharamsala's International and Community News

News Archive Jan 08 - July 08

Tibetans Protest Massive Before the eve of beijing Olympics

Dalai Lama wishes success to Beijing Olympics

Tibetans to switch off lights during Olympics in Dharamsala

Notwithstanding Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama’s good wishes for Beijing Olympics, Tibetans in Dharamsala have decided to switch off lights of their houses for two hours during the opening ceremony of the mega sporting event tomorrow protesting China’s Tibet policy.

Tibetans residing here would also switch their lights off for one hour every day from 8 pm to 9 pm during the entire duration of the Olympics games from August 8 to August 24, Tenzin Choeying, national director of “Students for a Free Tibet”, said in a statement. Tibetans would gather at their main temple at Mcleodganj with their faces covered with black clothes at 6 pm tomorrow, when the Olympics inaguration ceremony is scheduled to begin, to show solidarity towards people “suffering” in their homeland, he said.Ngwang Woebar, President of Gu-Chu-Sum (former political prisioners association) said they will ask countrymen not to watch the games on television for the cause of Tibet.Chemi Yang Drung, President of National Democratic Party of Tibet, said marches will be carried out daily till the Olympics. A day before the start of Olympics, Tibetans in large numbers on Thursday marched through the streets of Dharamsala seeking support of the international community against Chinese “repression” in Tibet.

Japanese MP Visits Dharamshala, Voices Support for Tibet

in Matsubara, member of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Parliament, Wednesday called for improving human rights situation in Tibet and underlined the need to 'speak against the violators of human rights'. He said any form of suppression of freedom and human rights by any government should be denounced and prevent it as a disease from spreading. Matsubara, accompanied by Prof Pema Gyalpo, former representative of  Dalai Lama in Japan, was addressing Tibetan reporters at the Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat on Wednesday morning.He said with the growing support for Tibetan cause in Japan, a committee comprising of one hundred members have been set-up to support human rights and freedom of Tibetan people in Tibet. The committee has members both from the ruling and opposition parties of the Japan and some of them are very influential, he added. He further said Dalai Lama's emphasis on the preservation of environment and improvement of human rights in Tibet is very effective. Some of the countries, including China, which involved in suppression of freedom and human rights, also employed measures to degrade the natural environment, he said. It is of utmost importance to put same efforts on both human rights and environment, he added. Welcoming the visit of  Matsubara, Dolma Gyari, deputy speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, said his visit to Dharamshala is a strong and clear indication of Japan's long-term support and solidarity for Tibet during its critical moment. Dolma  Gyari said, through Matsubara, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile will submit a letter to Japanese prime minister to express our appreciation for  Matsubara's visit to Dharamshala. His commitment to visit us despite many difficulties sends a strong message of support for the Tibetan cause, she added. Lauding Japan's support for the Tibetan people, she said, Japan has learned the value of humanity from the tragedy of Horoshima and Nagasaki bombings. The Japanese MP received an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama this afternoon. He also met Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche and Venerable Tsering Phuntsok, kalon for the Department of Religion and Culture.

Tibetan in exiles celebrate ”Guru Purnima” in Dharamsala

Scores of Tibetan exiles, gathered in Dharamsala on Friday to offer prayers to Lord Buddha and their religious leader The Dalai Lama on the occasion of ”Guru Purnima”, a festival dedicated to one’’spirtual guru.

”Guru Purnima” is an annual festival predominantly observed by the Hindus and Buddhists, coinciding with the full moon day.The Tibetans exiles gathered at the Buddhist temple in Dharamsala and prayed for the well being of their leader Dalai Lama and also for the well being of all Tibetans around the world.“The ”purnima”, ”Sevajoha” as it is called, and we come to temple and we pray for his holiness (Dalai Lama) and for the Tibetan people and also for the people all over the world. Today is a special day, today being Friday and ”purnima”, so two good occasions are there today,” said Sonam, a Tibetan exile

Kangra Valley to host paragliding pre-world cup

Kangra Valley will host the paragliding pre-world cup in October at Bir-Billing, 300 km from here, in Kangra district. Tourism Secretary Manisha Nanda told IANS Wednesday that the Aero Club of India has given permission to hold the event.

The first pre-world cup was held in the hill state in 2002.Bir-Billing is considered to be one of the finest aero sports sites in the world and has been attracting a large number of foreign pilots.Nanda said a technical committee with representatives from the Aero Club of India and Paragliding world cup Association, France, would check the equipment being used to ensure that it is in good condition and as per the international standards.

