Trivishtap Special-2 ` 200@& April-June 2020 Guest Editor Vijay Kranti
Patrons Sh. Laxmi Niwas Jhunjhunwala Sh. Raghupati Singhania Journal of Social and Academic Activism Sh. Gopal Jiwarajka Sh. Alok B. Shriram Year-41, Issue-2 Apr-Jun 2020 Sh. Mahesh Gupta Sh. Ravi Wig Sh. Anil Khaitan Sh. Lalit Kumar Malhotra Sh. Subodh Jain Sh. Sudarshan Sareen Sh. Pradeep Multani
Editorial Board Sh. Rambahadur Rai Sh. Achyutanand Mishra Sh. Balbir Punj Trivishtap Special-2 Sh. Atul Jain Dr. Bharat Dahiya Sh. Isht Deo Sankrityaayan
Editor Dr. Mahesh Chandra Sharma
Managing Editor Sh. Arvind Singh [email protected]
Publisher Design Sh. Nitin Panwar Research and Development Foundation For Integral Humanism [email protected] Ekatm Bhawan, 37, Deendayal Upadhyaya Marg, New Delhi-110002 Phone: 011-23210074 Printer E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Kumar Offset Printers 381, Patparganj Industrial Area, Delhi-110092 Website: www.manthandigital.com 1 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 Contents 1. Contributors’ profile 03 2. Editorial 04 3. Guest Editorial 06 4. The Endeavour to Liberate Tibet— Anand Kumar 12 Endangered Himalayas and Chinese Dominance 5. Trivishtap or Tibet: The World’s Prof. Bhagwati Prakash 24 Roof and Nehru-era Lapses - II 6. Panchsheel: Is it right or Born in Sin? Claude Arpi 28 7. Rebirth of Lost Scripts of Ancient India Vijay Kranti 31 8. Dalai Lama's Escape to Exile - Why and How? 32 9. Indian Influence on Tibetan Society : Isht Deo Sankrityaayan 43 Rahul Sankrityayan’s Opinion 10. Tibet's Influence in Ladakh and Bhutan K. Dhondup 49 11. Tibetan Diaspora in India: Longing and Belonging Javeed Ahmad 53 12. India, Tibet and China: Views of Indian Leaders a) Understand China’s Real Intent Towards India Sardar Patel 59 b) Tibet, China and India Dr. Rammanohar Lohia 63 c) India’s Integrity and Independence Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya 66 will be under threat d) Deaf and Dumb World and a Helpless Tibet Jayaprakash Narayan 67 e) India should have accorded recognition to Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar 70 the Tibetan government instead of China f) Do Not Trust China Acharya J.B. Kripalani 72 g) Chinese Occupancy on Tibet: A Acharya Rajnish 74 symbol of World's Incivility h) Accepting China’s Suzerainty over Atal Bihari Vajpayee 77 Tibet was India’s Blunder Supplementary Articles 1. In Memory of Shri P. Parameshwaran 11 2. Prayer flags 27 3. Panchsheel: An Introduction 30 4. History of Potala Palace 46 5. Tibetan houses 50 6. Tibet must be Liberated: Dr. Rajendra Prasad 68 7. Brutal Colonialism in Tibet : C. Rajagopalachari 69
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Cover Photo: Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. It had been the residence of the Dalai Lama.
Contributors’ profile Vijay Kranti is a senior Indian journalist, a Tibetologist Isht Deo Sankrityaayan Senior journalist and author, and an accomplished photographer. Over past nearly five associated with the Research and Development Foundation for decades, he has worked on the staff of prominent Indian and Integral Humanism, writing and translation of several books international media groups. His 47 year long photography of goes to his credit. Contact: [email protected] exile Tibetan community and life inside Chinese occupied Tibet is considered to be the largest one man photo work on K. Dhondup (1952-1995) was born in Rupin Gang of Tibet. upper Dromo, Southern Tibet. He was a poet, historian and journalist. His works include Songs of the Sixth Dalai Lama, Dr. Anand Kumar Retired from the post of Professor in The Water- Horse and Other Years: A History of 17th and 18th Jawaharlal Nehru University. Taught in many universities in century Tibet, The Water-Birds and other Years: A History of India and abroad. Contact: [email protected] the 13th Dalai Lama and Mystery of Tibetan Medicine. He established the Tibetan Communist Party in exile (TCP) while Prof. Bhagwati Prakash is an economist and expert on ancient Chinese cycle of oppression on Tibetan people was on its full Indian scriptures. He is the Vice-Chancellor of Gautam Buddha swing. Later on May 1, 1979 Dhondup along with his friends University, Noida, UP. He is also the Convener of Bharat Solar Namgyal and Kelsung Tenzing openly declared his position Power Development Forum and one of the Co-convenors of and working. It brought a massive rage for his party. He Swadeshi Jagaran Manch. [email protected], Mob: passed away on May 7, 1995 in New Delhi. 9829243459 Dr. Javeed Ahmed worked as a Lecturer in Government Claude Arpi is French-born author, journalist, historian College at Bandipura in Jammu and Kashmir. He has studied and tibetologist born in 1949 in Angoulême, who lives in on exiled Tibetan community as well as refugees. Auroville, India. Contact: [email protected]
Wherever I live, I shall feel homesick for Tibet. I often think I can still hear the cries of wild geese and cranes and the beating of their wings as they fly over Lhasa in the clear, cold moonlight. My heartfelt wish is that my story may create some understanding for a people whose will to live in peace and freedom has won so little sympathy from an indifferent world. Heinrich Harrer, Seven Years in Tibet
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Editorial
he issue of Triviṣṭapa Part 2 is in your hands. This region known as Tibet, which borders cultural India, is a junction where India’s TMount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar are located. There is little information about the original state of existence of Tibet. In Part 1 of this special issue, we had tried to research and know about this entity on our frontiers. This is the highway through which Indian culture intensively Dr. Mahesh Chandra Sharma traversed East Asia. An exceptional offspring of this cultural and spiritual conjoining is His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He is the representative of Lord Buddha’s compassion and intellect. The nature of contemporary world politics is imperialistic. Communist China is the most heartless living example of this inhuman imperialism. It is this barbarism that has engulfed the entire identity and leadership of Triviṣṭapa or Tibet. This issue explores this tragedy, and tries to articulate the voice of the great statesmen of India. In pursuance of this, in this issue, statements, letters or articles written from time to time by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Deendayal Upadhyaya, Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, Acharya J.B. Kripalani, Acharya Rajneesh and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee have been included. The people of Tibet have been struggling since the very first day of the Chinese occupation of their country, which is now in front of the whole world. Dr. Anand Kumar's article ‘The Endeavour to Liberate Tibet— Endangered Himalayas and Chinese Dominance’ introduces to Tibet’s liberation struggle. The first part of Prof. Bhagwati Prakash's article ‘Trivishtap or Tibet : The World’s Roof and Nehru-era Lapses-I’, was published in the previous issue. You will be able to read the second part of the article in this issue. The first part of this article had focused on the geographical peculiarities of Trivishtap, while the second part explains the diplomatic blunders committed in the case of Tibet. Panchsheel has held a very important role in Indo-China relations since the beginning and Tibet is its most prominent aspect. A neutral analysis of the status of Panchsheel is presented in a consolidated form in two articles by Claude Arpi, “Panchsheel: Is it right or Born in Sin?”. India has a reputation as a gurudesha (the land of teachers) in Tibet, but the kind of
