Graciousness of Indian Government and People to Tibetans

1)Introduction

The ever-growing relationship between India and Tibet dates back to the seventh century when the great king Songtsen Ganpo sent sixteen students to India to study. Among them, Thunmi Sangpo Dak the only one to be able to return back alive invented the present Tibetan script after cultivating enough Indian resources in the fertile soil of his sharp mind. So it is very obvious that the Indo-Tibetan relationship was germinated from a seed between a brilliantly lucky disciple and a resourcefully generous teacher, From this seed, there started to grow roots, trunk, branches and leaves.

When I was in Tibet I had heard so many good things about India, the land to which we use to call- Gyakar phaphe yul1. We are very lucky to have a good and strong connection with this Noble Land where many worldly-famous personalities took their birth since the time immemorial. But nowadays I feel that there is a possible degeneration and degradation in the very base of the ancient Indo-Tibetan friendship due to minor conflicts between Tibetans and the local Indians. I had heard from my elders that there was a great mishap between the local Indians and Tibetans somewhere around 1994 at Lower Dharamsala. They gathered, came and wanted to set afire the Tibetan handcraft centre, the Tibetan official houses and anything that belonged to the Tibetans in the vicinity. Our leader even had to express his willingness to leave the country if they were determined to approve that it was their only decision on the Tibetans. At that time I do not know whether I should say fortunately or unfortunately, some western countries during that time expressed their readiness to welcome him and his people at anytime. However in the name of god, the flaming anger in hearts of the local Indians was diminished and gradually distinguished when the local authorities played a healing interference. As a consequence, the raging ocean calmed eventually and the throngs dispersed at eventide. In this way our leader, our government and our people could stay in the Noble Land continuously.

But sad to say that, some minor disputes have never ended to occur between the local Indians and the Tibetan people. My heart shivers like a grass in front of the spring wind when I set my pointed concentration on this particular predicament. I am afraid that the reoccurrence of these minor conflicts would one day lead to another incident like that of the1994. It may also give birth to even more horrible and dangerous ones with accumulation of heat through the passage of the galloping time. Therefore it is very important for us to think before act and to act err everything is too late. But with my little knowledge and shallow experience I feel that to acknowledge the role played by the government and people of The Noble Land in our history, at our present and for our unpredictable future is one of the most effective steps to retain the long-existed friendship, to maintain it unchanged and most importantly to develop it further towards a stronger and more stable one.

2) India in Defense of Tibetan Independence

In 1951, the Chinese communism under Mao overtook Tibet simply by using the power of arms and forced the Tibetan delegates to sign the imposed ‘Seventeen Points Agreement’. After winning the signature and seal of the Tibetan delegates representing Ganden Phutrah2, the Chinese leaders thought and acted as though they had been the undisputable owner of the Tibetan land and the real parents of the Tibetan people. They did never say that they came to invade Tibet and control the Tibetans but rather to free them from the clutch of poverty and backwardness.

At that time, India also did verbally protest against the forceful but facially-kind –appeared occupation of Tibet; leaders like Dr. Rammanohar Lohia3 emancipated, “To call the invasion of Tibet an effort to liberate six million Tibetans is to make language lose all meaning and stop all human communication and understanding”. But a verbal expression of protest was too far away from making an effect on the Chinese leaders as their ears are made of steel and their hearts by mixed iron. Therefore they started taking more advantages and stronger autocratic authorities on Tibetans in Tibet. They not only claimed Tibet as an inseparable part of China, but also put her disastrous hand inside the bag of Tibetan community and commenced to grope at everything including her religion, culture, tradition, administration etc.

Seeing this as a death's bosom for the Tibetans and a dangerous paw over Indian themselves they entered into the agreement with China at that time popularly known as ‘Panchsheel Agreement’. It was in this agreement at Ceylon in 1954 that India under Nehru, recognized Chinese occupation of Tibet, because Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai agreed the condition that a strong country should not attack a weaker one. In another words China also accepted to respect Tibetan autonomy, which I think was truly better than the situation going on in Tibet during that particular period of time. But later on, Chinese leaders’  action appeared to be far away from adhering to their own words of promise as they have had always be habituated. If they had stayed tight to their words, the atmosphere created by that agreement would not have been less than the one we have always been looking for with a longing spirit.

