Dharamshala — “In the history of humanity, never has been anything more anti-cultural that the so called Cultural Revolution… The Tibetan struggle shows how indomitable the human spirit is and resonates with a quote of Mahatma Gandhi Ji: they can break our limps but not our spirit,” said India’s former Foreign Minister Shri Yashwant Sinha during his visit to the Tibet museum on April 2nd.
The Tibet Museum launched a week long photo exhibition called, ‘Revisiting the Cultural Revolution in Tibet,’ showcasing the ramifications of the Cultural Revolution on Tibetan culture and religion.
Former Indian Foreign and Finance Minister Shri. Yashwant Sinha graced the inauguration of photo exhibition as the chief guest. Other dignitaries include Archarya Yeshi Phuntosk, Deputy Speaker, Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Dongchung Ngodup Dorjee, Representative of His Holiness the Dalia Lama in Delhi, and Former Minister of CTA, Dhardon Sharling, Secretary, DIIR, Shri Air Marshal Naresh Verma, Director of IIC and Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, Secretary of Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A select audience of over seventy and members of media attend the event.
Shri Yashwant Sinha said “in the history of humanity, never has been anything more anti-cultural that the so called Cultural Revolution.”
“The Tibetan struggle shows how indomitable the human spirit is and resonates with a quote of Mahatma Gandhi Ji: they can break our limps but not our spirit,” said India’s former Foreign Minister.
He also expressed confidence that people of Tibet will see a new dawn and assured the steadfast support of Indian government and people to ensure that the Tibetan struggle will persist and the sacrifices of Tibetan people will not go in vain.
Regarding China’s objection to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s current visit to the state of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Yashwant Sinha said “China has no business to tell us where His Holiness can go.’
Tashi Phuntsok, Director of Tibet Museum in his introductory remarks said “although the Cultural Revolution is said to have ended forty years ago, China’s continuing hardline policies in Tibet serve as an evidence of its attempt to erase Tibet’s past, present and future.”
Dhardon Sharling, Secretary of DIIR while delivering her address and said the Cultural Revolution is a big blot in China’s history, which cannot be erased and claimed that the cultural revolution continues to this day as evidenced in the case of Larung Gar.
“Today’s China, while desperately trying to break away from the image of a totalitarian system, driven by a failing ideology, still sees personal choice and religious belief a threat to its own survival. This fear of people of faith follows a disturbing trend from the pervasive state control over its Muslim population during the Ramadan month, to the bulldozing of Christian churches and now to the ongoing destruction at Larung Gar Buddhist academy at Serthar in Tibet,” said Dhardon.
She further said “though the cultural revolution will bring back bitter memories of an atrocious past but on the brighter side the cultural resilience of Tibetans inside Tibet have kept alive the hope for a peaceful resolution to the Tibet issue.”
The photo exhibition is open to the public from 11 am – 7 pm this week, April 2nd through the 8th.