Tibetans , Followers and Devotees celebarate Dalai Lama's birthday

Tibetans-in-exile celebrated the 73rd birthday of their spiritual leader Dalai Lama here on Sunday. People from different walks of life offered prayers for his long life at the official function organised at Mcleodganj, 20 km from here. This time due to anti-China protests in Tibet, the function did not include any singing and dance programmes in the celebrations. Tibet flared up with protests and violence March 10, which marked the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Instead, the gathering saw and participated in an extended prayer session for the Dalai Lama, Tibet and world peace. It was attended by ministers of the Tibetan government-in-exile and Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche. Congress legislator from Arunachal Pradesh T G Rompuche was also present.

US President Praises His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Courage

US President George W. Bush on Monday paid tribute to "the courage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Buddhists in Tibet" and said the US will stand by those who fight for their liberty.The US president was speaking at a White House ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of a US law aimed at promoting global religious freedom.Bush also reported that he told Chinese President Hu Jintao when they met last week in Japan: "So long as there are those who want to fight for their liberty, the United States stands with them," reported AFP."I also had the honor of meeting those who attend underground churches in China. And we also honor the courage of the Dalai Lama and the Buddhists in Tibet," he said."We remember those seeking religious freedom in China, and we honor those who press for their liberties, people like the Uighur Muslims," said Bush."Today, we urge the leaders of all these countries to immediately end their abuses of religious freedom. We urge these leaders to respect the rights of those who seek only to worship their god as they see fit," said Bush

The Famous Norowjee's shop "Mcleodganj Oldest Shop" in its last legs

One of the oldest landmarks of this town, the Nowrojee General Merchants shop set up in 1860, is taking a beating from time. Owned by a Parsi family, it is almost on its last legs commercially and otherwise. The shop used to be at the centre of all activity during the British colonial times and even in post-independence India. But it is fast losing out to ghastly constructions all over the Mcleodganj square, besides competition from the many rival shops.

The last man standing at the Nowrojee mansion is 82-year-old Jimmy Nowrojee. A former banker from Dehradun town, Jimmy is putting up a fight to retain the past glory of the shop. "I know that I am quite old. My nephews (who are settled in the US) want to close down the shop. But I will not let that happen - at least not during my lifetime," Jimmy, who lives alone.One way of keeping up with times is that all daily newspapers and magazines coming to this town are routed through this shop. It is from there that vendors and readers pick them up.

Jimmy took over the reins of the Nowrojee business and property - the property is valued at over Rs 60 million and commercially-minded businessmen have been eyeing it to set up hotels and commercial space - after his brother Nauzer Nowrojee, a institution in himself and a personal friend of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, died in 2000. In fact, Nauzer was a famous name in his own right, thanks partly to his social work - second only to the Dalai Lama. "We as a family had the best time of our life here. Besides our house below the shop, we had orchards around this place. Now this place - and we are going through the worst phase," Jimmy points out in a sad tone as he sits reading a newspaper at the shop counter. Much of the commercial activity around the location is a result of people cashing in on the tourism boom in this hill town. Thousands of foreigners and Indian tourists visit it annually as it is the abode of the Dalai Lama. The shop was re-built after a devastating earthquake in Kangra Valley in 1905. Five generations of the Parsi family have lived and done business here after the original Nowrojee and Son general store was set up in 1860.

Much of its business has been taken away by shops in the Mcleodganj market that sell everything from mineral water and pastries and traditional Tibetan crafts to 'Made in China' goods. Not many buyers, other than those coming to pick up newspapers and magazines, come to shop here any longer. But Jimmy is trying to keep the Nowrojee flag flying high. The inside of the shop is nothing less than an antique museum. The counters, jar containers and some unsold products tell the tale of a bygone era when the shop used to do roaring business. Among the priceless things still in the possession of the family are newspapers announcing the conquering of Mount Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzin Norgay on May 29, 1953. Even the advertising posters of decades-old products are still prominently displayed in the all-wood shop.

The family once used to deal in wines, selling famous brands, but it no longer does so. The 'wine' sign on the shop board "Wine and General Merchants" has been covered clumsily by paint. "At one time, we also used to sell arms and ammunition under licence," Jimmy says.

Jimmy may be holding fort at the shop for now but behind his bespectacled eyes, the worry about the future of the landmark shows quite clearly.

