Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin Choekyi Gyaltsen (”Shingza Rinpoche”) was born in Tsonyon, Amdo. At the age of 13, he was recognized as a reincarnation by the Raga Gompa Monastery. He was asked by the Chinese government to be a part of a group of lamas from different districts of Tibet who would recognize the fake Panchen Lama, but he refused. Shingza Rinpoche felt that if he went along with the Chinese government, he would be forced to do many other things that would go against the Dalai Lama and his fellow Tibetans. For that reason, the Rinpoche decided to flee into exile at the age of 17.
When he reached India, the Dalai Lama recommended that he pursue his studies at Sera Monastery in south India. At Sera, Shingza Rinpoche was on the editorial committee for different journals published by the monastery about Tibetan culture and education. The Rinpoche said that until March of this year, he was not involved in any political activities.
Because of the uprising in Tibet, Shingza Rinpoche was driven to participate in a 24-hour hunger strike organized by a group of Rinpoches in south India. He first heard about the March to Tibet when a group of monks from his monastery left to join the march. Shingza Rinpoche joined the March himself on April 18th, as it departed from Delhi.
“The marchers will keep on marching towards Tibet,” said Shingza Rinpoche. “But we need the help of Tibetans outside the March to support us and spread the news of what’s happening in Tibet and on the March to Tibet. At this critical time, it is crucial that there is unity and coordination between Tibetans inside Tibet and those in exile.”
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Prime Minister Singh personally pinned the prestigious Adhran Suraksha Sewa Paman Patra to Sopa’s chest for his brave actions during the battle of Tiger Hill in the Kargil War in 1999. In the battle on the Pakistan border, he destroyed two enemy bunkers. “Bhadur”(Nepali for “Brave Man”) was a member of the elite Tibetan wing of the Indian Army named the Special Frontier Force (SFF).
He spent twelve years in the army and only regretted not being able to participate in Tibetan freedom marches during that time. The March to Tibet was Sopa’s first opportunity, and he knew right away that he would go. The 33-year-old Karnataka native dropped plans to finally visit New York City to see his sister and left his business so he could march home. He says, “Being a Tibetan, it is my duty to get Freedom for Tibet. If I do not, who will?”
NOW LET US RETURN TO TIBET
(A Prayer Song for the March to Tibet)
By Rakra Thupten Choedhar
Ki ki so so lha gyalo!
Victory to the Gods of Tibet!
O Tibetan brothers and sisters, we have not met for a long time.
We are returning, we who have long wandered in foreign lands.
O you first sipa (origin) gods of Tibet, send us escorts
We need trusted guides to help us across the many passes and valleys.
O you first sipa goddesses, do not be distracted.
Open wide the gates of the great snow mountain wall.
You thirteen first sipa goddesses of our gur songs, sing us a verse.
It will make the journey shorter across the many passes and valleys
You twelve terma (treasure) goddesses please sing the refrain.
Raise our spirits and make us joyful as we march through the wilderness.
Any thoughts of turning back have been abandoned on the road behind
Our feet compel us to march forward to Tibet.
Lhasa, abode of the gods, gathering place of our people,
The capital city of all Tibetans, more precious than life.
Friends, do not offer the welcome chang right now,
There will be time enough for us to meet, drink and rejoice.
Let us first greet the Buddha Jowo at the Jokang Temple.
(This translation of Rakra Rimpoche’s poem was attempted by Jamyang Norbu from the Tibetan original below. Edited by Rigzin Dolkar)
A few days before his death, Pema Tashi told his best friend, Leki Dhondup, that “Tibet has given me so much and I want to give back to the cause. If necessary, I will contribute my life to the struggle.” On May 10, Pema drowned in the Kosi River at Kakri Ghat, Uttarakhand, during the March to Tibet.
Born in Arunachal Pradesh to non-Tibetan parents, he decided to become a monk by the age of six. Pema delighted his parents with his decision and journeyed down to Sera Mae Monastery to take his vows of monkhood. When he saw the announcement about the March to Tibet, he said, “I was happy because I had always wanted to see Tibet. I have lived in a Tibetan community for a long time and have always viewed Tibetans as compassionate people and this motivated me to join the march. Since I have made up my mind to go on this march, I am fearless.”
When arrested with the other 100 Core Marchers at Dehra, Himachal Pradesh, Pema said “I felt the agony and the status of a homeless refugee.” Once released from house arrest, Pema rejoined the march only to develop problems walking. They allowed him to switch to the tent building crew where he earned the reputation as a hard worker and a joker. In fact, everyone knew of Pema’s infectious joking and his friend Leki said, “he couldn’t be quiet for a minute.” He eventually got the nickname “Man of the March.” Other marchers would never refer to him as Pema. In fact, most didn’t even know that name. They simply called him “the Man.” It was said that without him on the march, there would be no joking.
