| "In
the past months, as we delivered copies of our magazines to
the community we often wondered about the community’s
reactions. Does the community feel that the magazine is as
much a part of us as we, the community’s volunteers,
feel that it is?" |
 |
| Tenzing L. G. Chadotsang, Editor-in Chief |
As seasons change and days get shorter, it reminds us of the
coming of yet another issue. The cycle of seasons bring us to
the end of our first year, the first turning. I take pleasure
in bringing to you the fourth Migyul, the — our —
Himalayan Community magazine of New York. In the past months,
as we delivered copies of our magazines to the community we often
wondered about the community’s reactions. Does the community
feel that the magazine is as much a part of us as we, the community’s
volunteers, feel that it is?
Since the last magazine, there have been three developments that
have helped answer this question.
One — Migyul has been asked to produce a music CD dedicated
to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In this music CD, teachings of
His Holiness have been translated to Nepali for the benefit of
the Nepali-speaking Himalayan people. It is the first CD where
songs in praise of the Dalai Lama, our Dharma Guru, have been
sung in Nepali. Migyul does not take the credit for this hard
work. The songs were translated and written by Tsewang Sherpalama
who brought together some of the most popular contemporary Nepali
singers to lend their voices to lyrics. Tsewanglak presented us
the final finished product. In his words, reading the Migyul magazine
“forces him to be a part of the magazine.”
Two — It was unanimously decided by all Migyul volunteers
that the Migyul annual fundraising should be called the Himalayan
Losar. As the precursor to various celebrations, Migyul’s
Himalayan Losar party and cultural program would bring together
the Himalayan community and highlight some of the biggest talents
of the various communities in a cultural program.
Three — We are glad to announce that we will have three
very well-known personalities who have committed to writing in
every issue of Migyul, Professor Robbie Barnett of the East Asian
Institute at Columbia University, Jamyang Norbu, internationally
recognized novelist and winner of the Crossword Book Prize, and
our very own Sonam Sherpa, Himalayan community leader from New
York.
These developments — and the fact that we are constantly
asked by community members when our next issue is due —
makes us certain of one thing: Migyul magazine has struck a chord
with the community.
I would like to ask you, as our community members, to contribute
to the magazine — share your thoughts or write to us about
something and we will see how we can incorporate and express your
thoughts in our writings, or otherwise get someone to write on
it. Only then will the magazine be truly reflective of our community.
On behalf of all the volunteers at Migyul, I would like to thank
our supporters who have taken us so far. As a start-up magazine
that is distributed free to the community, finances pay a huge
role in continuing the magazine and sustaining our energies. Individuals
like Beth Grossman, who in each issue has donated $100 to the
magazine, writers like Lou Costa who have sent in articles for
each issue, eminent writers Jamyang Norbu and Robbie Barnett who
have committed to write articles for every future issue, and Sonam
Sherpa, who has taken the responsibility of putting together the
Migyul Himalayan Losar party — these are just a few of the
many people that I have chosen to name to whom Migyul is so indebted.
The list is endless and if we were to describe what each volunteer
has done for the magazine, we would probably have to devote an
entire issue to that the subject. Thank you all. So, to appreciate
the hard work of all these volunteers and for the light of Migyul
to continue to shine and lead the community together, I would
like to personally invite all of you to prepare for Losar with
the rest of the Himalayan community at the annual Himalayan Losar
party on the 29th of January 2005 at the Archdiocese of the Armenian
Church, 630 Second Avenue (between 34 and 35 Streets).
A very Happy New Year to all.
Tenzing L.G. Chadotsang
Editor-in-Chief
