Season 1 Episode 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07-Ncc-3va0&t=49s
Conversation with Tashi Dhondup
During the session with Tashi Dhondup, president of National Democratic Party of Tibet
(NDPT) he engaged upon Tibetan democracy, its relevance and significance, genesis and
direction of the National Democratic Party of Tibet, his personal life experiences and
aspirations.
It started with his unexpected appointment as the president of the National Democratic Party
of Tibet through election by its members. Though surprised he stated how he will do his best
in his post as president and will not disappoint those who have confidence in him.
Moving on Tashi Dhondup explained the very genesis of the National Democratic Party of
Tibet and how since its establishment in 1994 with the goal of further developing democracy
in the exile Tibetan community, it has accomplished many historical landmarks. He further
stated how the very establishment of the National Democratic Party of Tibet was a vision of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He further elaborated upon the structure of the NDPT and how
it plays the role of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and thereby currently sees the
NDPT as a Semi-Political party.
This was followed by an in-depth discussion on the Tibetan term used for democracy and
how out of the two (Mangtso though phonetically sounding the same) one referring to Masses
and the other to Majority, the National Democratic Party of Tibet adheres to one referring to
Majority. The reason being that in the exile Tibetan institutions the decisions are based on the
majority and not the masses, because the thoughts and ideals of the millions of Tibetans in
Chinese occupied Tibet, individually are not the decision makers in the exile Tibetan setup.
Tashi Dhondup then shared his perilous journey from Tibet and how at the young age of 6
according to official documents he reached India. He also highlighted here how we Tibetans
can and must take inspiration from India, our host when it comes to the freedom movement
and the practice of democracy. He narrated how during his time in JNU one witnesses the
graffiti art of India’s struggle for Independence on campus walls which inspires him and
should also inspire the Tibetans in exile.
When it comes to his own future aspiration and that of the NDPT’s. He made it very clear
that he wants NDPT to become the bridge between the Tibetan Government-in-Exile (TGiE
aka Central Tibetan Administration) and the Tibetan diasporic communities who are not
currently in touch with the TGiE for varying reasons. Stressing also on the fact that the
NDPT on its most recent resolution would try to embody the practice of a multi-party system
as currently the NDPT is the only officially recognized political party by the TGiE. When it
came to his own personal aspirations, he stated that he would like to follow the precedent set
by the previous presidents of the NDPT and that is by being part of the legislative body of the
TGiE, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) in the near future.
Finally, he mentioned through various instances as to how we Tibetans must not take things
for granted especially the practice of democracy but continue to strive for it. Tibetans must
realize its significance and in light of the current stalemate in the TGiE, as out of the 7
departments, 4 departments still do not have ministers (Kalons). He also warned that we must
stay away from non-democratic procedures and wants the election commission to bring
educated and validated reforms rather than just being a rubber stamp. Here he mentions how
the 2017 resolution under then Minister of Finance, Karma Yeshi basically rendered NDPT
and several democratic procedures inactive especially during the central elections of the
TGiE.
