Dharamshala — Tibetan activist Jamyang Tenzin arrived in Dharamshala on Sunday. After a month spent cycling through Indian towns and villages, he raised public awareness about Tibet and urged the international community to put pressure on the Chinese government to release the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet.
Tibetan activist Jamyang Tenzin, 65, arrived safely at Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala, on May 25, 2025. He was welcomed by Tibetans, members of the Tibetan Youth Congress and journalists. This is his sixth solo Tibet awareness rally, with the aim of raising awareness of Tibet and freeing the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet.
He began his solo bicycle rally from the Tibetan settlement Dekyiling, Dehradun, Uttakhand, on April 25, 2025, coinciding with the 36th anniversary of the birth of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, and concluded his rally on May 17, 2025, the 30th anniversary of the abduction and disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet.
Jamyang Tenzin said, "through this campaign, I aim to seek international intervention on this pressing issue and put pressure on China to disclose information about the Panchen Lama's whereabouts. Raise awareness among the Indian public and garner their support for his release, along with other Tibetan political prisoners."
"I also aim to inspire younger Tibetan generations and people from all three traditional regions of Tibet to commit themselves to our collective cause to address the grievances of Tibetans inside Tibet who continue to suffer under Chinese repression and oppression," the aged 65 Tibetan said.
“I held press conferences in Shimla and Manali, to raise public awareness of Tibet and the 11th Panchen Lama, as there are many Indian and Western tourists. I received great support from the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress and the Regional Tibetan Women's Association, as well as from local Tibetans when I reached their areas. I would like to thank them all. I also felt satisfied with my efforts, and my hard work was not in vain. I want to urge Tibetans to keep fighting for Tibetan freedom, and one day we will achieve our goal and be able to return to our homeland,” said the Tibetan activist.
Primary objectives of the bicycle rally:
1. Urge the international community to pressure China to release the 11th Panchen Lama—the world's youngest political prisoner—along with other Tibetan political prisoners in Tibet.
2. Call upon the government and people of India to support Tibet's just cause and encourage China to engage in negotiations to resolve the Sino-Tibetan conflict.
3. Inspire and encourage my fellow Tibetans, especially youth, to unite in the struggle for Tibet's just cause.
Jamyang has also completed five solo bike rallies, from Dharamshala to Bodhgaya, 3,000 km, and from Bylakuppe (Karnataka) to Dekyiling (Dehradun), 3,000 km. Dekyiling to Delhi, 250 km and Ladakh Khardung la to Dharamshala, 800 km. Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) to Delhi, over 2,500 km, to raise awareness about Tibet in India and call for international support for Tibet.
