Dr Lobsang Sangay, Sikyong (Prime Minister) of the Central Tibetan Administration, was awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal of Salisbury University for promoting peace and understanding. Dr Janet Dudley-Eshbach, President of Salisbury University presented him the award in front of a packed hall on October 13 in Salisbury, Maryland. This event marks the end of his three city tour in the United States, where he was visiting the Tibetan Communities in New York, New Jersey and Salt Lake City.
The Presidential medal is the highest honour that the university bestows to an individual for community leadership and forward thinking. Deeply touched, he accepted the award on behalf of all Tibetan people, saying that “by presenting me this medal, it sends a powerful message to Tibetans inside Tibet that there are friends outside Tibet who are with justice, who stands for human rights and the freedom of the Tibetan people. At the same time, it sends a message to the Chinese government that they should embrace the peaceful and reconciliatory spirit of the Tibetan people and solve the issue of Tibet.” He concluded that it is also a powerful message to a world ravaged with violent conflicts that peace and harmony can only be achieved through non-violence. He received standing ovations for his speech and dedicated the award to all Tibetan people and the non-violent Tibetan movement.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a long-standing supporter of the Tibetan cause and personal friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, congratulated Sikyong on this special occasion, saying that our world needs more champions of peace and goodwill – especially currently, when the world is confronted with a refugee crisis in which there is so much suffering caused by violence and unrest.
Earlier in September this year, Sikyong was also appointed, along with others, as a member of the governing council of the Indian Student Parliament Bharatiya Chaatra Sansad, which is one of the largest student organisations in the world.
Print
Email