From Arunachal to Dharamsala:Tibetan Couple Completes 2,000Km Peace Ride to Honor Pawo Lobga Rangzen

By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 6 August: A Tibetan couple from Miao Tibetan Settlement in Arunachal Pradesh arrived in Dharamshala on Wednesday after completing a 15-day, more than 2,000~ kilometre peace ride across India to honor the late Tibetan activist Pawo (Martyr) Lobga Rangzen and raise awareness about Tibet’s freedom struggle.

Tenzin Wangdue and his wife, Dawa Choedon, were welcomed by members of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) before addressing a media briefing at the Tibetan Market in McLeod Ganj, in front of the TYC’s ongoing chain hunger strike site.

The couple began their journey on 23 July from Miao Tibetan Settlement, travelling through Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh before reaching Dharamshala on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Wangdue expressed gratitude for the support he and his wife received throughout the journey, saying the response reflected the unity of Tibetans across India.

“From the day we left Miao until we reached Dharamshala, Tibetans everywhere welcomed and encouraged us. This journey showed that the Tibetan community across India stands united for our common cause,” he said.

Wangdue also said many Indians they met along the way expressed solidarity with the Tibetan cause, offering directions, assistance and words of encouragement during their ride.

Reflecting on the self-immolation of Pawo Lobga Rangzen, Wangdue said he could never match such a sacrifice but wanted to contribute in whatever way he could.

“I cannot make a sacrifice like Pawo Lobga Rangzen, but my wife and I wanted to do whatever was within our capacity. This ride is an expression of our anger, frustration and sincere commitment to the cause of Tibetan independence,” he said.

According to the couple, the primary objective of the peace ride was to draw attention to Pawo Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation, raise awareness about China’s recently implemented Law on

Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress—which they said seeks to erase Tibetan identity and strengthen Beijing’s control over Tibet—and to reaffirm that Tibet is a separate and independent nation.

Wangdue said China’s continued policies in Tibet have left him feeling angry and frustrated, but stressed that he chose to express those emotions through a peaceful protest in accordance with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings on non-violence.

“It would have been better if China had not done these things. First they were on our necks, and now they are on our heads. It makes me angry and frustrated, and at times those feelings make me want to respond violently. But I cannot go against His Holiness.That is why I intentionally placed a ‘Peace March’ banner on the front of my motorcycle,” he said.

The peace ride was dedicated to the memory of Pawo Lobga Rangzen, who self-immolated in New York on 2 July in protest against China’s colonial rule over occupied Tibet. The Tibetan Youth Congress described the couple’s journey as a tribute to his sacrifice and a peaceful effort to keep international attention focused on the Tibetan freedom movement.