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gurudakshiṇā that Tibet has returned to India is greater than any gift in the world. Details of this can be gleaned in the article of the issue’s guest editor, senior journalist and Tibetologist Vijay Kranti “Rebirth of Lost Scripts of Ancient India” as well as the circumstances in which His Holiness the Dalai Lama had to be leave his native country and go into exile. The name of Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan is notable among the scholars of modern India who tried to delve deep into the world of Tibet. “Indian Influence on Tibetan Society : Rahul Sankrityayan’s Opinion” is aptly analysed in an article by Isht Deo Sankrityaayan. K. Dhondup has analysed the “Tibet's Influence in Ladakh and Bhutan”. Truly, the pain of any society driven out from its native land is something that cannot be expressed in words. An attempt though, has been made by Javeed Ahmed and in this issue of Manthan. Like the previous issue, for this issue too we have received adequate support from The Tibet Journal. We are grateful to them for this. The Kashmir and Gāndhāra special issues have had a distinct vision. The Trivishtapa special issue is a continuation of this. The topic of the next special issue is somewhat different. The July-September Manthan will be a special issue dedicated to women and their abilities. Manthan is overwhelmed by the affection of its readers. Through you we can make Manthan a platform for dialogue. The editorial department will strive for it, and your participation is essential for the same. My heartiest wishes to everyone for the Chaitra Pratipada (Chaitra Shukla Ekam, Vikram Samvat 2077, i.e. 25th of March 2020). Shubham.
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Guest Editorial A Saint Defying a Heartless Superpower
he previous issue of Manthan, the “Triviṣṭapa Special Issue 1”, focused on the historical and cultural ties between India and Tibet that have Tbeen steadily strengthening over the centuries. The “Triviṣṭapa Special Issue-2” is presented n this series, which is dedicated to today’s Tibet. It also discusses the importance of Tibet in the context of India’s interests; the national slavery and existential crisis created by the Chinese occupation and also how deeply the personality and thinking of the leader of a country can influence its history during the crisis. Formally, the Dalai Lama’s status is that of an exiled head of state and a religious leader, which has neither any existence on the political map of the Vijay Kranti world, nor any government in the international fraternity that would have the fortitude to accord recognition to him or his country. After the act of China's colonial occupation of Tibet in 1959 was sealed, the Dalai Lama’s legal identity for the past 61 years is solely that of an individual who lives in India as a refugee. With this very identity as an exile, this diplomatic saint travels the countries of the world to deliver a message of non-violence, compassion and shared human responsibility that still wields such influence over governments and peoples that despite Chinese opposition and bigotry, they continue to demonstrate courage to allow him to travel to their countries. But it must be admitted that it is a miracle of the Dalai Lama’s personality that despite these personal and political restrictions, he has attained such heights on international stage today which only figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela have in current history. It is on the basis of this persona that the Dalai Lama is showing the world a new path and also providing a direction to the national liberation endeavour of about one and a half million Tibetans who like him are living in exile. In an era when violence has become the most prevalent currency in the world to settle scores as well as to advance interests at both the individual level and in national politics and international affairs, the impressive achievements of the Dalai Lama’s non-violent movement have played a major role in the credo of nonviolence of Buddha, Mahavira and Mahatma Gandhi and their effectiveness and eternity becoming a conscious force in the world once again. Incidentally, it is during the same period that there has also been the movement for Palestinian liberation, which is based on outright violence instead of non-violence. In the context of these two longest-running political movements of our times, it has become essential to analyse the way of working of the Dalai Lama on the strength of which these weaponless Buddhist monks are confronting a powerful and heartless regime like China. Two such political events occurred towards the culmination of the first half of the twentieth century, which deeply influenced Asia’s politics. Even after
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seven decades, both of these issues remain unresolved and more than ever before, are pregnant with the possibility of shake the peace of not only Asia but the whole world. The first event was the reestablishment of Israel as a Jewish state in the Palestinian territory of West Asia by the Western bloc and the beginning of the Palestinian struggle in response. The second event also occurred at about the same time as the Communist Party of Mao Tse Tung overthrew the rule of the Kuo Min Tang in China in 1949, and within two years, captured two of China’s neighboring countries Eastern Turkestan (today’s Xinjiang province) and Tibet. The Palestinian struggle in West Asia was led by the militant leader Yasser Arafat. On the other hand, the responsibility of leading the freedom struggle of Tibet fell upon its spiritual ruler the Dalai Lama, who was just fifteen years old at the time of the first Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1949-50. His courtiers at the time of such a national crisis, instead of standing up to it themselves, had coronated this child monk and sent him into the arena to face this unprecedented calamity. Since then the struggle for freedom of these two peoples has proceeded along parallel lines—but in styles totally opposite of each other and with completely different results. If a comparative study of the progress and achievements of these two freedom movements and its two leaders during this period is made, then the difference is quite astonishing. The conflict between Israel and Palestine in West Asia is much more religious in nature than it is political. In this struggle, on the one hand, the Jewish nation of Israel stands firm with the support of the Christian countries of the West and the Jews from all over the world. On the other hand, the Palestinian Muslim society with the direct and indirect support of the Islamic countries in the world is engaged in its struggle for the liberation of Palestine