LONDON, 29 February: Kalon Tripa Dr. Lobsang Sangay will receive the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Public Discourse from the College Historical Society (CHS) of Trinity College, Dublin. Trinity College is the most prestigious university in Ireland and regarded as a sister college of Oxford and Cambridge in the UK.
The Gold Medal award ceremony will take place at Trinity College on Thursday 1 March.
The CHS is the oldest undergraduate debating society in the world and still continues today as the centre of oratory and debate in Trinity College. The Society’s purpose is to promote and develop oratory and to provide an international forum for discourse and debate. The CHS Gold Medal is awarded to acknowledge the efforts of those who promote these on the world stage.
Former recipients of the CHS Gold Medal include former British Prime Minister Sir John Major, former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Aung San Su Kyi, Dr Shirin Ebadi and Archbishop Desmod Tutu, and former Irish President Mary Robinson among others.
In explaining the reason for the award to Dr. Sangay, the Treasurer of the CHS Mr John Engle said: “As a spokesman for the cause of Tibet, Dr. Sangay has taken the lead in advocating the rights of the Tibetan people around the world.
“His message is an essential one to consider.”
The Kalon Tripa in accepting the Gold Medal, said: “It is a real honour to be included in the august company of the past recipients of the Medal.
“It has always been my belief that discourse and intellectualism are vital to the progress of the society.
“The honour bestowed upon me strengthens my belief and I humbly accept the recognition on behalf of all the Tibetan people.”
As part of the Gold Medal award ceremony, Kalon Tripa is scheduled to address the College Historical Society in Trinity College at 2pm on Thursday 1 March followed by a question and answer session with the assembled guests.
Report sent by Office of Tibet, London
