Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, May 26: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama granted a farewell audience to the outgoing 16th Cabinet of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) at his residence in Dharamshala on Tuesday, following the conclusion of its five-year tenure.
The delegation led by CTA President Penpa Tsering, included Minister Tharlam Dolma of the Department of Education, Minister Gyari Dolma of the Department of Security, and Minister Norzin Dolma of the Department of Information and International Relations. The ministers paid their respects to His Holiness upon completing their term in office. He presented a brief summary report outlining the work carried out over the past five years by the Cabinet and its various departments.
“Up until now, whatever achievements we have made in politics, social welfare, and administration have all primarily been possible due to the activities and vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” Tsering stated during the audience. “Throughout these five years, we carried out our responsibilities and service based mainly on His Holiness’s guidance and aspirations.”
He further highlighted the composition of the outgoing administration, noting that the 16th Cabinet was “probably one of the administrations with the highest number of female ministers,” adding that each minister worked with “great dedication and sincerity” in fulfilling their respective responsibilities.
During the audience, His Holiness the Dalai Lama reflected on the Tibetan exile community’s journey and role in preserving Tibetan identity and aspirations. “We came here to India from Tibet, as people displaced from our own homeland,” His Holiness remarked. “Truly, we have become something like a source of hope and inspiration for the Tibetan people inside Tibet.”
He further emphasized that not only Tibetans inside Tibet, but also many Chinese people closely observing the Tibetan issue, have placed their hopes and trust in the exile Tibetan community.
“In that sense, we have, in one way or another, established something meaningful here — a kind of center for the Tibetan people connected to Tibetan religion and culture, a central place that preserves and upholds Tibetan Buddhism and culture,” he said. “I believe this has become something truly significant and well established. Even the Chinese see it that way. It is something very positive and admirable.”
Speaking to media representatives following the audience, the President described the occasion as the final working day of the 16th Cabinet and said the cabinet had the opportunity to present a concise report to His Holiness regarding the work undertaken by the Secretariat and the departments under the Cabinet over the past five years.
President Penpa Tsering who secured a second term in the highest office of the exile Tibetan polity is set to take the oath of office for a new term on May 27 at the Main Tibetan Temple in the presence of the Tibetan spiritual leader. He also noted that the audience coincided with a period of transition, as the outgoing Cabinet prepares to hand over responsibilities to the incoming administration following Wednesday’s oath-taking ceremony.
