Vienna Hosts Premiere of ‘Amala’ Honoring Dalai Lama’s Sister Jetsun Pema
A large audience gathered at a local theatre in Vienna on Saturday for the Austrian premiere of ‘Amala – The Life and Struggle of the Dalai Lama’s Sister’, a movie that chronicles the life of Jetsun Pema, the Dalai Lama’s younger sister. The event was organized by the ‘Students for a Free Tibet’ group and the Tibetan Diaspora in Austria.
Affectionately known as ‘Amala,’ meaning ‘mother,’ Jetsun Pema is celebrated for her leadership in the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV), a network of schools she established to educate Tibetan refugee children in India. The film captures her personal challenges and triumphs as she transformed the Nursery for Tibetan Refugee Children into a flourishing institution for displaced Tibetan youth.
The premiere coincided with growing concerns about the ongoing cultural genocide in Tibet. Following the screening, Tibetan-Canadian activist Chemi Lhamo, a member of the International Tibet Network’s Steering Committee, addressed the audience virtually. In her impassioned speech, Lhamo highlighted the Chinese government’s systematic efforts to suppress Tibetan identity, revealing that over one million Tibetan children have been forcibly enrolled in Chinese-run colonial boarding schools, where they are stripped of their language, culture, and traditions.
Lhamo’s address underscored the urgency of the Tibetan plight, while brochures and flyers detailing human rights violations in Tibet were distributed to ensure attendees left with a deeper understanding of the ongoing struggle. Despite the inclement weather, the event became a powerful moment of solidarity, demonstrating the Tibetan community’s resilience in the face of adversity.
Events like these, the organizers emphasized, are crucial in keeping the Tibetan cause in the international spotlight and resisting the erasure of their culture and identity. The Tibetan Diaspora in Austria continues its mission to raise awareness, ensuring that the voice of Tibet remains heard across the globe.
Doubts Revealed
Vienna -: Vienna is the capital city of Austria, a country in Europe.
Premiere -: A premiere is the first public showing of a movie or play.
Amala -: ‘Amala’ is the title of a film. In Tibetan, ‘Amala’ means ‘mother’.
Dalai Lama -: The Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
Jetsun Pema -: Jetsun Pema is the sister of the Dalai Lama and has worked a lot for Tibetan education.
Students for a Free Tibet -: Students for a Free Tibet is a group that supports freedom and human rights for Tibet.
Tibetan Diaspora -: Tibetan Diaspora refers to Tibetans who live outside Tibet, often because they had to leave their homeland.
Cultural genocide -: Cultural genocide means destroying the culture of a group of people, like their language, traditions, and way of life.
Tibetan plight -: Tibetan plight refers to the difficult situation and struggles faced by Tibetan people, especially under Chinese rule.
Solidarity -: Solidarity means standing together with others to support them, especially in difficult times.
