I would like to introduce myself as an Indian who along with his brother owe a debt of gratitude to the Tibetan community in which we received all our school education. My name is Papu Sharma (alias Mul Raj Sharma); I am a businessman here in Mcleod Ganj and my brother Pintu Sharma (alias Kulprakash Sharma) works for the government of India. Our success today is the result of the special education we received from the Tibetan Children's Village (TCV) in Upper Dharamsala.

When we were first admitted to the Tibetan Day School in Mcleod Ganj we felt uneasy because all other students looked different and spoke a language different from our own. But this lasted only momentarily and for the about two years we remained in the school, we were an integral pail of the school wit Ii on fellow Tibetan students.

We were later admitted to the Upper TCV for higher-level school education. We quickly got used to our new educational environment and never felt strangers. The teachers were kind to all students alike and even today we greatly cherish their care.

The teachers were affectionate and sincere, which I believe was because of their. Buddhist way of thinking. They work as members of a big family rather than as merely professionals on the job. We were indeed very fortunate to be part of thousands of Tibetan students in such a "family."

We found the Tibetan people to be very easy to get along with, in fact, they are the friendliest people we have ever come across. Making friends during our school years was therefore no problem. The whole school became our friends. We enjoyed special attention from teachers and fellow-students alike. We especially cherish the moments when my brother and I achieved first positions in the class, especially in Tibetan language, and received prizes. Our parents attended the prize-giving ceremony. Our father's face beamed with a sense of pride and joy.

The years went by and we went on from infant section to junior school and secondary school and finally reached Class XII, where we were among the senior most students in the school.

It was with sadness and a sense of leaving home that we passed out of the school. It was hard to believe that we had already spent twelve long years in the school and that there wasn't any more reason for us to stay on.

In all our years in the school, we never felt discriminated, racially or otherwise, though we were the only Indians. All treated us as an equal with the other students. We shall never forget the kindness and concern shown to us by our beloved mother, Ama Jetsun Pema la, and the blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Because of the Tibetan education we received, getting a government job was no problem to us. The fact that we had learnt both Tibetan and Hindi language put us in an outstanding position both within our community and in the Tibetan society. We know that we shall never be able to repay all that we have received from the Tibetan community . But whenever opportunities arise, we shall be glad to be of service to them.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his sister and our Tibetan society for their kindness and generosity.
Papu Sharma
Pintu Sharma

Dharamsala

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Last updated: 26-Jan-99