After similar campaigns in Mumbai, Kolkota, Bangalore and Delhi, the fifth leg of the Release Tulku Tenzin Delek Now campaign began in Dharamsala with nearly 30 members of Herbertpur, Chauntara, Dalhousie and Kullu Manali regional chapters of the TYC sitting for a 48 hr hunger strike. For the full period of two months, till January 25, 2005 people from all walks of life, school students, college students, monks, nuns, lay people will lend their strength to the campaign.

By organising such an activity at Dharamsala, forgoing obvious preferences of other places, TYC not only furnishes the local people of Dharamsala to constructively contribute in an obtrusive manner towards the Tibetan cause but also tries to send a message back to Tibet that Tibetans in exile living at the very place where His Holiness The Dalai Lama resides are not oblivious of their aspirations in particular and the Tibetan cause in general.

The opening ceremony of the hunger strike was graced by Mr. Karma Yeshi, Member of Parliament and former vice-president of TYC, Mr. Rakesh Sharma, National Executive member of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch and ABVP and later by Ven. Palden Gyatso la, renowned former political prisoner of Tibet. Speaking at the ceremony Mr. Kalsang Phontsok, President of TYC expressed his firm faith in the effectiveness and impetus of the activities being organised in exile and apprised the public to look forward to a lengthy battle till the unconditional and immediate release of Tulku Tenzin Delek, forgoing all speculations regarding the aftermath if the death sentence was revoked.

Ven. Palden Gyatso la spoke as an example himself of the effectiveness of the activities organised here in exile, relating to the instance of 1983 when massive demonstrations of the TYC had revoked the death sentence passed on him and one of his aids just a couple of days before their execution date.

The first day of the Two-Month Relay Hunger Strike for the immediate and unconditional release of Tulku Tenzin Delek carried on amidst soft chants of prayers and speeches of H.H. The Dalai Lama. As the hunger strikers were kept busy, surrounded by journalists, photographers and onlookers, hoards of people signed the TYC appeal letter to UN General Secretary Kofi Annan and sent numerous post cards for the release of Tulku Tenzin Delek.

Remarkably, foreign nationals from Japan to Spain, Australia to Russia, signing up at the TYC table had one thing in common, they all knew about Tulku Tenzin Delek. No explanations were required as they articulated ?Tulku? from their mouths, laden with heavy accent unique to their tongue, and wished us the very best for the success of our mission.

Probably this is Delekfication, this is Unification.