Tibetans hail "Serfs Emancipation Day"

Gama Tenpa, an official in Lhozhag County, said it was the democratic reform and serfs emancipation that had changed the life of his family.

Villagers of the Tibetan ethnic group dance to celebrate the  setting of the Serfs Emancipation Day in Banjorihunbo Village  of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)

His mother, who was 83 years old, today would always remind the family of the miserable days they had before the emancipation when they had to share one pair of shoes.

"The Emancipation Day can serve as an occasion to educate the youth to let them know the history and cherish the happiness today," Gama Tenpa said.

Tsesum, a sophomore in Tibet University, is one of the Tibetan youth who swear to remember the history, as Gama Tenpa expected.

"We are the future of Tibet, we should not forget the history, and, what's more, we should never forget what the Party and the government have done to educate us," she said.