Bike Rally for Free Tibet; Save India

Bike Rally for Free Tibet; Save India
6 Oct - Wardha: More than 50 motorbikes ridden by 100 people undertook a bike rally from Wardha to Nagpur this morning in advocacy of their campaign for Free Tibet; Save India. This Initiative was organised by National Campaign for Tibetan Support (NCFTS), a support group consisting of the Buddhist community of Wardha and its surrounding areas. NCFTS is a member of International Tibet Network, a global coalition of Tibet-related non-governmental organisations.

Mr. Arvind Nikose, the Executive Secretary of the NCFTS and the western regional convener of the Core Group for Tibetan Cause said, "We will ensure that the issue of Tibet will reach the common masses of India, and call on all who support Tibet to lobby our own elected representatives to table a resolution in the parliament."

Speaking during the start of the rally Mr. Tenzin Norbu, the Coordinator of the India Tibet Coordination Office said, "It is pleasing to see such great numbers of people supporting Tibet's cause and I thank all those concerned for their dedicated support to the free Tibet and save India campaign."

Before the rally was flagged off by the chief guest Mr. Raju Tomar, Director of Utham Galva groups, he and other guests paid their homage to Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar by offering garland to his statue at the main intersection of Wardha from where the rally started. It started at 10:30 am and culminated with much fanfare and crowd of enthusiasts at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, the place where Dr. Babashahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar took Buddhist vows along with his 380,000 followers on 14th October 1956. The bike rally was coincided with the celebration of 'Dhamma Chakra Pravartan' day as Millions of people visit Nagpur on this day. (1)

All along the way the group stopped many times, inviting local dignitaries to receive the bikers and to address whatever the small gathering it managed to pull in. Due to sudden rain and huge crowd, the bikers only managed to reach Deekshabhoomi very late in the evening. The group were received with traditional Tibetan scarf by two-member regional chapter of Tibetan Women's Association of Norgyeling Tibetan Settlement. Mr. Ashok Khanade, Secretary of the NCFTC thanked all the people involved in the motorbike rally and making it a "huge success".

Many printed materials containing speeches made by Indian leaders on Tibet issue and the facts about Tibet were distributed freely to public. It is estimated that millions of people will visit Deekshabhoomi to offer their homage to Dr. Bhimsahib Ambedkar.

Media Contact:
Mr. Arvind Nikose: +91 942 214 1999 (Hindi)
Mr. Tenzin Norbu: +91 931 328 2225 (Tibetan and English)

NOTE:

1. Dhamma Chakra Pravartan day: The date 14th October 1956 has nothing to do with Dr. Bhim's decision of taking Buddhist vows. Indeed the day happened to be Dussehra Festival of Hindu Mythology, celebrating the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana by burning effigies of Ravana across India. The fact that Dr Bhim choose the day to ensure that his Buddhist followers shouldn't carry on with their old Hindu traditions, and thus "Dhammachakra Celebration" at Deekshabhoomi came into existence where every year Millions of Buddhists come to get blessing.

Dr. Ambedkar died on December 6, 1956, just one and a half months after this ceremony. After his death Dr. Ambedkar Smarak Samiti was organised for the management of Deekshabhoomi. The committee decided to build a Stupa at the place as a monument of that ceremony and a mass conversion of people to Buddhism took place.

Maharashtra State alone had around 10.2 million Buddhist followers of Dr. Ambedkar.