Dalai Lama’s envoys in Beijing again for talks

Two envoys of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama have left Dharamshala and will arrive in Beijing on Monday evening to hold the seventh round of talks for finding a solution to the Tibet issue. “Special envoys Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen will arrive in China today for the seventh round of discussions with representatives of the Chinese leadership,’’ said a statement issued by the office of the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama has instructed the envoys to make every effort to bring about tangible progress. It is hoped that this round of talks will contribute in resolving the issue through dialogue.The envoys will be accompanied by senior assistants Sonam N. Dagpo and Bhuchung K. Tsering, both members of Tibetan Task Force on Sino-Tibetan Negotiations, and Jigmey Passang from the Secretariat of the Tibetan Task Force, said the statement. The discussions will take place from July 1 and 2 in Beijing. The first round of talks was held in January 2002 and at that time the envoys of the Dalai Lama had met Chinese officials responsible for the Tibet policy outside China.

Tibetan Government-in-Exile to strive for progress during talks with China

The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has instructed the envoys to “make every effort to bring about tangible progress to alleviate the difficult situation for Tibetans” during talks with the Chinese representatives, says the Tibetan government-in-exile, based in Dharamsala.

Tibet's government-in-exile said the two-day talks would open in Beijing on Tuesday, but the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the cabinet spokesman's office declined to confirm or deny the dates.

Speaking to an international news agency in Dharamsala, the seat of the government-in-exile, Thubten Samphel, spokesperson of the Tibetan Government-in-exile said that the envoys have been instructed to make every possible effort to resolve the issue of Tibet.

“The instructions have been given to the envoys to leave no stone unturned to resolve the issue of Tibet through discussion and dialogue with the Chinese leadership since our struggle is non-violent and this is the only viable alternative,” said Samphel.

He further added that the Tibetans hope that the Chinese government would abide by the promise made by the Chinese President during his recent visit to Japan.It would be their second closed-door meeting since rioting erupted in Tibet in March and heaped international pressure on China to deal with the Nobel laureate, who fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule.The current round of talks, the sixth since 2002 and delayed by three weeks in the wake of China's deadliest earthquake in three decades, was preceded by a glut of goodwill, arguably somewhat more from the Dalai Lama's side than China's.During a trip to Britain in May, he said he was willing to attend the August 8-24 Beijing Olympics if talks between his envoys and China yielded results. He did not elaborate.But a Chinese source with ties to the leadership told the news agency an Olympic invite for the Dalai Lama or a summit with President Hu Jintao was out of the question unless Hu can mollify conservatives in his ruling Communist Party.The Dalai Lama says he wants autonomy for the Himalayan region. But China is unconvinced and brands him a separatist.He extended an olive branch to China praising the Chinese for their handling of the aftermath of the tremor that left a trail of death and destruction in the southwestern province of Sichuan.The quake killed about 70,000 people and put China at the receiving end of international sympathy after a period of vilification over a post-riot crackdown in Tibet.The Dalai Lama held a prayer meeting for Chinese quake victims in Dharamsala on June 4 and his envoys visited the Chinese Embassy in London to express their condolences.The government-in-exile has urged Tibetans to stop protesting outside Chinese embassies and consulates worldwide.In a concession, Chinese authorities have freed many Tibetans detained in the wake of the rioting, a source with knowledge of the releases said, requesting anonymity.

Heavy rains lash Dharamsala and Mcleodganj

The city witnessed heavy rain all day, forcing residents and tourists to remain indoors. The Met Office said 36 mm of rain.The entire Kangra valley recieved heavy rains as the start of the Monsoon season.

Tibetan youth restless in Dharamsala

A restless young generation of Tibetans is warning that failure to achieve a solution to the Tibetan issue is creating a deep well of frustration, offering space for more radical groups in coming years.

Many exiled Tibetans would like to go further than the conciliatory middle way approach of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who is pressing for autonomy within China through non-violent means. Yet, they say it would be Beijing fault if their exiled movement turns violent.For the present to balance their frustration and anger, they have been resorting to indefinite hunger strike — 40 to 50 days without food and just a little pint of water.The young Tibetans may be losing patience, but we feel that their thinking is absolutely wrong. If they implement their thinking on the ground, it will be sort of a mass suicide for the Tibetan people because the Chinese authorities - what we lack is something that they have - is the military might. This will be the best possible excuse for China to use the full force of their military force to totally eliminate such elements of the Tibetan people, said Thupten Samphal, spokesman of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Chinese officials met representatives of the Dalai Lama in May this year, but many Tibetan community leaders said the talks were not serious negotiations, but merely a ploy to stop the international criticism China has recently received.

