"Our way
may be hard and long one, but I believe that the truth and
faith must ultimately prevail". --
His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre was started on October
1, 1959. At that time, following the dramatic escape of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, thousands of Tibetans leaving hearth
and home, fled into the neighbouring countries to live as
free human beings. "It is no exggeration, in fact, to
say that without self-help there can be no rehabilitation,
be it economic, social, psychological, cultural or spiritual.
Therefore, a ten member committee was formed in Darjeeling
to organize a rehabilitation centre to be known as "Tibetan
Refugees Self-Help Center".
The
founding members of the Committee were :
»Mrs. Gyalo Thondup (President)
»Mr. T. Lawang
»Mr. G. Tesur
»Mr. Tenzing Norgay
»Mr. & Mrs. Jokssari
»Mr. T. Tethong
»Monsiegnour Benjamin
»Mr. Chumbay Tshering
»Miss Tesur
Later
the following members were welcomed by the committee :
»Colonel & Mrs. Thapa
»Mr. J.K. Bhardwaj
»Mrs. N.L. Laden La
»Mr. Dilip Bose
It was here in Darjeeling that the Thirteenth Dalai Lama spent
his exile in India between 1910 to 1912 following a Chinese
invasion at that time. When the Centre first started over
34 years ago, there were just four workers. Today the centre
is the home of more than 750 refugees. In 1961, the Centre
was fully registered as a Charitable organisation under the
Indian Law. It has also received exemption for Income Tax
on all gifts and donations made to it.
The production of handicrafts continue to be the Centre's
main acivity. During the financial year covering the period
from April 1982 to March 1983, sales reached a total of Rs.
1,100,000 more than half of which represented foreign exchange
earnings from export sales. Today the centre has been exporting
to more than 36 countries all over the world. Besides traditional
items such as Tibetan carpets, wood, metal and leather works,
the Centre have also experimented in finding new production
lines incorporating traditional Tibetan motifs which would
find a ready market both here and abroad.
During the years of the Centre's existence, the Centre
has been able to train over 1600 persons in various crafts.
Out of this between 900 to 1200 persons have left the Centre
to set up their own enterprises. All of them are now fully
self-supporting and several of them are doing very well.
From its beginning, the Centre has undertaken the task
of helping orphans, the aged, the infirm and the needy among
the refugees. Out of the total population, the Centre houses,
feeds and cares for 50 old, infirm and needy persons as
well as 42 orphans, all of whom have no means of their own.
Great stress is also laid in adult education.
In June 1960, the Centre started a small Nursery School.
Within a short time the school grew up into full-fledged
Primary School. The Primary School follows the syllabus
of the Tibetan Schools Society and caters upto class II.
The present staff consists of 14 teachers and house parents.
Problems and needs :
•The most pressing need of the Centre is to build enough
Staff Quarters with adequate sanitary facilities.
•The Centre is interested to expanded it's factory
space and also to provide more accomodation for the workers.
During the past few years the number of workers have increased
from 850 to 1050 and more are waiting to join the Centre.
•A third need is to build a few School Class Rooms
for the children. The present classrooms are over-crowded.
The Centre appeals for support for these projects from
friends and patrons. Donations may, if preferred, be earmarked
for any of the above projects. All donations would be gratefully
acknowledged and the donars would receive a sincere appreciation
and thanks.
Address:
President,
Tibetan Refugees Self-Help Centre,
65, Gandhi Road,
Darjeeling - 734101
India.
Phone : (91) Country Code (0352) Area Code - 2252346 (Office), 2252552 (Showroom), 2253122 (Hospital)
Photos courtesy Dr. Sean Cridland
