Tibetan "singing nuns" look forward Dalai Lama

Two Tibetan "singing nuns" left China for India . Now they hope to meet with the Dalai Lama. Rigzin Choekyi and Lhundrub Zangmo arrived in the northern Indian city of Dharmsala on Saturday.

Photo: Tibetan "singing nuns" look forward Dalai Lama

They are part of a 14-member group who became known as the "singing nuns" after they used a tape recorder smuggled into Drapchi Prison in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa to record songs about their love for their families and their homeland. Their sentences were extended after the tape was smuggled out of the prison.

"When we see portraits of the Dalai Lama here, tears roll down from our eyes. When we finally get to meet him, I am not sure whether we would be able to speak," Choekyi told The Associated Press. "We have received no formal education in Tibet and we plan to study English and Tibetan after we meet the Dalai Lama," answered Zangmo.

The Dalai Lama is currently traveling and is expected to meet the nuns after his return on June 12. Choekyi was too weak and had to be carried part of the way during their two-night trek to Nepal .

Zangmo and Choekyi joined a nunnery at the age of 20 and 18 respectively. Zangmo was released from prison in 1999 after serving nine years. Choekyi was released in 2002. "It was a difficult trip made worse by the fact that I hadn't fully regained health after suffering ill health during my 12 year sentence in prison," said Choekyi, reports the AP.

N.U.