Thousands of school students observe Lhakar in exile/ENG

2012. március 21./Phayul.com/TibetPress

DHARAMSHALA, March 21: Around 2000 students of the Tibetan Children’s Village School, Upper Dharamshala, today observed Lhakar, a popular homegrown movement in Tibet, which centrals around the shared vision of protecting Tibetan identity.

The students, led by the school administration wore Chuba, the Tibetan traditional dress to their classrooms and offices and made special effort in speaking in pure Tibetan language.

“In Tibet, our brothers and sisters face great threat preserving our cultural identity,” Tenzin Tashi, a student in his early teens said. “We in exile must show our support to the Lhakar movement and take pledges if possible.”

Lhakar, a Tibetan word, which literally translates into “White Wednesday,” is a homegrown Tibetan people’s movement that initially took root in Tibet following the 2008 mass uprisings, which China brutally suppressed.

The self-reliant movement embraces the power of strategic nonviolent resistance; mobilising Tibetans around the idea of protecting Tibetan identity by making special effort to wear traditional clothes, speak Tibetan, eat in Tibetan restaurants and buy from Tibetan-owned businesses.

Wednesdays are considered special by Tibetans, as it is His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s soul day according to Tibetan astrology.

Speaking to Phayul, Dhondup Gyalpo the head master of the School’s Junior Section said the Upper TCV has decided to begin by observing the Lhakar movement on the third week of every month while expressing hope that the observations will become more regular.

“We might start observing Lhakar on every Wednesday and if it really catches on, then it could become a routine for the students to come to class wearing Chuba everyday.”

Addressing the morning assembly, Gyalpo said: “At this critical time when Tibetans are sacrificing their lives for our country and people, we are observing Lhakar to make our sense of nationalism strong and preserve our culture.”

Sharing his excitement at seeing everyone wear Chuba and speak in pure Tibetan, Dhondup Tsering, one of the senior students told Phayul that he felt as if Tibetans were “finally reunited” in a free Tibet.

“Looking around, I feel very happy. It feels that Tibetans all over the world are finally reunited and we are attending school in a free Tibet.”