but is waging that struggle as an Islamic jihad. In the war being fought in the name of religion, every form of violence has been deployed during the last seventy years. These include direct military warfare between Israel and neighboring countries supporting Palestine and also Israel’s occupation of parts of these countries. Also, there has hardly been a quarter in the last seven decades when Palestinian extremist organizations or suicide jihadists have not killed innocent civilians in a town or city in Israel, or when the Israeli military has not bombed the settlements of unarmed Palestinian civilians. However, in the last few years, with America’s initiative, some important steps have been taken to initiate dialogue and halt the violence between these two sides. But despite these steps, there has been no reduction in mistrust between the two sides, neither has the violence and retaliatory violence stopped, nor has an atmosphere of unanimous and honourable consensus through the path of peace instead of war been created. Rather, those who advocated freeing Palestine from the path of violence and Yasser Arafat, the biggest Palestinian leader had all but lost the confidence of their own people during Arafat’s final days. He was replaced by his adversaries, the Hamas faction, only on the grounds that they believed in inflicting far greater violence than he did. Yasser Arafat’s situation had reached such a state that he was made a prisoner in his own house in an ailing condition. His followers had to beg Israel to not bomb his ambulance and let them transport their leader to the hospital in an emergency- like situation. Even today, there is no indication that based on the existing terms and methodology of the two sides, any acceptable or honourable solution will be found in the future. On the other hand, the history of the military invasion of Tibet and the eventual forcible absorption of Tibet into China in 1951 is different and more interesting in many ways. On one side in this struggle for the freedom of Tibet is the Communist system of China which neither believes in religion nor accepts any moral rules or
7 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 principles that do not suit the political interests of China and its communist rulers. In pursuit of her policies and objectives, China holds a declared belief in adopting any form of violence. These policies of Chinese rule in the last seventy years have resulted in the deaths of 1.2 million people in Tibet; these have been unnatural deaths due to Chinese violence upon the Tibetan people. When compared to the Chinese system which has a deep-rooted faith in violence, the status of Tibet would amount to nothing. Today, China’s population is more than 1.4 billion. Tibet had a population of only 6 million in the 1950s. The Tibetan army was so small and weak compared to China’s large and modern army that it was almost completely destroyed in the first wave of the Chinese attack of 1949. Similarly, in comparison to China’s regime that is utterly devoid of any concept of virtue and morality, Tibet was a religious country that had kept itself completely aloof from the rest of the world. It is true that in the few years after China occupied Tibet, the people there waged a mass movement as well as a guerrilla war against the Chinese army. After Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 and obtained political asylum here, the US intelligence agency CIA assisted the Tibetans in this covert guerrilla war. But the Dalai Lama’s faith in liberating Tibet through the path of violence underwent a change right in its early stages when he decided to keep his freedom struggle completely non-violent and peaceful in the way of Mahatma Gandhi’s movement. Despite the fascist reign and tight grip of the Communist Party of China within Tibet, the freedom movement there has been going on silently. There are reports that suggest that this freedom movement against the colonial occupation of China is also on in those Tibetan regions that were cut off from Tibet by the Chinese regime and merged with its four neighbouring provinces Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai. Due to the harshness of Chinese control, the stringent restrictions on travel by Tibetan citizens and electronic surveillance, no organized movement at the national level could ever be organised throughout Tibet. But over the years, over 150 Tibetan citizens have committed self-immolation demanding the end of Chinese colonialism. All Tibetans who shed their lives in this manner were youth, many of whom were educated in Chinese government schools and universities under Chinese Communist propaganda. It is indeed a shame when we look at one ironical fact. The world which today calls itself an advocate of democratic values and human rights, and its human rights organizations around the globe shed tears when the ‘Arab Spring’ movement sparked off in a dozen countries following a shopkeeper’s self-immolation in Tunisia. But the white elephant by the name of the United Nations Organisation could not shed even a single tear for those Tibetan youths who committed self-immolation sitting in a posture of prayer as part of their nonviolent struggle against Chinese colonialism. There is no doubt that this non-violent movement of the Dalai Lama has always been confined to smaller headlines in the world’s newspapers and media in comparison to the violent jihad of Yasser Arafat. But what this non-violent movement of the Dalai Lama has achieved over the past seven decades not only shows the power of his unique personality but also the effectiveness and timelessness of the principle of non-violence propounded by Buddha, Mahavira and Gandhi. Following the path of non-violence, the Dalai Lama has come a long way in the last sixty years. Due to the affection, help in resettlement and supported by only a handful of refugees who arrived in India, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader has revived the culture and national identity of Tibet that China has ruthlessly destroyed within that country. Today he runs his government-in-exile in Dharamshala, which may not have received diplomatic recognition from other governments but dozens of governments and national parliaments, overwhelmed by the Dalai Lama’s national struggle based on peace and brotherhood, take pride in inviting him to their respective domains. Humanitarian organisations around the world, ranging from international stars to Hollywood stars and the world of pop music, take pride in openly supporting his movement. More than 300 pro-Tibet organisations have come up in more than a hundred countries to actively support the peaceful Tibetan struggle. The scale of the worldwide protest against the honour accorded to the dictatorial regime of China in awarding it the Beijing Olympics in 2008 was a symbol of the popularity of the Dalai Lama's pacifist movement. Before that, in March 2008, as anti-China protests in Tibetan areas hundreds of miles away from the Tibet Autonomous Region lasted for two months, it showed the Chinese government and the whole world that the aura of the Dalai Lama, who has lived outside Tibet for six decades, influences even those generations of Tibetan who have never seen him in person.