Like this and that the critical situation in Tibet kept on deteriorating with the communist-mischief-making that in 1956, H, H, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama had to flee to his friend Nehru in India. Once again Zhou Enlai assured that Tibet’s autonomy would be respected and there would not be interference with economic, social and religious life of the Tibetan people. Getting all these assurances from China through India, he returned back to his country with a hope of their faithfulness this time at his friend’s request. But as the subsequent and also the preceding actions have always proved that Chinese leaders never believed in enacting the assurances came out of their mouths with their own will. In consequence to these, the accumulated heat became stronger and larger with the growing cruelty and bravery of China that in 1959 our people’s hearts finally busted out, not out of sheer will but rather helplessness and exhausted patience. Alas! Our compassionate leader H, H, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama had to leave his country and seek refuge in India at the tenderness of his inexperienced young age as an inevitable product of this.

3) India in Tibetan Freedom Struggle

Fortunately India greeted with her arms wide open our young leader H, H, The Fourteenth Dalai Lama along with his nearly a ten-thousand Tibetan fellows, and sheltered them from being wet by the tempest of Chinese invasion or fallen by the storm of exile hardships. Since then she has not only been providing shelters and other essential facilities to the Tibetans coming to their Noble Land. But also though not very actively took part in Tibetan freedom struggle at her level. They started criticizing the Chinese leaders and their unrealistic policy in Tibet which has made the Tibetans suffer inequality on their own land before the eyes of law; Atal Vajpayee in Lok Sabha in 1959 said, “In 1930, Mao said that they have made the constitution in such a way that if somebody wants to go out, he can. Tibetans did not speak about going out, they wanted to keep their separate existence but even this permission was not given to them”. From this we can infer that they have understood the gap between the Chinese expression of Tibet and China as one country and their contradictory action of putting it into rational action.

Moreover seeing the Chinese leaders did not live up to their own words of promise and assurance on Tibet, India stood out at last to support Tibetan independence. In a presidential address delivered at the all-India-convention on Tibet at Calcutta in May 1959, it was said, “India recognized Tibet as a country by itself but which had sometimes passed under Chinese suzerainty by virtue of conquest and never by free will”. Their first and foremost expectation was a harmonious coexistence between Tibet and China despite it being through one and half nation or two whole, which in turn casts over their country a shadow of coolness for safety and security. But no more stone was left to be turned for this purpose except to unveil the real fact in depth of truth as they came to learn that their sincere endeavor had not been more than taking a brute into good consideration and guide him as much as possible. It was also in the same address, they made it clear that India had from time to time expressed her firm belief to continue the bond of friendship of mutual understanding with china. But if china shrewdly sought to exploit it for only unjust and self-centered purposes then she could never ever be a partner to commit a crime which could hardly be confessed by any means at any time.

Alas! India even received threatening and warnings from China for sympathizing the Tibetans so much. But nothing could browbeat them to do something which they clearly know is a crime, nor could be delivered from doing the thing that they considered necessary and important. In 1965 India supported the UN resolution on question of Tibet, of which earlier she had been feeling unnecessary due to the China’s promises and assurances which they had never expected to be as unreliable as the Chinese leaders had proved after all. Her representatives explained that the Tibetans were made to live like hewers of wood and drawers of water. They solemnly urged the UNO not to stay mute to the critical things happening inside Tibet. At the same time they also promised to continue to give the Dalai Lama and his people their affordable facilities and possible hospitalities. India tried almost every possible means to resolve locally the Tibetan issue by themselves but her cooperator sold and then bought back her every time. So eventually they were left with only the opportunity to try it internationally on UN’s table.

4) India in Building Tibetan Future

India has really been burning at the both ends of their ability to alleviate the sufferings and hardships of Tibetan people despite the occurrence of some minor controversies with some local Indians on few occasions. Particularly when they came to learn for quite certain that Tibetans are still going to be remained in India for a longer period of time, they started taking a new step in facilitating the Tibetan people to keep their Tibetan-ness and to fulfill their guest for freedom. They are now coming towards the direction in building the future of the Tibetan people; the great Indian orator Shavkara said, “The youth does not form hundred percent of the country at present but they do form the hundred percent of the country in the future”. So when we talk about the Tibetan future we mostly refer to the Tibetan youngsters, especially their knowledge and morality. We are struggling for our freedom by peaceful means, therefore a proper and high level of education has become extremely important for us. Moreover our moral performance is of no less importance as being the sincere and faithful followers of the leader who is always preaching about the moral values like love, compassion, altruism etc. For these they are allowing the Tibetans build many schools and Buddhist institutes which are well isolated and protected from any danger of degeneration or being intruded by other cultures from the environmental influence.

