DHARAMSHALA: Highlighting India andTibet's close relationship, Penpa Tsering, Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), said on Friday that even though the two countries are divided by borders, they are very much the same.
Speaking at the Central University (CU) of Himachal Pradesh during a workshop on 'Tibet Dialogue', he said, "We are not different from India. We are very much the same, even though our countries are divided by boundaries. We share the same language and religion that shapes our way of life and culture. We may look different in the sense that we're Tibetan, but our minds, our religion and our language have come from India. We're a repository of ancient Indian wisdom."
Tsering, former PM in-exile Prof Samdhing Rinpoche and many other dignitaries gathered here to attend the workshop. The event was also organized to confer CU's former vice chancellor Prof Kuldeep Agnihotri with the Swami Satyanand Stokes Samman.
Tsering said that it is very important to understand the Sino-Tibet conflict and also to have a dialogue on Tibet.
"Even though we live in India, there are many Indians who don't know about Tibet or the situation inside Tibet. This conference is significant for understanding the current challenges the Tibetans face," said Tsering.
Speaking to ANI, Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Sat Prakash Bansal said, "I think in the present context it is very important to promote the Buddhist culture here. We are also going to establish a research centre for Buddhist studies. We are also going to start certificate courses and diploma courses in Tibetan studies at the central university here... In a very important decision the Central University of Himachal Pradesh is going to collaborate with the International Buddhist Federation. We are going to organize an international convention in February and we will get the blessings of his Holiness the Dalai Lama and Governor, Chief Minister and the Union Minister of Cultural Affairs are expected to be here along with other delegates from seven different countries. Himachal in particular and India in general will be benefited from that. We are trying to promote Buddhist culture as well as Buddhist circuits in Himachal. So this will be very important for all of us." (ANI)
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