Hunger strike by Tibetan exiles

A relay hunger strike by Tibetan exiles in Dharamsala is about to complete its fourth month.

Cabs in Dharamsala hike fares

On the heels of the hike in prices of diesel and petrol across the country, cab unions in Himachal Pradesh Sunday announced an increase in fare by 10 percent.

McleodGanj-Dharamsala-Kangra gets 70-seater Air link to Delhi

A 70-seater aircraft of the MDLR Airlines landed at the Kangra airport on a regular flight here today. The first-ever big passenger aircraft to land here had 20 passengers on board including executive director, marketing and planning, MDLR, Koustav M. Dhar. Dhar said the MDLR would conduct six regular flights every week (except on Sunday). Shortly, the service would be made daily. In the first flight, 20 passengers arrived here and 35 left for Delhi via Chandigarh, he added.Dhar said it would take 47 minutes for the aircraft to travel from Delhi to Kangra whereas other aircraft take 150 minutes. During the current peak tourist season, the MDLR would charge zero passenger fare for 15 days. They would be charged only Rs 1,875 in lieu of taxes.Even thereafter, the fare would be 25 per cent less than that charged by other airlines. The passengers would be served 14 vegetarian dishes during the travel, he said. The company would also introduce flights between Kangra and central and eastern India within a month, he added. The aircraft to be used for the Kangra flights was four-engine STOL (short take-off and landing) performing aircraft with the safest speed control.

He said the flight would depart from Delhi at 3 o’clock and would arrive here at 3.50 pm. It would depart from here at 4.10 pm, would land at Chandigarh at 4.40 pm and take off for Delhi at 17.10 pm from there.

'Dharamsala must be considered for ODIs'-Dave Whatmore

The stadium in Dharamsala should be considered for hosting one-day international matches, National Cricket Academy (NCA) coach Dav Whatmore said today."The field and the wicket of the Dharamsala cricket stadium is very good. It must be considered for One Day Internationals (ODIs)," Whatmore, who is holding a camp for North Zone here, told reporters."This is the reason we are a holding camp here," the famed former Sri Lankan coach added.Whatmore's praise of the stadium was shared by Delhi District Cricket Association secretary Sunil Dev."Dharamsala is an ideal place for cricket as it has good climate," Dev said."It would be an ideal place for organising national camps," he added.Built in 2003, Dharamsala stadium has so far hosted Duleep and Ranji trophy matches besides a few unofficial matches featuring Pakistan and Australia in the past.

Asked about Twenty20 and its effect on Test cricket, Whatmore said ICC has already recognised it by holding T20 World Cup.

Whatmore said NCA has produced some good bowlers like Lakshmipati Balaji and star of victorius India under-19 team Pardeep Sangwan.

Dalai Lama mourns deaths in China quake

Mourned the deaths of thousands in a devastating earthquake in China and offered prayers for the victims. The Dalai Lama also lauded the Chinese authorities for acting swiftly to rescue survivors.

“I would like to extend my deep sympathy and heartfelt condolences to those families who have been directly affected by the strong earthquake,” the Tibetan leader said in a statement in Dharamsala - the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. “I offer my prayers for those who have lost their lives and those injured.”“We are full of sympathy for the families bereaved by this great tragedy and we admire the quick response of the Chinese authorities in deploying rescue teams at such short notice to bring out survivors from the rubble,” Thubten Samphel, a spokesperson for the Tibetan government-in-exile, said.“We share their sorrow, sadness and tragedy. We pray for those who have lost their lives,” Dalai Lama’s envoy in New Delhi Tempa Tsering told IANS. “We don’t want this to happen to anyone anywhere in the world be it China or Tibet. We feel deeply for those who are suffering in China,” Tsering said. “There is no place for politics at a time of such tragedy. Suffering is suffering,” Tsering replied when he was asked about China’s accusations against the Dalai Lama for allegedly abetting unrest and violence in Lhasa in March. The Dalai Lama has denied these charges and stressed that despite China’s crackdown on Tibetan protesters in March, he backs genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people under China’s rule, but is not in favour of independence. According to Xinhua, China’s official news agency, the death toll has spiralled to 12,000 after a massive 7.9 magnitude quake struck Monday afternoon in Sichuan province.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama in aid of the Myanmar cyclone