Nowadays more and more Tibetan Secondary Schools are being granted the privilege of appearing for the board of All India Secondary School Examination (AISSE). On the other side our Tibetan students after the class twelve matriculation can get admission to the top colleges with lower marks or percentages as compared to the Indians their own citizens; We can get admission to a top college with percentage around 70% or above, where as an Indian hardly be admitted even with percentage around 80%. What does this show? Is it that they have too many empty seats in their college so that they accept the Tibetans in this way? Or is it that they have a special consideration for our condition and our needs???

A more gracious act is the chance granted to the Tibetans to establish more and higher centers for learning. At present the construction of a Tibetan college at Bangalore is in process and now it is almost completed and already under half operation. It is a very significant leap for the Tibetans in protecting and fertilizing their minds with both Tibetanist wisdom as well as modern education. It is really indispensable for our search and emphasis on the specialization of studies. It is just a beginning step and if the Chinese do not allow the Tibetans return very soon, then I am cent percent sure that they will grant Tibetans the chance to establish even Tibetan universities if our expense favors.

Another thing that is so currently happening for the Tibetans is the free registration of the Indian Registration Certificate for Tibetans (RC). This is something that the Tibetans, especially those from Tibet have always been looking forward with rabbit ears and frog eyes. During the initial interval, every Tibetan could easily and almost freely get the RC as it had been during the earlier beginning. However the Tibetan Government in exile prevented it later on, so nowadays only the school children or the Tibetans under the protection of a Tibetan institute could assess to the free registration of RC. It is very gracious of them to grant such facilities or opportunities to the Tibetans. More recently there is a news from Dharamshala that some senior Tibetan have to renew their RC only with six years of interval. Generally just registering the RC in such a way does not mean that much, but India herself on her small ship, has a population of second largest in the world after China. It is very clear that free registration of RC means more Tibetans in exile on Indian land and more people on Indian land leads to less scope of development in every field.

But despite anything like this, the government and people of India had been, are staying very close, even closer these days to the promise they have made on the UN’s table in 1965. I think they have been doing all these not merely because of a promise, but mainly because of the strong bond they have with Tibet through the long history, geography, language, religion and culture.

5)Conclusion

It is crystal-clear that there will neither occur any communal controversy nor should even an individual conflict between Indians and Tibetans when we come to the end this article by understanding each and everything it talks about. But still the Indian people have their sense of pride of belonging to a free and independent nation on the one hand. On the other hand we Tibetans have our tension and pain of being compelled into exile to lead a life of refugee. So between this sense of pride and the feeling of pain slumber many buds of individual conflict, which very often become germinated when being nurtured by instigating water of Chinese spies. This is something both we Tibetans and our Indians brothers and sisters have to take great consideration for the sake of an ever-green consciousness and cautiousness.

If I put some of my personal experiences for the sake of an easier step to comprehend what I actually want to convey through this article, sometimes I face many minor injustices and unfairness from some Indian people. As a result very often, though truly not practicable, I use to feel all prepared to fight if another injustice will be made to me. But with a second thought the image of my country comes before the dark cloud of my self importance and ego. In this way I could overcome this childish thought every time. I do not have any doubt that majority of the Tibetans, if not all have the same feeling like me, this kind of feeling is a big obstacle to the strong bond between Indians and Tibetans. Therefore in one way the other we should and must put both our heart and soul to understand the role played by India in our life, then it will be easy and acceptable for us to tolerate any minor injustice like the ones we face while traveling or doing business. If we feel upset because of such little minor mistreatments what about the Nepalese then, who treat our people far worse than the some of the Indian people? However please remember, I do not mean that we should tolerate mistreatments beyond the context of law. Moreover any mishap between our people and the local Indians is a gift of bliss for our enemies who had butchered and are killing our brothers and sisters in Tibet like expression-deprived animals. Then would you- my countrymen ever like to make your enemies happy when they are happy at your misfortunes and mishaps only???

Most of we Tibetans feel that it is only we Tibetans whom are being mistreated, but if we look carefully and examine thoughtfully we will find that we Tibetans also mistreat our Indian brothers and sisters on many occasions. So in fact there is no necessity for us to be upset because of some minor mistreatments done to us by few Indians. It is year by year becoming clearer and clearer that we shall have to stay in exile for a still longer period of time. Then why do not we bury the individual conflicts and prevent them from bringing a communal controversy? This is what is going to remove the wet leather cap of Chinese invasion upon our head in the end!

