22nd April shook everyone in the world and particularly those of us in India as in the beautiful and scenic region of Kashmir- at the tourist spot of Pahalgam, 26 people were brutally killed in day light by terrorist. In what can only be described as one of the worst terrorist attacks in India in recent times, people around the world condemned this heinous crime against humanity.

I was not only taken aback but made to remember the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, where I experienced a similar feeling when studying in Dehradun then. I was flooded with news about this from the various news outlet that I followed and my friends both Tibetans and Indians on social media were quick to share their message of prayers and condolences to the victims – disgust and condemnation to the terrorist who carried out such a dastardly act.

Tibetans in India besides sharing their messages of condolences and supporting India on social media including the political head of the Central Tibetan Administration Sikyong (President) Penpa Tsering la, came together and rallied as a community and held prayer service. It showcased their solidarity with India and the victims of this heinous terror attack. Furthermore, in Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh, India) which is seen as the de facto exile political capital of Tibet by many, the Central Tibetan Administration led a prayer service with all its staff, bureaucracy and parliamentarians taking part in it. This was followed by Tibetan settlements in India likewise carrying out similar prayer service towards the victims for e.g. on 26th April, the Poanta Cholsum Tibetan Settlement in Himachal Pradesh conducted a prayer service.

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