Tsering Dolma Gyaltong
BornAugust 27, 1930[1]
Lhasa, Tibet[1]
DiedMarch 5, 2018[1]
Known forMember of International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, revived the Tibetan Women's Association

Tsering Dolma Gyaltong was a Tibetan spiritual leader living in exile in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[2] Tsering was active in being a Founding Member of the Tibetan Women's Association and re-establishing it again in 1984.[1]

She was active in her open criticism of China's treatment of Tibetans.[1]

Tsering was a member of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers - a group of spiritual elders, medicine women and wisdom keepers until her death in 2018.[3][1]

Life

On the 17th of March 1959, the day that the Dalai Lama began his escape from the Norbulingka Palace, The Tibetan Women's Association, of which Tsering was a Founding Member carried out a street demonstration with 500 of its members due to the Invasion of Tibet by the Chinese and the ongoing treatment of the Tibetans. Due to this, Tsering is said to have been 'instrumental' in creating the diversion to get the Dalai Lama out of Tibet in 1959.[2] Tsering's husband, Tsering Gyaltong, had a role in lobbying for support for Tibet from other governments. Because of this, Tsering and her family had to leave Chinese-occupied Tibet.[4] Tsering followed the Dalai Lama into exile in India.[5]

Tsering moved with her family to Canada in 1972 where she lived in Toronto.[5]

In 1984, Tsering came back to India to reinstate the central Tibetan Women's Association. Tsering took on many roles on the Executive Committee - spanning 10 years; Vice President from 1985–1988, Special Assistant from 1988–1991, Vice President from June–October in 1992 and President from 1993–1994.[6]

Fourth World Women’s Conference

Tsering and two other Canadian Tibetan Refugees were joined by Tibetan delegates from Australia, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States in order to attend the Fourth World Conference on Women which, in 1985, was held in Beijing, China. Here, Tsering and her fellow delegates criticised China's treatment of Tibetans, especially women.[7][1]

Due to the heavy-handedness of Chinese security, and Tsering's outspokenness and the publicity actions of other members of the Tibetan Women's Delegation, the event was seen as a public relations disaster for China.

Another success was that they were able to meet with hundreds of other international female delegates. They were able to network and get their message heard internationally.[8]

The International Council of 13 Grandmothers

In 2004, Tsering was approached by The Center for Sacred Studies to serve on the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers.[2]

The council has been active in protecting indigenous rights and medicines, and promoting indigenous wisdom traditions. In 2006, Tsering Dolma Gyaltong hosted a visit by the Grandmothers to Dharamshala, where they presented a sacred condor feather to the Dalai Lama, held prayers for world peace, and "emphasised on protection of the diverse cultural heritage in the form of different languages, medicine and ceremonies."[9][10]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 https://www.grandmotherscouncil.org/in-honor-of-grandmother-tsering-dolma-gyaltong/
  2. 1 2 3 Supriano, S, (2009-04-06)
  3. ↑ Schaefer (2006) p.2
  4. ↑ Schaefer (2006) p.51
  5. 1 2 Tibetan Women's Association, Dolma Publication, 2009, p.18
  6. ↑ Tibetan Women's Association, Former Executives
  7. ↑ Schaefer (2006) p.54
  8. ↑ Tibet Women's Delegation, (1996), Section V.
  9. ↑ Mohan, Vibhor (2006-10-15). "13 'grandmothers' pray for world peace". The Tribune. Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  10. ↑ "Archive, His Holiness the 14th Dali Lama of Tibet poses with the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers". Press-Republican. Plattsburgh, New York. Retrieved 2013-06-21.

References

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