In a nut shell, my sole aim in choosing this topic and weaving this article is nothing but simply just an endeavor to remove the possibility of reoccurring incidents like individual conflicts leading to communal disparity between Tibetans and the local Indian people. At last but never the least I wish and pray that the long existed friendship between the resourceful teacher and the bright disciple will flow like the river Brahmaputra and loom like the Mount Everest despite anything that stands in its red carpeted path!

1.  Noble Land in Tibetan language, we call India the Noble Land.
2. The previous Tibetan Government in TIbet which was run by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
3.  An eminent Indian Socialist Leader.

Divergence In Going Home

Initially my mind was full of curiosity and anxiety when the wings of the galloping time came flapping toward the date- 10th March1 of this year. I was curious for I wondered what our people would launch as a sign of protest this time against the devil paw of the communist China inside Tibet. I was also worried at the same time, not sure in which manner would the Chinese puppets suffocate the souls that would cry for justice and the spirits which would be screaming for freedom. But beneath this medley of feelings I nursed a strong hope that our people , both inside and outside Tibet would be able to do something solid and substantial this year.

Then it was during the last period on the day before the very date. An announcement from Kashang2 was delivered to us that only the SAVE TIBET and FREE TIBET two slogans were allowed to be employed in order to give shape to our suffering and aspiration. I am cent percent sure that for the miserable souls; distressed by the exile pain and tortured by homesickness, it would have never ever been sufficient to cover their expression for the fact in the depth of their heart. It also appeared little bit of an infamy to my little mind, so young in politics yet so aged and bent down by heavy sentiments of the refugee life. But nothing could be done nor did I want to do something after all. I thought that there must be another side of the matter which the eye of my young mind failed to see or was unable to understand even if it had seen that as clear as clarity could ever be seen.

That night I boarded my cozy night-boat while other students were as busy as summer bees in preparing and boasting the uniqueness of one’s own convincing style of protest or campaign. I watched at them like an innocent lad while thinking and contrasting from deep inside each and everything as a young philosopher. I kept an eye on them from the beginning to the end. Some drew micro-Tibetan flag on their cheeky cheeks, some penned the dictated slogans on the hard- boards. Meanwhile one boy said that the next day he would be the centre of media people’s attention, another one protested that he would be the one instead. But why didn’t they mould some extra distinction when their sole aspiration after all was simply to attract as many media people as possible?

I remained engrossed in this roaring ocean of waving thoughts while it took me unnoticed to an island, the island where I was stimulated to prepare something by myself for the next day’s March-march. So I alighted my night-boat and took out the Tibetan flagged t-shirt which I had borrowed particularly for the particular date. It has a Snow lion flag on front-side but completely blank on its back–side. Therefore I wrote a slogan saying “No lying No dying, Free Tibet” and after all it sounded pretty cool to my sense. May be for it was the real expression of one long tortured-phase of my heart. I had actually just written it only on my shirt but I felt as if I had put it deep into the ears of Mr Hujing Tao3 and made it visible to him as though his spectacle had been mystified to observe it from Beijing. However I was aware that I was not as magnetic as my friends to the media persons.

The next morning, I got up very early and asked our artist to draw the picture of something which I had been dreaming about since I closed my eyes the previous night. It included a Tibetan flag on my forehead and that of China around my mouth. I also suggested to one of my friends to be with me in order to attract the attention of media persons better during our march. Without a second thought, he joined me as his face was clean of images and his mind might have also been empty of ideas. Some even grew doubtful to asking me if I was helping the Chinese instead of protesting against them. I was not startled by them to ask in this way as I had expected it and already prepared the answer to that even before they actually asked. But to them I only answered that I was helping the Chinese to understand their own wrong deeds, because I expected the very question from a media person. As a result of this expectation I kept the real answer too for that media person.

Exactly as I had anticipated, a media person carrying a camera with an eye like a telescope stopped me and took away an imprint of my face as soon as we reached Zoulhang Khang4 in Mecleodganj5. During the consequent events, inside the main temple, on the road down the hill to lower Dharamsala and then down to the Kajiari, I had not been left unclicked by the media persons with their cannon-like cameras. But still was sad to say that none of them did ask me the expected question- “Why had you drawn a Chinese flag around your mouth?”