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Anyone would be surprised to see that this saintly soldier who is spreading the message of peace and universal responsibility can be seen at the top of every popularity survey in the world today. At least 20 parliaments, including the US Congress (its parliament), the European Parliament and German Parliament have passed more than 50 resolutions in support of Tibet. The mayors of more than a thousand cities in the US, Europe and other countries place the flag of Tibet on their municipal buildings on 10 March each year despite China’s diplomatic abuse and threats. But it is the decency of the Dalai Lama, the devotee of peace, who while receiving the Nobel Peace Prize declared that, “My enemy too has the right to my compassion”. Another important aspect of the Dalai Lama’s personality is his faith in democracy, which he has developed in contact with the rest of the world over the last six decades. Despite growing up in a religion-based political and feudal social system, the Dalai Lama recognized the importance and strength of democracy in his early phase of exile. The tradition that he initiated in 1960, to incorporate democratic values into Tibet’s governance system based on religion has reached those heights today where Tibet’s refugee masses not only elect the members of the parliament of their ‘government-in-exile’ by secret ballot, but for the last 19 years have also begun to elect their own ‘Prime Minister’ through direct vote. Another example of this democratic persona of the Dalai Lama was seen in 2012, when he broke the tradition of the last five hundred years and handed over his political and governmental authority as the head of Tibet to the elected Prime Minister and Parliament. After this change, the role of Dalai Lama will now be limited only to that of a spiritual leader. This one step of his has given a new direction to the liberation endeavour of Tibet. The Chinese regime, which is in colonial occupation of Tibet, has been hoping for the past several decades that after the current Dalai Lama passes away, it can solve the problem of Tibet forever by declaring the boy-monk of its choice the next incarnation of the Dalai Lama. But by handing over his political rights to the elected representatives of Tibet, the Dalai Lama has given the Tibetan liberation quest an eternal life. The Chinese plans to appoint a new Dalai Lama have also suffered a mighty setback. Nowadays the Dalai Lama and the community of his fellow exiles are facing a serious internal crisis. Concerned with the rapid progress that the Chinese government is making to destroy the Tibetan identity within that country, the Dalai Lama proposed to the Chinese government that if the Chinese leadership maintains the Tibetan identity and is ready to give the Tibetan people real autonomy, he is willing to accept Chinese rule over Tibet within the Chinese constitution and system. His move has been welcomed by some Western governments and leaders. But differences among the Tibetan people on this issue have not yet ended. A large and thinking section of the Tibetan community has full faith in the understanding and magnanimity of the Dalai Lama. But given the hundreds of years of history of Chinese regimes, the Tibetan community is not ready to believe that the Chinese government in future will also show the same honesty that the Dalai Lama shows now. There is a deep fear in this segment that the Chinese regime might give all kinds of assurances today to rid itself of the Tibetan headache, but there is no guarantee that the Chinese rulers will not refuse to honour this agreement in the future. Dealing with this national dilemma is a challenge for the Dalai Lama. According to Tibetan tradition, the Dalai Lama and most other high lamas are chosen on the basis of rebirth. Tibetan Mahāyāna Buddhism holds that every living being is reborn and it is determined by the person's actions that he or she will be born again in the next life as a human being or as some other creature. But it is believed about lamas who are at a higher level and scholarly that they can determine their own rebirth. In the Tibetan language such reincarnating lamas are called tulku and are addressed as ‘Rinpoche’ along with their names to accord honour to them. Such reincarnating lamas are called ‘Living Buddhas’ in China. The Dalai Lama is considered an avatar or reincarnation of Avalokiteshwara, the compassionate form of Lord Buddha. In the Tibetan language, Avalokiteshvara is named ‘Chen Rezi’. It is believed that before his death every avatar lama leaves indications that suggest where and how he will take his next birth and in which kind of family. A council of senior lamas uses a prescribed Tibetan process to discover and identify this child. After the death of the 13th Dalai Lama, the present Dalai Lama was about four years old when he was discovered in a peasant family in the village of Taktaser in Amdo province, northeast of Tibet. After that, the child was brought up and educated under the supervision of senior lamas in the capital Lhasa. As the Dalai Lama gets on in age (he is currently 84), the frustration of the Chinese communist regime is also increasing. Every other day, the regime declares that neither the Dalai Lama himself nor the Tibetan people but only the Communist Party of China has the right to elect the next Dalai Lama. In 2007, the
