On the 150th birth anniversary Mahatma Gandhi, the Tibetans dwelling across India held cleanliness drives joining the largest cleanliness movement in the world, Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan. The cleanliness drive was also carried out as a scheduled program of the Central Tibetan Administration’s year long Thank You India campaign in 2018.
“Joining the chorus of nationwide clean India movement—the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan—on the birth anniversary of India’s revolutionary leader Mahatma Gandhi, the Central Tibetan Administration and Tibetans across India are holding a door-to-door cleaning campaign as a mark of tribute to its host India and the Indian leader.” announced the report in the official website of Central Tibetan Administration on October 2, 2018.
While Gandhi ji is often given as an exemplary leading of non-violence and ahimsa by the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the President of CTA while addressing the media on the occasion recalled the non violence resistance movement promoted by Gandhi in his freedom struggle and reestablished CTA’s commitment to follow the same ideology in Tibet’s freedom struggle under there guidance and vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Tibetans across India, including the communities, schools and institutions participated in the cleanliness drive on the occasion and carried out cleaning their surroundings. In addition to carrying forward the Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan campaign of the government, Tibetans also extended their message of gratitude towards India and their people for hosting them in exile for the last 60 years!