By Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, June 19: The oldest building in the compound of the Tibetan government-in-exile known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has been demolished to make way for new staff quarters, Phayul has learned. The project is part of a larger revamp plan to facilitate civil servants based here in Dharamshala with living quarters.
The demolished building made in British colonial architecture aesthetic earlier housed the first CTA’s Kashag Secretariat and later the ‘History and Documentation Section’ before being razed for the developmental project.
The construction of the project started on June 6. A source in the CTA who is familiar with the project told Phayul that the development includes the construction of staff quarters to accommodate civil servants and guests. Another source from the exile government said that the new building with three to four-storey building is estimated to cost a few crores (INR) and that the project is expected to be completed within two years. The Tibetan Parliament-in-exile sanctioned the funds for the new building during the last budget session.
The historical significance and nostalgia associated with the structure is attributed to the role it played in formative years of the exile Tibetan government, beginning from its inception in Dharamshala after its relocation from Mussoorie in May 1960. Many also say that the of this building represents the resilience and determination of the Tibetan people and their commitment to preserving their culture and identity in exile.
“Even though it is a historical house, it is the way of the world that the old must make way for the new, and on practical level, this space will be utilised more purposefully as homes for civil servants who otherwise has to live in rented houses on inflated rents,” the same source told Phayul.
Tenzin Tselha, a Tibetan living in Dharamshala expressed an opposing view, “I personally do not feel any loss, however I feel as though a collective treasure has been lost. All the structures of CTA are now one dimensional, the last surviving house that witnessed all of the trials and tribulations of the exile government is gone forever.”
Truly speaking, the gigantic concrete growth of both McLeod Ganj and the Gangchen Kyishong (aka ‘Gangkyi’, aka ‘LIBRARY’, aka ‘Tibetan Government IN EXLE CAMPUS’) is a running story of destruction and replacement of old with new. Ever since my first visit to this place 50 years ago I’ve been observing frantic changes from a McLeod which was totally quiet and did not have even a single car, to one which has become a maddening cacophonic theatre of dozen-a-day traffic jams. The ‘Gankyi’ which boasted of just one Jeep among all Tibetan ministry offices is now a nightmare for parking. By the way, the bush visible in the forefront of this photo used to be my dearest photogenic object in this campus since November 1972 when I took its first photo. I am amused to note that with so many singular and naked long branches in dancing curves are still stretching towards the sky – despite everything around having changed.
old is nostalgic and new is exciting. But since things are in constant flux, old has to make way for the new for progress, even though the process feels somewhat brutal, like stamping on a garden of delicately presevered flowers. seaons change, flowers grow, mature and fall,and new seeds germinate again.
This building has to be demonished.