When we returned to our school that day, we had a short sitting-talk about the day’s events and individual experiences of the day. I too took part in that sharing activity organized by none but participated by everyone in the vicinity. I shared my experience of being shot here and there by the media persons with a sense of achievement. But amidst this hot air of sharing, a person with an expression as if he was the cleverest said that he had not drawn anything nor carried something as he wanted to go back to Tibet one day. Alas! It directly pierced the deepest part of my heart like a butcher’s knife. Writhing in great invisible pain it cried out as if to alert all other slumbering spirits; “Why did my desire of returning and his reasoning of going back to the same far away home have created such a contradiction in our approach?”

Dear readers, my heart could cry no more now even though it desires very much to give you the reason. Its tears had been drained out and its breath had been choked by untold pain. May your divine souls absorb its blood for a divine judgment!!!

1. The date when up risings began first time against communist China inside Tibet in 1959. Since then the date was celebrated as Tibetan National Up Rising Day. Every year we go for protest march on that day.
2. Cabinet in Tibetan, one pillar of the Tibetan democracy.
3. China's present President.
4. The main temple of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which is situated on a hill top.
4. The small hill-top village where the main temple is situated. Tibetans mostly call it Mecloed (Dharamshala).

Tibetan Monk Self Immolated In Kham Tawu(Eastern Tibet)

This is the photo of the martyr named Tsewang Norbu alias Norko. He is reported to be 29 years of age and has self immolated around 12:30 (local time) on 15th August 2011 as a sign of protest against Chinese Rule over Tibet and Tibetans.

Tsewang Norbu shouting freedom and human rights slogans in folding hands even after he has been fallen by the burning flame.

Tsewang Norbu's deseased body covered with Tibetan Prayer Scarves infront of HH The Dalai Lama's throne and Portrait in Nyitso Monastery(Kham Tawu).

All of these three martyrs had self immolated themselves for the sake of freedom for six million Tibetans and as a sign of protest against Chinese rule over Tibet. Tsewang Norbu(Left-2011), Thupten Nyudup(centre-1998). Phutso(right-2011). Lets all hand in hand and heart to heart pray them for a peaceful rest.

Brutal Watch Over Kham Tawu (Eastern Tibet) After Trongkhang

 The snarl but unending watch over Tawu before Trongkhang(the birthday of HH Dalai Lama)

Chinese Guards watching at every nook of Tawu.

Chinese police ready to crack any kind of protest.

Trucks of Chinese armies arriving the place after Trongkhang.

Tanks and armed forces replaced the usual guards and securities in the place.

Chinese tanks with armed forces trambling upon Tawu soil after the local people celebrated Trongkhang(the birthday of H H the Dalai Lama)

我所面对的爱

对我来讲，

       爱重要，爱珍贵，

      抛弃了她，

    我就失去了幸福，

   我的灵魂，

   随着她，

   一点一点地长大。

  我的意志，

 陪着她，

 摆渡生命之长江。

 坎坷的人生之道上，

我盼望过，

她的拥抱。

我堂受过，

她的呵护。

可是，

我最爱惜的亲人，

莫过于博大精深的藏文。

我所爱慕的朋友，

唯独倾国倾城的中文。

而我爱恋的天下美女！

只会是，

就只有，

使我迷失自我的英语。

只要她们在我心中，

我就，

有了目不转睛的方向，

得了百折不挠的意志。

因为！

她们是我的梦想，

就是我一生的所求。

但可惜啊，

我躺在藏文的怀抱时，

汉文劝我多陪陪她，

提醒我不能抱残守缺。

当我牵上了汉文的手，

藏文却沮丧的唱着歌;

“有了新朋友就忘老朋友。”

