Tibetans hail "Serfs Emancipation Day"

The establishment of "Serfs Emancipation Day" was even hailed by descendants of aristocrats.

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)

Rampa Yanggim Zhoigar, who was born in a noble family in 1938, said that great changes has happened to Tibet ever since the democratic reform.

"People gained the rights to be the masters of themselves. The conditions of education, health care and transportation have been improved," said the woman.

After March 28, 1959, serfdom-based feudal regimes of all levels were toppled and the people's democratic rule was established in Tibet. The Democratic Reform was launched, in which the liberated serfs were given cultivated land and cattle, for the first time in their lives.

In 1961, the first-ever elections of people's congresses of different levels were held in Tibet, with all former serfs and slaves allowed to use their rights of electing or being elected.