Every country marks significant historical dates in its founding as a nation. Regardless of its current political status, Tibet is no exception and Students for a Free Tibet has set aside 13 February as an important day to commemorate Tibet’s independent past. In occupied countries, observing Independence Day is a powerful expression of a people’s desire for freedom.
Over the last two years 13 February has been celebrated in over 30 cities worldwide. Tibetans and their supporters commemorated the Centennial of the 1913 Tibetan Proclamation of Independence and the Legacy of the Tibetan Empire by organizing flag raising ceremonies, exhibitions, lobbying events and other creative actions to put a spotlight on Tibet’s independent past.
This year we launched the #TibetFlagChallenge as a lead-up to February 13: Tibetan Independence Day urging our members and supporters to display the Tibetan flag in their own unique way and tag other friends to take the challenge forward. We had an overwhelming response from Tibetans and supporters across the world (https://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/campaigns/political-action/feb-13-tibet-flag-challenge). Some Tibetans in Dharamsala displayed the Tibetan flag under freezing cold water, while others trekked through snow-covered trails to raise the flag at summit. A group of Tibetans did a bike-trip to Ladakh and displayed the flag at the Tibetan border. Some Tibetan students raised the flag at their universities, community centres, painted it on their nails, and even did a large graffiti of the Tib犀利士
etan flag in the exile-capital Dharamshala, Northern India.
SFT-India’s Tibet Flag Challenge in Dharamshala:
In India, we had Tibetan Independence Day celebrations across our key chapters in Dharamshala, Delhi, Bangalore and Pune. In Dharamshala, we displayed a 100 year-old Tibetan Military Flag which was brought into exile by a Tibetan family. In Delhi, our chapter organized a Tibetan Independence Day Parade across Delhi University North Campus, with snowlion, yaks, songs and dances. In Bangalore, and Pune, our chapters organized community events with flag raising ceremonies, and traditional Tibetan dances. Similar events were organized by Students for a Free Tibet chapters all over the world from London, to New York, Paris, and Tokyo. We believe that through these events we are directly challenging China’s systematic attempt to re-write Tibetan history. Through celebrating Tibetan history, and taking pride in Tibetan identity, Tibetans are making a strong political statement in resisting and rejecting China’s colonial occupation of Tibet.
Kungo Ngawang Narkyi at Feb 13th Tibetan Flag Talk in Dharamshala.
Tibetan Independence Day Parade in Delhi University, North Campus.
Three Provinces of Tibet: Kham, Amdo, U-Tsang at Tibetan Independence Day Parade, Delhi University.
Tibet’s Yak and Snowlion visit Delhi University campus!