而我吻抱英语的行为，

却遭殃藏汉的憎恨，

也受挫她们的远离。

唉，

这种爱恋的困境，

让我不由自主地沉落下去，

沉到犹豫的大海，

落到无底的地狱！

人间所存在的爱

                                              人们说，

这个时代，

这个二十一世纪。

是个国家联合，

是个世界和平，

是个地球统一的世纪。

可是，

也是这个时代，

就是这个二十一世纪，

我看不到世界和平。

我闻不出地球统一。

我所能意识到的，

只有嫉妒，

  只有怨恨。

人们不能言听计从，

你也是， 我也是。

甚至有的父母，

抛弃自己的孩子，

孩子们也是一样，

有的抛弃父母，

有的等着他们的遗产。

就像狐狸盼着乌鸦嘴里的肉。

很多国家分裂了，

有的变成了老鼠，

 有的变成了野猫。

 悲痛的是最终未能和来。

有些是因为政府太独载，

更本不顾他们的需求。

有些是因为政府太落后，

无法保障他们的安全。

他们无能为力，

只能默默地，

冉冉地，

为自己寻找，

一片自由的天空。

一个独立的国家。

一个照顾自己的大家庭！

人间所需要的爱

                                                       爱，

对每个人来讲，

听起来很熟悉。

你，我，他，

甚至它们，

都知道她，

都拥有过她的感觉。

可是，

我们却不知她的真面目，

只了解她有无穷的力量。

我们，

都想拥有她，

有的，

也愿付出她。

可惜，

因为有人得到她，

某人却失去她。

唉！

愿付出她的举动，

也别它二了。

难道。。

难道这就是她吗？

真是人间的她吗？

不！

绝不是！

我们所能喜悦的 ，

我们所能付出的，

不仅是男女之间的爱情。

不只是朋友之间的友谊。

更何况亲戚间的血莲。

我们还有真切的她，

兴奋每颗心的她。

这位她，

使人们关怀每个动物，

使人们，

保存舍己为人的思想。

这才是纯真的她，

才是人间所需要的爱！

A FUTURE TIBET IN THE PRESENT BHUTAN

Towards the dusk of the 20th century, the iron curtained half of the world (USSR) suffered an unexpected collapse. The iron curtain which had kept USSR as the second most-powerful one for a long period melted ultimately and got chemically transformed due to the accumulated heat from the great friction between the unsatisfied common mass and the totalitarian autocrats. It is from this changed bed of soil, there started to grow up the crumbled flowers under the liberal baptism like the withered foliage regain their strength and color with the first shower of the spring. This unnamed seasonal change was what the high minds on the earth termed as the painful process of shock therapy.

Today it is the end of the first one tenth of the 21st century but still the age old hunger for rights exist as fresh as yesterday’s pain, as high as Mount Everest and as stable as the pole star. Nowadays the eyes of the whole world are looking for liberty , their hearts are beating for freedom and their bodies are fighting so relentlessly for democracy; the true source of one’s liberty and freedom be it of one individual’s or a nation’s .

However amidst this throat-cutting and blood-shedding struggle for democracy, there is a nation of people who are refusing to accept the gift of democracy from their father-like king Jigme Singe Wangchuk of Bhutan. He found that every nation is stepping towards capitalist and democratic system in any possible way, some even by laying down their precious human life only for the hope that their coming generation will enjoy a taste of the so-called democratic freedom. But the Bhutanese people, I don’t know whether luckily or unluckily have refused to accept it, putting all their faith and trust in their divine king. As a result, he has become as before the one for his people to ask for food in times of famine and for emancipation in case of confusion and indecisiveness.

As I keep myself pondering upon this, my mind sets out to interweave this particular Bhutanese exception with a Tibetan similarity. I doubt that a similar situation will take place when our country’s lost-freedom is brought back to its shell again. We have been putting great faith and hope in our great leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama for the past many a years and are still doing the very same. Actually he said many times and will say again from time to time about retiring from the political arena of Tibet particularly when she becomes liberated. He expresses this not with tiredness, depression or laziness but with a strong sense of worry and anxiety that if such a thing continues his six million children will never be able to get through the political tempest of a sovereign state in the future.

During the first decade of our negotiation with China from 1979, the Tibetan Exile Government’s envoys were given what the Chinese leaders themselves wanted to give them than what they actually had come for. So at the end of the decade (1996/1997) His Holiness held a general referendum of whether to continue the middle path approach or something new. The outcome of which clearly proved the continuation of the middle path with an overbalanced percentage of 64. The people of Tibet expressed that it was not necessary to hold such referendum as they believed in his middle path and after all in anything he decided and undertook for the resolution of the Tibetan issue.

