Tibetan Women’s Day – Commemorating the 58th Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day

By Tenzin Samten / March 14, 2017;

Geshemas who led the prayer with His Holiness and dignitaries of the event
Photo: Tenzin Choejor/ OHHDL

Thousands of Tibetans, devotees and supporters gathered to mark the first official celebration of Tibetan Women’s Day on March 12 in Tsugla-khang, the main temple in Dharamshala, to coincide with the 58th Tibetan Women’s Uprising day. On March 12, 1959, the women of Tibet stood up against the Chinese regime’s forced occupation of their country: the first women’s uprising day inside Tibet which has been observed annually ever since.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama – the spiritual leader of Tibet – opened the ceremony. Speaking about women’s inborn capability to create a more peaceful and compassionate community, he said “Peace is not brought about through conflict, but through compassion—creating peace of mind within ourselves. We all need compassion and women can take a lead role in bringing this about. My own first teacher of kindness and compassion was my mother…On this occasion of the 58th anniversary of the Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day and the first Tibetan Women’s Day, I urge women to be more active and courageous in taking the lead”.

Audiences on the first official Tibetan Women’s Day celebration
Photo: tibettimes

His Holiness has broken a Buddhist tradition by accepting women as candidates to achieve the Geshe degree; he conferred historic Geshema degrees to 20 nuns in December last year, a step aimed at paving the way to gender equality in education and economic opportunities. The Geshe/Geshema degree is equivalent to a Western doctorate in Buddhist philosophy and until now has only been open to men.

Lisa Singh, the Australian Senator who was among the guest speakers for the event, referred to His Holiness as “the first feminist Dalai Lama”.

Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political head of Tibetan Government-in-exile, also known as Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), presided over the gathering along with Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament and Lisa Singh. Dr Sangay drew attention to the efforts the CTA is taking to empower Tibetan women and improve their status on education, political and religious fronts.

March and rally organised by TWA
Photo: Tenzin Jigme

In line with this policy, the CTA announced earlier this month that March 12 will be celebrated every year as Tibetan Women’s Day to further the socio-political empowerment of Tibetan women. They also announced that the day marks the “courage and sacrifices” of Tibetan women who have been at the forefront of the Tibetan struggle for nearly 60 years.

Following the official event in Tsugla-khang, the Tibetan Women’s Association – a non-government organisation – commemorated the 58th Tibetan Women’s Day by leading a rally and march from Mcleod Ganj to Dharamshala.