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Chinese government order termed ‘Order-5’ was issued, announcing a new law according to which “no avatar lama would be allowed to be born and obtain recognition” until he and his monastery obtained written permission from the Chinese Communist Party and the Buddhist Association under its control. According to this order, the next incarnation of the Dalai Lama will be chosen in the same manner. The main reason for Chinese government’s frustration is that even after occupying Tibet for 70 years, it has failed to win the hearts of the Tibetan people. In the early years of its illegal occupation, the Chinese regime hoped that it could wipe out the influence of religion and spiritualism on the Tibetan people by destroying their religious monasteries and temples inside Tibet, erasing their monastic tradition, carrying out malicious propaganda against the Dalai Lama and through anti-religious campaigns against the Tibetan people. China really believed that it could end the hold of spiritualism on Tibetans and convert them into ‘patriotic’ Chinese citizens. But the anti-China protests and independence movements that took place repeatedly in 1987, 1989 and 2008 came as a shock to the Chinese communist rulers who saw that this movement was organised and conducted by a generation that was born after the Dalai Lama left the country and whose parents and even grandparents too had not seen the Dalai Lama or his governance. Therefore, in the hope of acquiring control over the minds of the Tibetan people, China is now engaged in exercising its control over Tibet’s religious system and the anointment of senior avatar lamas. At the time of writing this article, the House of Representatives—the lower house of the US Parliament— passed a bill (HR-4331) on 28 January 2020 with an overwhelming majority of 392-22 votes, setting aside bipartisan differences. The bill directly warns the Chinese regime that only the current Dalai Lama and Tibetan institutions shall have the right to elect the next Dalai Lama and the Chinese government or Communist Party will have no right to interfere in this process. Observers are quite hopeful that the US Senate will pass this bill and make it a law. In the case of India-China relations, the Government of India is well aware of the fact that China forcibly annexed Tibet in 1951 and overnight transformed the world's quietest border, the Indo-Tibetan into a dangerous Indo-China border. China invaded India in 1962, using occupied Tibet as a base. Citing its annexation of China, China is now claiming even Arunachal Pradesh as ‘Southern Tibet’. After gifting Pakistan nuclear weapons in order to counter India, China is now parroting the Pakistani tune on Kashmir and. There is a campaign against the Government of India on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in many international forums, including the United Nations. But the world is surprised to see the Government of India maintaining a strange silence on the question of Tibet. Even though the Indian government might not be in a position to directly challenge the Chinese regime like the US government does, the people of India expect their government to counter Chinese intransigence over Tibet. Perhaps the Indian government may not be keen on any major moves on the military and diplomatic fronts, but it can certainly take some steps in a calm but strong way that would show the Chinese regime its place. Awarding the Dalai Lama the Bharat Ratna would be one such step. This would also be very appropriate in the context of the way the Dalai Lama has propagated India’s humanitarian and democratic stand in his travels around the world and at international forums and in his interactions with various heads of states. As such, if the Indian government can honour foreign celebrities like Nelson Mandela, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Mother Teresa with the Bharat Ratna, then bestowing this honour to a man like the Dalai, one of the greatest individuals of our era, will also enhance India’s own standing in the global community and will also be a befitting reply to China’s bully-like behaviour. And it would also be the proper honour for this saintly soldier, who is firm in his posture of peace in the face of an intransigent and inhuman superpower. In presenting this second issue of Manthan, which focuses on Tibet, we hope that it will inspire us and provide us fresh enthusiasm to renew our thinking about the present crisis of India’s oldest and dear neighbour, with whom India’s own security is also very deeply connected.
Vijay Kranti
10 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 In Memory of Shri P. Parameshwaran
(27 September, 1926 & 9 February, 2020)
On February 9, 2020, Shri P. Parameswaran, a pioneering representative of Indian intellectual thought, passed into the ages. Parameswaranji was the founding editor of the Manthan quarterly. He was one of those who, along with the revered Nanaji Deshmukh left the party and power politics and stepped forward for constructive work. He became the first academic director of Deendayal Research Institute. Parameshwaran underwent imprisonment as a satyagrahi upholding democracy during the Emergency (1975– 77). He was then the national vice-president of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Parameswaranji was one of the first pracharaks coming from Kerala. He had a decisive role in establishing the work of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in south India. He was primarily an intellectual genius. After serving for five years at the Deendayal Research Institute, he moved back to Kerala and established the Bharatiya Vichar Kendram there. The role of the Bharatiya Vichar Kendram will always be remembered for its intellectual counter to Marxism in Kerala and the positive exposition of Hindutva. Shri Parameshwaran was also the chairman of the Vivekananda Kendra which was active along with the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari established by Mananeeya Eknath Ranade. His dedicated and meaningful life became the standard of a complete swayamsewak and pracharak. Such a soul has today left us. It was Parameshwaranji who would determine the direction of research and the quarterly focus of Manthan. On behalf of the Integral Humanism Research and Development Foundation and Manthan, we accord our tribute to his memory and our heartfelt condolences. Om Shanti!!!