In 2008, after the Olympics in China our envoys and the Chinese leaders met around one table. They discussed and argued, however like the past seven rounds of talk, nothing but more more-depressed leaders and more-annoyed people could come out as a result of the eighth talk. The cry for His Holiness’ return and the wailing for Free Tibet began in the then March did not ebb and vanish inside Tibet. Instead the slumbering fire inside their hearts got refueled and was flamed once more by this act. So once again His Holiness proposed his government in exile to hold a special meeting to discuss and decide on a better approach to solve the Tibetan issue if possible. And consequently a big meeting called The First Tibetan National General Meeting was held in Upper TCV, inviting participations of Tibetans from all over the world. I am cent percent sure that this must have shaken the foundation of the Communist Chinese mindset though certainly not the base of their physical setup. I do not know whether to say luckily or unluckily, session after session and discussion after discussion they have unanimously came to the same starting point as if their process of sessions and discussions was also as round as the earth itself.

Moreover, recently in His Holiness’ message to 14th Tibetan Parliament in Exile on March 14th he expressed his decision of resigning from the crest-political authority of Tibet. This is not the first time His Holiness expressed such planning of his for the future Tibet. There must be a reason, or in other words, a silver lining which the eye of our common mind cannot observe in his from time and again insistence on this. He descended to say “…No system of governance can ensure stability and progress if it depends solely on one person without the support and participation of the people in the political process. One man rule is both anachronistic and undesirable….”  But our parliament, despite the fact that His Holiness has stepped into the threshold of 75 years of age, passed a resolution requesting him to reconsider his decision. However His Holiness rejected the resolution on 19th March while addressing a gathering in the Tibetan Main Temple at Mecloedganj. His Holiness said that his intention was neither from a wish to shirk responsibility nor because he was disheartened but to help Tibetans for better prepare themselves to face long term challenges. He furthered “I am a Tibetan and more precisely I am Tibetan born in Amdo region of Tibet. So there is no way I can disassociate myself from the Tibetan cause. In the future if an urgent need arises. I will always be ready to serve the cause.”

Heedless of His Holiness ‘wish and helpless of His Holiness’ persistent adherence to his decision.  Our parliament finally had to formally passed a resolution to accept his proposal and to amend the Charter of the Tibetans in exile. But still their diehard wishes seem to not vanish unless and until he is given at least some political connection to Tibetans on actual ground as though he is otherwise forever going to be isolated from the Tibetan political issue. They have included in this resolution an agreement to hold a Second Tibetan National General meeting around the end of May to try to still accommodate a special symbolic position for His Holiness in the Charter of Tibetans in Exile. What would again be the fruit of this meeting? Would it give birth to a brother of the First General Meeting??

As far as my little knowledge is concerned, I am indeed devoid of merit on why the Tibetan Parliament in Exile goes this much far on this subject. If they regard His Holiness as a living Buddha then there is no reason they do not listen to his predictions. If they are thinking of him as a high human being, then there is far more no logic in trying to burden him with politics even in his late seventies. I do not notice from any Tibetan history book where Tibetans have gained from not accepting and adhering to His Holiness’ messages. Can any expert on Tibetan History point out such an incident to me???

CHINESE VIOLENCE ON THE NONVIOLENT TIBETAN PROTEST IN KHAM TAWU

On the 5th of April 2008, the Chinese authorities came to know that the Tibetans in Kham Tawu were to gather for a protest at Nyitsun Monastery where they held a religious prayer for the critical political issue of Tibet. So immediately the regional Chinese authorities declared that anyone who came out of his home the very next day would be shot on the spot. On that day, all the streets were guarded by Chinese armies who were ready with their weapons to shoot any Tibetan who came out. Therefore the Tibetans had to climb a minor mountain to get into the monastery. The Monastic heads requested the public not to go beyond non-violent protests and lamp or candle marches as the direction of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The peaceful march started at 12 noon on that day from the backside of the monastery to the market. But as soon as the protesters reached a junction on the street, about 400 policemen tried to stop the lay people and allowed the praying monks. As a result, they shouted with slogans like "There are no rights for us in our own land!", "We want freedom!", "Dalai Lama should be invited immediately!", " Chinese, get out!" and "China - Tibet immediate separation" The Chinese police used violence on these peaceful protesters and shot at least 10 persons. Among them 5 persons were taken by the Chinese authorities, but the protesters called the Head of the Regional Police, telling him to release them back immediately, or they would prefer to die altogether for them. In this way, the 5 were handed back. But sad and unbearable to say that the Regional Hospital refused to treat them even though they were in a condition so grave. So they had to be taken to China main land for treatment, yet there is absolutely no news about their current condition. Alas! Where is the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) for us at such crucial occasions???????