As they approached what was to be Pema’s last campsite, he marveled at “the beauty of newly entered hills and felt a sensation of coming to his homeland.” After building the tents at the campsite, Pema jumped into the cold and cloudy water of the river, apparently hitting his head on a rock. He spent too long underwater and passed away a few hours later at the Almora Hospital. The entire march spent several hours in prayer for his soul and a team of monks stayed up all night praying over his body. His body was cremated the next morning with a mountain of katas.
To a hard worker, a lover of jokes and a warm person with a brave heart who died before he reached his home, everyone on the March to Tibet sends our prayers with you, Pema.
Obituary for Pema Tashi in Tibetan (PDF file)
Gedun Gyatso, 27, grew up in the idyllic village of Podma in the Kham province of Tibet. He would spend his summers at the top of a mountain with five others young men protecting the village yaks from wolves and foxes with stones and slings. Gedun learned about Tibetan culture and history from his grandfather who had one relative killed and another imprisoned by the Chinese. Gedun grew up filled with anger at the Chinese and used his sling to break out the windows of Chinese military vehicles as they entered Tibet with soldiers and left with timber.
At 13, he fulfilled his childhood dream and entered the Podma Monastery near his village. After protests for independence at the nearby Sevo Monastery, the government intensified their “patriotic reeducation” campaign with the monks, stressing:
- The monks should not follow the Dalai Lama.
- They should not follow the Tibetan government-in-exile.
- They must listen to Chinese officials.
- The monks must love the People’s Republic of China. (more…)
At the age of 16 with his political awareness already resolved, Gyaltsen Wangchuk set out for Lhasa on the morning of March 3, 1989, with three fellow student monks from Nyethang Monastery. They started marching around the Tibetan capital waving the banned Tibetan flag. People began joining them in droves. This was the beginning of the Tibetan People’s Uprising of March 1989 - the most broad-based and significant citizen’s revolt by Tibetans against Chinese rule until the uprising of this year. For three days, these four teenage monks from a rural monastery roamed the sacred city, stirring up the emotions of the people. By day four, with a police station burned, police vehicles vandalized, rocks being hurled at Chinese security police and soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army, Gyaltsen and his companions slipped back to their monastery. They were arrested there on April 3, 1989 by local police with submachine guns who recognized him from photographs from the protests. Six jeeps came to take them away in handcuffs. (more…)
The Daily News Journal
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
May 5, 2008
Pema Richeson and her parents moved to Rutherford County in 1996. These days, the 2003 Oakland High School graduate is thousands of miles away in India, marching to Tibet with a group of freedom marchers.
The 23-year-old is involved with Tibetan Freedom Movement and is a communications/media team member for the March to Tibet. As China prepares to host the Olympics this summer, international attention and activism has increased surrounding Tibet, a region that has long sought freedom from China’s control.
“The March to Tibet is an initiative launched by five leading Tibetan non-governmental organizations in Dharamsala, India, exiled-home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile,” said Richeson from India. “(It) currently has 250 core members who are committed to walking to Tibet, and eight Western support marchers. The aim of the march is to raise awareness about Tibetans’ plight.” (more…)
At 17 years old, Tenzin Dawa is the youngest member of the March to Tibet, and represents well the young generation of Tibetans concerned about their future. He grew up in the Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement in Dehradun with his mother and two older siblings. His mother supports them by weaving Tibetan aprons. Tenzin attended Tibetan schools with a focus on the language and culture of his homeland. He has traveled throughout India and Nepal singing Tibetans songs at concerts. Tenzin plans to join the orchestra division of the Indian army to improve his skills while earning money for his mother.
With an easy laugh and a passion for football, he has made many friends since he joined the march at New Delhi, especially among the monks. Tenzin says he joined the march because while in India, “You’re not in your own country and you haven’t seen your own country. I always wonder when I can see Tibet and often pray that I can see Tibet as soon as possible. If I am able to cross the border, I would be able to see Tibet. But on both side there’s a possibility of prison but I will bear any suffering.” Tenzin is an inspiring and determined young man who’s fun to be around.
Michael Bramadat Willcock, a 22 year old support marcher from Quebec, Canada, grew up hearing about the Tibet issue. His parents took him to protest the illegal occupation in front of the Chinese embassy in Ottawa every year and he saw the Dalai Lama during His Holiness’ visit to Canada. In 2007, the family took a trip to Ladakh where they stayed with a Tibetan family. He trekked to a place near the border where he saw the Rooftop of the World for the first time in his life and swore to cross those mountains someday. (more…)
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Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin Choekyi Gyaltsen (”Shingza Rinpoche”) was born in Tsonyon, Amdo. At the age of 13, he was recognized as a reincarnation by the Raga Gompa Monastery. He was asked by the Chinese government to be a part of a group of lamas from different districts of Tibet who would recognize the fake Panchen Lama, but he refused. Shingza Rinpoche felt that if he went along with the Chinese government, he would be forced to do many other things that would go against the Dalai Lama and his fellow Tibetans. For that reason, the Rinpoche decided to flee into exile at the age of 17.
