Tenzin Choeying’s body reaches Dharamsala

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, July 25: Hundreds of Tibetans and supporters gathered today at the main square in Mcleod Ganj to receive the body of the latest Tibetan self-immolator Tenzin Choeying, as his casket was brought to Dharamsala for final rites and cremation.

Bracing heavy rain, Tibetans and supporters lined on either side of the road as the motorcade carrying Tenzin Choeying’s casket arrived at Mcleod Ganj.

IMG_5522Tenzin Choeying, a student of Central University of Tibetan Studies (CUTS) at Sarnath, Varanasi staged his self-immolation protest on July 14 near the university’s boy’s hostel entrance and succumbed to burn injuries on July 22 at Safdarjung hospital in New Delhi.

The casket of the Tibetan teen was kept for a day at the monastery in Samyeling Tibetan Settlement (Majnuka tilla) in New Delhi after his body was received from the hospital on July 23 for Tibetans to pay their respect and say prayers.

The motorcade carrying the Tibetan teen’s casket departed from Samyeling Tibetan Settlement (Majnuka tilla) in New Delhi yesterday at 11 am. The convoy stopped for 15 minutes at the Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah where the students and staff paid their last respects to Tenzing Choeying’s body and reached Mcleod Ganj today around 8 am.

Tenzin Choeying’s body now rests at the headquarter of the Tibetan Youth Congress(TYC) as his family has requested TYC to take charge of the cremation and final rites. Tibetans and supporters lined up outside the TYC office holding Traditional Tibetan scarves (kathag) to pay their respects to the Tibetan teen self-immolator.

DSC_0387-300x199Ngawang Khedup and Tashi Yangzom, parents of the Tibetan self-immolator in their press statement said that though the demise of their young boy hurts and pains them, ultimately every one will pass away and the fact that their boy has sacrificed his life for the cause of Tibet has filled them with pride.

“I wont be able to come home during the holiday,” Tenzin Choeying has reportedly told his mother and to his father, he had said, “I was unable to repay your kindness, I have left some clothes, please wear them.”

The parents further urged the Tibetan youth to live for Tibet and contribute to the Tibetan cause by making use of the international platforms rather than resorting to self-immolation.

The funeral procession of the 19-year-old Tibetan student will take place tomorrow at Lhagyal Ri, located almost half-way on the circumambulation path around the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s residence and the cremation will be done at the crematorium located half kilometer to Mcleod Ganj.

DSC_0433Tenzin Choeying is the sixth Tibetan to have self-immolated and passed away in exile for the cause of the Tibetan people.

 

 

 

 

 

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