Mountain Echoes-Kumaon Festival of Literature and Arts began here on Friday with a talk featuring the president of the Tibetan Government in exile, Lobsang Sangay and British author and historian Patrick French. During the discussion, expressed gratitude for Indians considering the refuge provided to Tibetans in India for about six decades now.
He said that India had provided Tibetans an opportunity to stand on their own feet. Expressing concern at the impact of global warming on the Himalayan region, he also mentioned that Tibet was considered to be the third pole of the world with major rivers originating from the region. However, a scientific report has calculated that about 70 per cent of glaciers in the region will melt by the year 2100.
He opined that though the Tibetan freedom movement has not succeeded in achieving freedom for Tibet it has helped maintain the culture, literature, language, religion, identity and dignity of the Tibetans.
Speaking on the occasion, French expressed happiness on arriving in the mountain state of Uttarakhand.
He also recalled his experience of visiting Tibet in 1986. The discussion was hosted by Himalayan Echoes director and writer Janhavi Prasada. Writers Anuradha Roy, Namita Gokhale, Shobha De, Sadiya Dehlvi, Amitabh Baghel, Ankita Singhal, Stephen Alter and others were present on the occasion