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The Endeavour to Liberate Tibet—Endangered Himalayas and Chinese Anand Kumar Dominance
he Tibetan issue is far more as a free nation was annihilated by important for India than it the Communist regime of China, we Tis for the rest of the world. were guilty of turning a blind eye to However, we have been trapped in this crime of the strangling of this a state of confusion on this issue weak and near-defenceless neighbour Tibetan struggle right from 1949. Has this is any way of ours1. Why did this happen? There against Chinese promoted our interests, or those of is no doubting the fact that the post- Tibet, China and the rest of Asia, Independence Indian leadership imperialism or has it proven debilitating? The was rather overawed by the victory and for the shastras say “Sanśayātmā Vinaṣyati” of the Chinese Communists in that endeavour for (those mired in confusion eventually country’s internal power struggle. beget destruction). Why then do we Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru its own freedom continue to be mired in confusion? dreamt of a ‘new world’ through the both are going This article explores the endeavour medium of a ‘unity’ between India hand in hand. for the liberation of Tibet, the plight and China, one that would be free Particularly the of the Himalayas and Sino-Indian of Western domination, i.e., Europe relations. After a brief introduction and America. Nehru and his foreign issue of Tibet’s of the subject, the article lays out the minister Krishna Menon and nearly freedom is much courage and incessant effort of the all of India’s Communists were significant for us Tibetans to keep their culture alive, trying to conjure up an environment China’s misconceptions, India’s of ‘Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai’2. That than the others. experience, the genesis of China’s was why we signed the Panchsheel A comprehensive expansionism and the increasing Treaty with China in 1954. The account tempo of the zeal for Tibet’s period of the treaty was fixed to liberation, and lays stress on the need only eight years on China’s adamant of Chinese for clarity in India’s policy. insistence, and overriding the occupation over objections of India’s ambassador in Tibet, Tibetans’ Features of the India-Tibet- China Trilokinath Kaul, although China Triangle most international treaties are either struggle against While it is true that India’s anti- of 10 or 20 years. Then, in order to this invasion and imperialist freedom movement was ensure the success of the Panchsheel estimation of a beacon to a number of subjugated Treaty, India unilaterally surrendered India’s Foreign countries in the 20th century, it the geopolitical advantages she had is also equally true that when in gained as a result of the lengthy Policy in this the immediate post-Independence tripartite dialogue in 1914 between regard period of 1949-59, Tibet’s existence Britain, China and Tibet and the
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Simla Accord signed between of Tibet had been forcibly made example, when in his final years Britain and Tibet, squandering a part of the Chinese regime, and the Panchen Lama also became them instead to enhance India in the eyes of the world disillusioned with China, the China’s interests. Along with had to endure the status of a Chinese regime did hesitate to that, India also began creating humiliated nation. visit their customary atrocities on an environment in favour of Is the Dalai Lama’s analysis, him too. After the Panchen Lama’s Communist China among the that India’s foreign policy death, the young boy successor nonaligned countries. Going even establishment for some reason whom the Tibetan people had further, India also carried on a was more sensitive to China than accepted as the reincarnation diplomatic campaign to include was necessary, and negligent of the Panchen Lama was taken China among the Permanent towards Tibet? Whereas the need captiva along with his parents Members of the United Nations has been for us to be more attentive and religious teachers, and a new Organisation Security Council3. towards Tibet, as this country has Panchen Lama was announced Two years after the signing of since time immemorial been a by the Communist regime. This the Panchsheel Treaty, the Dalai zone of peace between India and led to a “free the Panchen Lama” Lama visited India as a guest on China, which the British termed campaign in the entire world. the occasion of the ceremony to a buffer state. It should have been The Tibetan people built up commemorate the 2,500th birth a matter of common sense that effective global public opinion anniversary of the Buddha. It only a free Tibet could ensure for the release of this boy political was on this very occasion that he accord and dialogue between prisoner. revealed the worsening situation India and China. in Tibet and requested India for On the other hand, China Chief Aspects of Tibet’s both help and refuge. But all imposed a 17-point agreement Suffering4 that our government did was to for grabbing Tibet in 1950, soon There are many sad dimensions counsel him to keep restraint after the Communist takeover. It of Tibet's suffering. Among and send him back. China’s then began building a network them, the growing imbalance of imperialist stranglehold on Tibet of roads in the Himalayan region population, destruction of culture only became more unbridled and setting up military bases. It and religion, lack of education, and suffocating. Doubtlessly, the then committed aggression on distortions in the environment, mysterious silence of Britain, Tibet in 1959 and forced the Dalai and increasing size of army are the USA, Soviet Union, France, Lama to flee the country. This led worrying in every way. In 1951, Japan and the entire United to a popular uprising in Lhasa, Tibetans were 96 per cent of the Nations Organisation contributed which was brutally crushed by population of Tibet. Non-Tibetans to this crime. India began atoning the Chinese army. The Dalai were 4 percent. According to the somewhat for its share of this sin Lama along with thousands of 2000 census, the total population by granting refuge to the Dalai his followers escaped to refuge of Tibetans was 54 lakhs and the Lama and thousands of Tibetan and safety in India and China population of non-Tibetans had men and women in 1959, and by installed a puppet Panchen Lama, increased to 78 lakhs. The policy rehabilitating them in the country. as a figurehead in Tibet. The of encouraging the growth of the We then had to lose a substantial anger and mistrust this aroused non-Tibetan population in Tibet portion of our territory and has never died down in Tibet over has continued apace in the two thousands of our soldiers in 1962. the last 60 years, but in fact has decades of the 21st century, and But in this period, the free land been continually on the rise. For it has become imbalanced as well as anti-Tibetan. After completely occupying In 1951, Tibetans were 96 per cent of the population of Tibet militarily in 1959, the Tibet. Non-Tibetans were 4 percent. According to the Chinese regime has worked systematically to destroy the 2000 census, the total population of Tibetans was 54 country’s culture and religious lakhs and the population of non-Tibetans had increased order. According to a 2005 to 78 lakhs report, the Tibet Autonomous
