Berhampur: Tibetan settlers at
Chandragiri in Orissa's Gajapati district on Friday expressed
shock over the Dalai Lamas decision to step down as political
head of Tibetan government-in-exile and asked him to
reconsider the move.
"Not only the people settled in Chandragiri but the
people of Tibet across the world want his leadership and they
will appeal the Dalai Lama to reconsider his decision,"
Jamphel, chairman of local Tibetan assembly (Chandragiri),
said.
A day after announcement by the 75-year-old Nobel
peace laureate, president of women's association, Chandragiri
Mirgnar said "he is a guiding force. We believe under his
peaceful guidance, the decades-old struggle of the Tibetans
can be achieved. We don?t want his retirement.
"He is our spiritual leader and we want his leadership
should continue," she said.
The Tibetans who had come to India along with the
Dalai Lama over 45 years ago from Tibet after China invaded
their country and settled in Gajapati district were upset over
his announcement.
Over 4000 Tibetan people have been settled in five
camps at Chandragiri, Takallipadara, Labarsingh, Jeranga and
Mahendragarh in Gajapati district since 1964 when they fled
from their Himalayan Kingdom with the Dalai Lama.
The settlers celebrated the 52nd anniversary of the
Tibetan Uprising Day at Chandragiri on Thursday. The Dalai
Lama announced his decision to retire and devolve his "formal
authority" to an elected leader, while staying committed to
the cause of Tibet.
PTI
First Published: Friday, March 11, 2011, 20:32