To grace this occasion, on behalf of TIPA, may I first of all welcome the Chief Guest -Honorable Kalon, Religion & Culture, Rev. Tsering Phunstok, Members of Tibetan Deputies, Kalons, Chairpersons of Constitutional bodies, Secretaries of the departments, Directors & Principals of the school bodies, Presidents of NGOs & CBOs, the ex-TIPA members and other honored guests -Ladies and gentlemen. In the same breath, I take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the people, the government of Himachal Pradesh and the Government of India for their active supports without which we would never have succeeded to preserve and promote Tibetan religions and cultures in exile as it is today. For all of them let me say- Thank you India.

On this day fifty years ago, TIPA began its journey with very modest facility. If we compare that to today’s condition, one would find sea of differences. We must remember the hard works, sacrifice and courage of the personalities like Kabshoe Bartso Dorjee Dhondup la, Tsedrung Kalsang Kunga la, Shoddrung Chichag Dorjee la, Chagnang Tsewang Rigzin la, Nornang Nawang Norbu la and Maja Nawang Thutop la, who have build this institution from its basics.  And also like to recall the works of all previous members and directors, who lead this institution from various capacities which paved the way to what TIPA is today. I take this opportunity to sincerely express our gratitude to their undeletable and historic contributions.

While commemorating this day, I would not like to focus your attention to the concurrent activities but rather I would like to take you all back to overall happenings of the last fifty years. So that one may able to see clearly how things might go about in times to come.

As you all know, when we lost our country and our cultural and political institution were forced to move into exile. There was a direct threat to the survival of identity of Tibet and Tibetans.  As such need for cultural institution was immediately felt and hence, TIPA was amongst the earliest of institutions that came up in exile. It played a key role in gaining international recognition of Tibetan as people with distinct cultural identity and it continue to do so today.

As a Director of the institute, as I speak to you about the foregone years, I have come over several profound thoughts on TIPA journey for the occasion.  As we moved ahead, TIPA has grown progressively from year to year on without any stagnation. When it started, it began with modest facility with just several artists and today there are over 483 artists who have received professional trainings out of which 110 have successfully passed out as outstanding teachers.
As of now almost all arts and dance teachers in 81 different schools in India, Nepal and Bhutan are either our former artistes or those who have received special training from TIPA. And these instructors have single handedly instilled and imbibed tens and thousands of school children and passed on our culture and traditions to the younger generations to ensure its continuity. Besides TIPA graduates are seen worldwide actively organizing performances in group or individually to the much delight of cross cultural audiences. As an organization, since mid Seventies, our artistes have toured over 31 different countries and performed over thousand varied public shows because of which we are well recognized and known world over.  

All together TIPA today constituted by ninety committed staff out of which over fifty of them are performing artists, five teachers, 13 handicraftsmen, 3 retired and 19 administrative staff. It must be said that the artists make up core of the institute and they are carefully selected and trained for their all round performances. They have mastered all musical instruments as well as acquired proficiency in performances and vocal training. This is quite unique of TIPA, considering that we lay emphasis on the overall development of each artiste.

Since the Lhamo (Opera) is the most unique arts of Tibet, TIPA has made special efforts to preserve and promote all nine classical forms of performing arts as per the traditions. Special efforts were also made in adapting three new stories into opera performances and which were carried out successfully.  From 1992 onwards, TIPA with the help of our supporters instituted a regular support mechanism to eight local and regional Lhamo groups. In promoting Tibetan opera, we have revived the ancient traditional opera festival-Shoton during which these opera troupes are provided platforms to showcase their talents and skills.

Unlike other national performing groups, TIPA has successfully managed to sustain its activities autonomously for the last fifty years under the auspicious guidance of HH the Dalai Lama and Central Tibetan Administration. It may be mainly because we have heavily invested on the teachers and their expertise. They are the pillars of our institution. This is another unique character of this institution.  

However, we all know that there are no limits to development, I would like to plan and work towards strengthening the institution by providing better facilities to both teachers and artists through a reliable source of funding. I would like to make special efforts to preserve and promote all forms arts, which has been traditionally passed on to us orally. With the application of modern technology, we would make sure that all the cultural entities that we have worked are well documented and archived for future posterity.

From this 10th March onwards to the next year, we will review our experiences in exile during the last fifty years. We would also evaluate and make assessment of our human resources, where each member of TIPA will find a special responsibility as we cross this landmark. 

As said earlier, the institute has witness steady progressive growth over the time but this was not there to come without sacrifices and special efforts. Around 1969, the institute went under a difficult period which nearly saw the closure of TIPA. Thanks to His Holiness's vision and the responsibility shouldered by Mr. Tenzin Gyache which not only save it from the crisis but lessons learnt have made TIPA what it is today. Let me pay my deepest respects and honor to him on this historic day.

In the end, I, director of TIPA and its members would like to pledge that we would work harder to improve and develop all activities of TIPA to the highest of standards which will take TIPA into the next level where it will excel in both traditional and modern arts and culture.  For that we would like to appeal for your guidance and active support.

Finally, at this auspicious occasion, we the members of TIPA would like to pray for long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and may his vision are realized soon. May also all secular religious traditions prevail and their upholders have a long life! May we finally see that His Holiness the Dalai Lama once again reinstated at the Potala Palace and Tibetans are united once again! And may peace prevail from Tibet to all over the world!