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Region had illiteracy to the Two shameful actions have been carried out to weaken extent of 45 per cent. In many Tibet’s religious base. Firstly around 6,000 monasteries areas outside this region, the and viharas have been destroyed. Similarly, the number percentage of illiteracy was less than 7. 80 per cent of the schools of monks and nuns in all the remaining monasteries and teaching Tibetan language have monasteries has been restricted. As a result, after 1994, been regularly closed down there has been a rapid decrease in the number of monks since 2008. A 10-year plan of and nuns in all the viharas education was also prepared in 2010. Similarly, textbooks have been replaced in all universities Tibet is the origin of ten centigrade by 2030. In such a in the Tibet Autonomous Region important rivers flowing through situation, about 60 per cent of the and only Chinese has begun to be Asian countries. These rivers glaciers might be wiped out. The used as a medium of instruction meet the water needs of more apprehension of most grasslands in schools and universities. than 3 billion women and men plains in this region becoming Two shameful actions have of our planet. It is these rivers deserts is increasing. been carried out to weaken that irrigate and enrich India, Tibet has been renowned in Tibet’s religious base. Firstly Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh the world owing to its dense forest around 6,000 monasteries and and China, enabling them to areas. But 50 per cent of its forests viharas have been destroyed. thrive. According to a 2007 study had been cut down by 1998. When Similarly, the number of monks conducted by environmental it comes to natural resources, and nuns in all the remaining scientists, four of these rivers are Tibet has been a storehouse of monasteries and monasteries drying up and disappearing due to 126 types of minerals. According has been restricted. As a result, barriers in the flow of their water to a geological survey of 1907, after 1994, there has been a rapid created by the Chinese. The other Tibet was estimated to have 70 decrease in the number of monks six rivers are either polluted or million tonnes of copper and and nuns in all the viharas. are enduring a crisis in the flow 60 million tonnes of zinc. Over The Chinese military regime of their waters. In 1950 there the past sixty years, China has is altering Tibet’s religious base were a total of 22 dams on these carried out rampant mining of and language as well as its way ten rivers. According to Chinese Tibet’s underground resources. of living. The way of living of at documents, by 2000, 22,000 Some areas of Tibet have been least 35 per cent Tibetans, whose small or large dams or power covered with nuclear waste. life was dependent on animal generation projects had been set China has heavily militarized husbandry, has been directly up on them. Tibet has had such Tibet. About six lakh of its assaulted. People who used to a large reservoir of glaciers that military personnel are deployed lead life in a nomadic way, along it was said to be the earth’s third in the Tibet region. The number with domesticated animals, i.e., pole. There were 46,000 identified of its paramilitary forces keeps mostly cattle, have been restricted glaciers there, which were spread on increasing. Railway lines have to their places of residence and/ over 1.5 lakh square kilometers. been laid from Beijing to India's or particular areas. The number Of these, about 9,000 have melted border areas, Nepal and Pakistan. of animals needed for livelihood and becomeponds and lakes. Out Pakistan, Myanmar and Nepal has also been fixed. A policy of of these, more than 200 lakes have been connected by road. chemical farming and uniformity have taken on a dangerous form There are 16 airports operating in crops has been implemented in and the possibility of severe in the Tibetan region, which can the agricultural sector. Chinese destruction emanating from be put to military use. In such an has been made the language of them is increasing. The Chinese, environment, there is no scope for dominance in the administration Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi civil liberties and human rights of villages. regions adjacent to Tibet may be to exist. There is no authentic The ecological destruction caught up in such destruction. information about people — of Tibet has taken place too, as There is a danger of temperatures from Panchen Lama to ordinary a result of Chinese occupation. rising from 22° centigrade to 24° Tibetan monks, bhiksunis
14 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 and citizens— languishing in Tibet’s freedom has similarly the supreme sacrifice for the Chinese jails. Yet according to become a global movement. liberation of Tibet and Dalai information pertaining to 2012, A global parliamentary forum Lama's return to the country. at least 1,392 political prisoners supporting the Tibetan cause has The High Commissioner of the were imprisoned in Tibet’s jails. been established with the help United Nations Human Rights of many parliamentarians from Division too cautioned China Tibetan’s Admirable across the world. This tradition against turning a blind eye to Perserverance is maintained in the Parliament the reasons behind this kind of While China might have been of India as well, in the form of unprecedented and extraordinary successful in persecuting the the Pro-Tibetan Parliamentary sacrifices being made by the Tibetans with its military might, Forum. It is also important that people of Tibet. It has been it has failed in weakening their Tibet’s quest for freedom is suggested that in the light of commitment to freedom. Even constantly turning towards more the recommendations made by today, on March 10 every year courage and sacrifice, despite various observers of the United migrant Tibetans demonstrate not obtaining any immediate Nations 12 times till now, neutral peacefully outside the success and other than increasing observers should be allowed at headquarters of the United Nations international public support. least a visit to Tibet and study the Organisation and in the capitals of Till now, peaceful processions, ground realities6. But Chinese the world’s prominent countries, picketing and long serial fasts have oppression continues unabated. demanding their country’s been