Human Rights Day in Bombay
(Bombay, Maharashtra | December 10, 2006)

Industrialist and theater personality Vijay M Crishna inaugurates Human Rights observance in Bombay on December 10, 2006.

Bombay: Taiwan-based Tibetan writer Tsering Namgyal's book "Little Lhasa: Reflections on Exiled Tibet" was released here in Mumbai in a glittering public gathering in central Mumbai’s Sharada Mangal Karyalaya Hall. The Tibetans and their Indian supporters were celebrating the World Human Rights Day and the 17th anniversary of awarding the Nobel Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at a function jointly organised by Mumbai Tibetan Refugee Association and Friends of Tibet (Bombay).

In an unusual Tibetan gathering of more than 300 Tibetans mostly composed of Tibetan sweater sellers and the Mumbai resident Tibetans, the refugees sang songs and danced in groups easily beguiling the pangs of living far away from home. The tiny tots oblivious of their stateless status were most delirious laughing away playing fools in the full attention of the gathering.

Chief Guest Vijay Crishna, industrialist, theater personality, an avid mountaineer - a person of many facets has done many exploratory trips to the Chinese-occupied Tibet, said: "I believe in hope, it is hope that gives life, and my hope is that all you may be able to return home peacefully, that too during the lifetime of this Dalai Lama." Mr Crishna said he went to Tibet first in 1992 and again in 2005. Tibet had changed vastly between the years, due to huge number of Chinese settling there.

Tibetan poet-activist Tenzin Tsundue speaks to the gathering in Bombay.

Aspi Mistry, Secretary of Dharma Rain Centre, giving an introduction to the book released it. The publisher Ms Supriya said, "Struggle is a memory, and as long as there is memory the struggle will continue." Tsering's book "Little Lhasa" strives to document this memory of the struggle in exile in many nuances.

Mr Tsering Dhondup, PRO Tibetan Youth Congress who has been here in the city since Hu Jintao's visit received a special appreciation from the Tibetans for his almost a months stay and working with them.

Also speaking at the function was Tibetan writer and activist Tenzin Tsundue, General Secretary of Friends of Tibet. He said "The third reason for today's celebration is that the Tibetan struggle is now receiving due attention from the world, the recent protest during Hu's India visit is fitting example how we registered Tibet as an important issue between China and India, which they either covered up or deliberately ignored." In his inimitable impassioned speeches he said “The activism has finally arrived, much organised, coordinated, informed and skilled, supported by huge line of Tibet lovers, we will simply not allow China to enjoy 2008 Beijing Olympics, while they are running the occupation of Tibet."

The gathering however missed Lhakpa Tsering as he couldn't come to the function. His condition is still stated to be not fit to go out as he is in Shushrusha Hospital, Dadar recuperating from his burn injury.

Aspi Mistry releases the book: "Little Lhasa: Reflections on Exiled Tibet" by Tsering Wangyal.

Human Rights Day 2006 observance in Bombay was organised by Friends of Tibet and Tibetan Refugee Association on December 10, 2006.