Tibetan women mark 67th Uprising Day with protest at McLeodganj

The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) and its regional chapters commemorated the 67th Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day in Dharamsala on Thursday holding a peaceful protest at McLeodganj decrying China’s continued repression in Tibet.

Hundreds of exiled Tibetan women, including Buddhist nuns and students, participated in the event, carrying Tibetan national flags and placards demanding human rights and justice for Tibet.

The programme was organised to remember the events of March 1959 when Tibetan women from the three traditional provinces of Tibet united for the first time and protested against Chinese military rule. Organisers said the commemoration was also intended to remind younger generations of the Tibetan struggle and the vital role played by women in the resistance movement.

A rally planned from McLeodganj to Dharamsala had to be cancelled due to bad weather, though participants still assembled to hold prayers, speeches and expressions of solidarity.

Youdon Aukatsang, a member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, said the day marks a significant chapter in Tibetan history when thousands of women openly challenged Chinese rule.

She noted that while the first protests began on March 10, 1959, outside Norbulingka, Tibetan women took to the streets two days later in large numbers. According to her, many women sacrificed their lives during the uprising, making the day a powerful reminder of their courage and commitment to the Tibetan cause.

Tenzin Minley, a women’s activist with Students for a Free Tibet International from New York, said the day reflects the determination and strength of Tibetan women. She said after many Tibetan men were killed during the uprising, women stepped forward to defend their homeland. Their actions, she said, remain a symbol of resilience and unity within Tibetan society.

International supporters also joined the commemoration. Student speaker Tenzin Dasel said Tibetans living inside Tibet continue to face restrictions on fundamental freedoms, including practising their religion and preserving their language. She said Tibetan students studying in India have a responsibility to raise awareness and speak up for the rights and freedom of Tibetans living under Chinese rule.

The origins of the Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day trace back to March 12, 1959, when woman martyr Pamo Kusang led a peaceful demonstration by Tibetan women outside the Potala Palace in Lhasa against the Chinese Communist invasion and occupation of Tibet. Nearly 15,000 women from different regions joined the protest, marking the first organised women’s uprising in Tibetan history.

A decade later, Pamo Kusang was executed by Chinese authorities for her role in the resistance. Many other women lost their lives in the violent crackdown, while numerous others were imprisoned and subjected to torture without trial, organisers said.