Tibetan Government remembers Nirmala Despande

Dharamshala, May 17 (UNI) Tibetan Government-in-exile Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche has paid glowing tributes to Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande, who passed away on May one, saying her contribution to the Tibetan cause had been immense.

At a memorial meeting held at New Delhi on May 16, he said, ''There is a need to carry on her legacy, her prominence and strive to live up to her achievements. We can pay our respect by continuing the work she started decades ago and by adopting a non-violent stance in our actions,'' he said .

Deshpande had devoted more than 60 years of her life towards promoting communal harmony and serving women, tribal and the dispossessed, Mr Rinpoche said.

Eminent figures including Swami Agnivesh, Rajya Sabha Member Dr Kapila Vatsyayan, Non-Violence Peace Force Asia Director Rajiv Vohra and close aide of the Late Nirmala Despande, Shivnath Ram, were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Swami Agnivesh said, ''We need a new paradigm. Problems have always been there and will continue to exist. There are two solutions to these tribulations - finding an answer through violence or coming to mutual terms with non-violence.

We need to take inspiration from her rare courage and continue the work she has left behind. Be it the Dalai Lama or Nirmala Deshpande, the question in our mind is, will we be able to live up to their greatness and spirit? This poses a serious challenge to us.'' UNI XC AS PS MMS1818