Dharamshala, March 13: The two-day 8th All India Tibet Support Groups Conference concluded with a valedictory session on Friday at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in Dharamshala, bringing together key advocates and supporters of the Tibetan cause from across the Indian subcontinent.
The conference was organised by the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India and facilitated by the India Tibet Coordination Office, based in New Delhi. The two-day event focused on strengthening solidarity for Tibet, raising awareness about the Sino-Tibet conflict, and enhancing coordination among Tibet support groups across India.
The valedictory session was attended by Chief Guest Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament‑in‑Exile, and Special Guest Norzin Dolma, Minister of the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Other prominent attendees included R.K. Khrimey, National Convenor of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India; Anand Kumar, National President of the India‑Tibet Friendship Society; Surendra Kumar, National Vice-President of ITFS; and regional conveners including Lobsang Genchen and Amit Jyotikar. Representatives of various regional Tibet support groups and civil society organisations from across the country also participated in the conference.
During the session, Kalon Norzin Dolma expressed gratitude to the Government and people of India for their decades of support and hospitality to Tibetans in exile after the arrival of Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetan refugees in 1959. She said India has become the “cradle of the Tibetan way of life in exile,” providing space for Tibetans to preserve their culture, language and democratic traditions.
She emphasised that the Central Tibetan Administration remains committed to a peaceful resolution of the Sino-Tibet conflict through dialogue based on the Middle Way Approach advocated by the Dalai Lama. She also urged continued international support for Tibet-related legislation to promote human rights and counter misinformation regarding Tibet.
Highlighting environmental concerns, Norzin Dolma described the Tibetan Plateau as the “Water Tower of Asia,” noting that major rivers originating in Tibet support more than a billion people across South and Southeast Asia. She warned that large-scale dam construction and water diversion projects by the People’s Republic of China could pose serious ecological and geopolitical risks for downstream countries, including India.
The conference also paid tribute to several Indian leaders who historically supported the Tibetan cause, including Jayaprakash Narayan, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, B. R. Ambedkar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and George Fernandes.
Participants discussed key issues including India’s role in the Sino-Tibet conflict, the future reincarnation process of the 14th Dalai Lama, human rights in Tibet, and the ecological significance of the Tibetan Plateau. The conference concluded with the adoption of a declaration outlining nine resolutions, reaffirming solidarity with the Tibetan people and calling for stronger awareness campaigns, youth participation, and coordinated efforts among Tibet support groups across India.
The programme ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Lobsang Genchen, Regional Convener of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause – India.