Dharamshala — President Dr Lobsang Sangay Tuesday morning congratulated India on the 71st anniversary of its Independence Day. An official ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamshala of northern India.
The Indian national flag was hoisted in front of Kashag (Cabinet) House before a function organised by the CTA to mark the occasion. Ministers, secretaries and other senior officials of the CTA attended the brief ceremony to mark the special occasion.
Following the hoisting of the Indian national flag to the tune of the Indian national anthem, President Dr Lobsang Sangay expressed his greetings to the people and government of India, on the occasion and praised India for her hospitality extended to the Tibetan community and His Holiness the Dalai Lama for nearly seven decades.
"On the 71st anniversary of India's independence day, I would like to express my heartiest greetings to the government and people of India," said President Dr Lobsang Sangay.
"This administration is observing the day with the wish and prayer that India becomes the greatest country in the world. We hope India's economy flourish and its stature enhanced in the world, and the people of this country are able to reap the benefits of their country's progress," the President said.
"Taking this opportunity, I would also like to thank India for hosting His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Central Tibetan administration and the Tibetan people for over five decades since 1959. No country has done more for Tibetan than India and for that, the Tibetan people remain constantly indebted to this great nation," he added.
Following the ceremony, the President left for Police Grounds in Lower Dharamshala where the local Indian administrative office is hosting a similar ceremony to mark the special occasion. The chief guest at the ceremony was Shri Sudhir Sharma, minister of Himachal Pradesh.
Acording to the CTA's official website, Tibetan representatives at the ceremony inlcude Kalon Karma Yeshi, Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phunstok, Tibetan Parliamentarian Ngawang Tharpa and Kashag secretary Topgyal Tsering.
On August 15, 1947, India gained independence from British rule and world's largest democracy nation was born on this date. The 1942 'Quit India' movement was strong and peaceful, Mahatma Gandhi's 'Do or Die' address inspired a country to unify against its British colonizers.
For more than 200 years, Britain had asserted its iron will over India. While the "Quit India" movement ended in late 1944, the momentum it provided in securing the country's independence proved unstoppable. Three years later, India was independent.
