DALHOUSIE: Over a thousand people including 578 former students gathered at the CST Dalhousie football ground today to commemorate the golden jubilee celebration of the school. The chief guest at the event was His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Also present were Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, Trisur Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, Sanjay Kumar Dhiman, SDM of Dalhousie among other dignitaries.
The celebrations began with a march past by former and present students, followed by a minute silence in memory of all those Tibetans who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet.
Greeting the public on the completion of the school’s 50 years, His Holiness said, many students of this school after excelling in studies, have served the exile Tibetan community in various capacities. Whether a believer in god or not, a life spent in the service of others is the most meaningful of all. And I thank you all for your contribution, His Holiness said.
His Holiness also stressed that education should be imparted in such a way that children transforms into responsible individuals when they grow up.
Since many of these former students currently reside in different parts of the world representing Tibetan people, His Holiness urged them to retain the thousands of year old Tibetan religion and culture. “Without our roots, we are devoid of our core essence of being a Tibetan. We should be proud of our heritage,” His Holiness said.
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay also addressed the gathering. Congratulating the completion of 50 years, Sikyong thanked the people and the government of India for their unwavering support to the Tibetan exile community. He said, Tibetans in exile flourished due to the generous support of the Indian government and people.
When His Holiness met Pandit Nehru, His Holiness, at that time, exerted more importance on the education of the Tibetan refugees. Pandit Nehru also showed deep concern for the education of the Tibetan people and told His Holiness the real way to serve the Tibetan cause is to give the Tibetan children a proper education, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay said.
His Holiness’ vision at that time was not just to give the children a modern education but an education rooted in Tibetan tradition, hence the establishment of separate Tibetan schools, Sikyong said.
Sikyong Dr Sangay thanked the various staff, past and present, of the CTSA schools for giving the Tibetan children modern as well as strong moral and ethical education. He acknowledged that the majority of the officials in the CTA are products of CST schools, adding that the heads of all the three pillars of Tibetan democracy, the chief justice, the speaker as well as the Sikyong himself were former CST students. The SIkyong also added that three Kalons from his cabinet are from CST Dalhousie itself.
A golden jubilee magazine entitled ´SOUVENIR` was unveiled at the function by H
Performance of traditional Tibetan dance during CST, Dalhousie’s 50th Anniversary celebrations in Dalhousie, HP, India, on April 28, 2013. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
is Holiness. His Holiness was also requested to unveil a book `WILD LIFE of HIMACHAL` by S.K Dhiman, SDM of Dalhousie at the function.
The function also saw presentations of mementoes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kalo
n Trisur Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche and to the government and people of India as a mark of deep gratitude by the former students.
The function concluded with song and dance performances by the school students, local Tibetan community and by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. It was followed by a brief session between His Holiness and former students at the school building.
In the afternoon, His Holiness visited the Dalhousie Public School (DPS) to deliver a talk on ‘Educating the Heart’. Students asked His Holiness on the importance of religion, peace, and how to cultivate inner happiness.