A contribution of $50,000 was made to the International Red Cross Committee, Geneva by the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala. The aid was given as a symbol of solidarity and genuine empathy with the people of Myanmar.
Giving the information Secretary to H.H. the Dalai Lama, Chhime Rigzin Choekyapa said that it was a pure gesture to lend a hand towards the alleviation of human suffering in the country.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a letter to Mr Jacob Kellenberger, President of International Committee of the Red Cross, sent on 8 May 2008 said: "I am deeply saddened by the catastrophe caused in Burma by the recent Cyclone Nargis. I am shocked by the destruction, especially by the high number of people who have perished as a result. This catastrophe has compounded the problems of poverty that already exist in Burma." Cyclone Nargis, which hit Irrawaddy river delta region in Burma on May 3, 2008 devastated the country, killing tens of thousands and leaving many more without food and shelter.
According to a leading charity at least 40 percent of those killed in the cyclone were children and hundreds more have lost their parents.

Karmapa to begin his first visit outside India

he 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, left Dharamsala for New Delhi on Sunday to begin his first ever visit to the United States.
He was granted permission in February this year by the Ministry of the external affairs to visit US from May 15 to June 2, following many requests to the Indian government in the past few years.
This would also be Karmapa's maiden visit outside India since he fled Tibet and arrived in India in 2000.

During the visit, he is scheduled to travel to three U.S. cities – New York, Boulder and Seattle – primarily to give public teachings.he explains that the visit would enable him to reconnect with friends of previous Karmapa, whom he said had also traveled to the US many times during his life time and had made “numerous far-reaching connections of friendship” there.
“On a personal level, by visiting America, I hope to broaden my own horizons and bring new depth to my experience,” he says in the video, adding “By connecting with the powerful countries, such as the United States, I aspire that my own abilities to bring peace to the world in this new century will be enhanced”.
Karmapa further expresses his confidence that the visit would “provide strong conditions” for him “to help all sentient beings achieve outer and inner happiness”The young Karmapa, who turned 22 in June this year, is seen by many as one of the greatest Tibetan Buddhist spiritual masters in the making of this era.
He has been temporarily living on the top floor of the Gyuto Tantric Monastic University in Dharamsala, the exile seat of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile in northern India, since he made his daring escape to India from Tsurphu in Tibet in January 2000 when he was just 14.

Dalai Lama's Envoys To Talk With Chinese

The Dalai Lama expects his envoys to hold talks with Chinese officials next month, even as bitterness lingers from recent protests. A one-day meeting earlier this month in Shenzhen, China, between the two sides concluded without any sign of consensus. The Tibetan spiritual leader spoke in an interview outside his residence in this north India hill town, headquarters for Tibet's government in exile following a mass exodus of Tibetans from China in 1959.
"We have proposed" more talks, he said. Though he didn't lay down conditions, the Dalai Lama repeated demands that international organizations and foreign media be allowed to investigate the recent unrest in Tibet. He also said the Chinese government should conduct a review of how it administers the autonomous region and other areas where Tibetans live in China.
"Now the time has come for the Chinese government to conduct a thorough, realistic review," the 72-year-old Buddhist leader said, a maroon shawl wrapped around his crimson and mustard robes. "They have poured in billions [of dollars]. But they have failed to bring satisfaction to Tibetan life. They have to find out what's wrong."

Dharamsala Tourist Season in high spirits

Tourist , Hippies and Trekking Lovers rush to Dharamsala and Mcleodganj to enjoy the season.People coming from all the over the world makes Mcleodganj a Heaven for Travellers.

Dharamsala Cricket Stadium added to international venue list

The Dharamsala Cricket Stadium has been included in the list of 17 stadiums selected by the Indian Cricket Board for holding national and international matches.

The decision was taken by the BCCI at its meeting held Daljeet Singh, a member of the Grounds and Wickets Committee, said here on Wednesday.

Daljeet Singh said the stadium was under construction and Rs 5 crore had already been spent on it. The ground has been prepared and pitches laid but the pavilion was under construction, he said.

Daljeet, who has been handed the charge of Ferozshah Kotla ground in New Delhi and the Mohali Stadium, will also supervise the progress work at the Dharamsala Stadium.

He said that the ground would be ready for holding international cricket matches by next year and the Board was satisfied with the progress of construction.

Tibetans Protest in the Streets of Mcleodganj and Dharamsala

Peaceful protest with "Free Tibet" slogans

Tibetan Shops , offices in Dharamsala and Mcleodganj remained closed for the third day holding Protests against China