Dharamshala: The Health Kalon (Minister) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Pema Tso, attended the 28th Inter-House Sports Meet at Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) School, Suja, as the chief guest on 17 October 2026.

Kalon Pema Tso arrived at the school at 8:50 a.m., where she was welcomed by the school principal and students. The opening ceremony commenced at 9:00 a.m. with a march-past by the students, followed by the singing of the Tibetan and Indian national anthems and a minute of silence in remembrance of Tibetan martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan cause. The school principal then delivered the welcome and introductory address, followed by a speech by the chief guest.

Addressing the students and staff, Kalon Pema Tso conveyed gratitude for the guidance and support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and urged everyone to remember and honour the aspirations and hopes of Tibetans who had sacrificed their lives through self-immolation since 1998 for the cause of Tibet.

Reflecting on the school’s four decades of service, she acknowledged the dedication and hard work of its teachers, which have enabled thousands of students to graduate and become contributing members of society. She emphasised that these achievements were the fruits of the collective efforts and commitment of the school community.

Kalon Pema Tso also expressed concern over the Chinese government’s so-called Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, introduced on 1 July this year, stating that it undermines Tibetan religion, culture and language. She noted that Tibetans inside Tibet continue to struggle daily to preserve their linguistic and cultural heritage. She cautioned that if Tibetans in the free world failed to safeguard their own language and culture, they would, in effect, be assisting the implementation of the new law.

Referring to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s public address on 13 July, she reminded the students of his message that it would be shameful if Tibetans were unable to speak their own language among themselves.

In her concluding remarks, Kalon Pema Tso encouraged the students to participate in the sports competitions without being preoccupied with winning or losing. Instead, she urged them to regard the event as a valuable learning experience that would help them develop important skills and prepare for the challenges of their future lives.