organized to demonstrate Will this incredulous non-violent freedom from Chinese rule. An their resistance. In reaction to valour and incredible supreme annual message is brought out their protests and opposition, sacrifice go in vain? At least and disseminated in the world’s more arrests, punishments, India, which is renowned for major languages explaining the disappearance of people, and its concern about and support background and context of the tortures have been carried out by against colonialism all over the various programmes held to the Chinese rulers. world, being silent in this matter commemorate Tibet Day5. But in recent years, i.e., between is worrying. The number of committees of 2009 and 2015, there have been During the Vietnam War, there the supporters of Tibet’s freedom 141 incidents of self-immolation were some incidents of self- is increasing in various countries. in various regions of Tibet by immolation by Buddhist bhikshus Students’ Forum supporting Tibetan monks and nuns as (monks) opposed to the war, which generated pressure on the US throughout the world to halt the war. But self-immolation on such a large scale for the sake of Tibet’s freedom is unprecedented. This reflects the deep agony prevalent in Tibetan society. It has become impossible to dismiss this as “China’s internal matter”. Tibetan Buddhist monks have truly astonished the world by their supreme nonviolent response to Chinese cruelty. China’s rulers though, refusing to accept their failure, have tried to portray the peaceful opposition to their rule as a “conspiracy by the Dalai Lama, who is engaged in a conspiracy to split China” A demonstration of Tibetans in Dharmshala on completion of 60 years of the Tibet uprising and made shameful attempts to
15 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 cover up these incidents. But this women who have never seen the of all communities and only served to further inflame the Dalai Lama and have thrown up regions of Tibet. Just as in any situation and all at once, there in an education system not of newly emergent democratic were acts of self-immolation Buddhist teaching but communist polity, Tibetans have learnt to by many lamas and bhikshunis propaganda? And can the Dalai institutionalise the autonomy (female monks) all over again. Lama, who is already 85 now, of the executive, legislature and The Dalai Lama was deeply live on beyond a hundred years? judiciary. agitated at this and had to come When His Holiness passes away, Second, the monasteries and forward to issue an appeal against the Chinese regime will pick a centres of learning existing in acts of self-immolation Although, puppet successor to him like the Tibet from times immemorial incidents of self-immolation earlier Panchen Lama. After that, till 1959 have been relocated to came to halt following his there will be no trace left of the India, where they are safeguarded appeal, but the Tibetan freedom Tibetan freedom struggle and its and have also been enhanced. movement has only gained in movement for liberation. These monasteries are meant to intensity both within and outside Is this a correct appraisal? preserve the continual journey of Tibet. One reflection of this was The question becomes important the faith, its study and learning. a plan of action named ‘Five and because it would be impossible The three monastic universities Fifty Years’ announced during a for the Tibetan people to accept of Sera, Gaden and Drepung have global meet organised in 2018 by the violation of the centuries old been re-established in Karnataka. migrant Tibetans, through which traditional procedure of choosing The Sakya Centre and Mindroling they presented their case before the Dalai Lama’s successor monastery have been relocated the world. This is a more well- by the anti-religious Chinese to Rajpur and Clement Town in planned programme of action ruling establishment. According Uttarakhand. The headquarters on the dual levels of both an to tradition, every Dalai Lama of Karmapa is at Rumtek in immediate basis of work and over himself leaves behind directions Sikkim. A centre has been built a period of three generations, regarding his rebirth. Parallel at Dolanji in Himachal Pradesh in to which the world must turn its to that, despite the central order to continue the adherence attention to7. importance of the Dalai Lama in to the Bon tradition of Tibetan the Tibetan identity, the Buddhist Buddhism. World class centres Expansionist China’s faith, Tibet’s geography and of Buddhist learning have been Misconception history, its language, culture and set up in Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) Like every imperialist country, social system have a great role to and Leh (Ladakh), in which there China’s rulers since 1959 have play in shaping Tibet’s character. are libraries of Tibetan books and been living in the delusion that That is the reason the Tibetan publications with translation too they had made their hold over people, under the guidance of are going on at these centres. Tibet permanent by sending the the Dalai Lama, despite the long Also, there is a well managed Dalai Lama into exile and that the period of his exile, have preserved organisation of Tibetan children’s Tibetan movement would fade into and enhanced all dimensions schools for the conservation of obscurity over time. The Chinese of their identity as an organised Tibetan history, literature and also have tried to swamp Tibet and well structured cultural and language. Which is why, over with ethnic Chinese population, religious group. a period of time, i.e., 60 years forcibly push Sinisation First of all, the Tibetan exile between 1959 and 2019, men and everywhere, particularly by community has changed the women of the Tibetan migrant making the Chinese language traditional basis of its political community within a span of just compulsory in education in place system to make it democratic. The four generations have become of Tibetan, and by ‘encouraging’ Dalai Lama since quite a number the most educated exiles and the local Tibetans to marry of years has relinquished all his refugees anywhere in the world, Chinese and thereby produce a authority and responsibilities to all due to the dint of their effort. hybrid community. What would a parliament or representative Children from Tibet too come to the freedom of Tibet mean for council of Tibetans in exile. This these schools for obtaining their those Tibetan young men and ‘parliament’ has representation education. The Tibetan Diaspora
16 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 uses the Tibetan language For China’s Buddhist seekers, India has always been not only in its family and the land of enlightenment. Repeated pilgrimages of community life, but His Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Nalanda, Takshashila, Holiness the Dalai Lama accords priority to the mother tongue etc., has been a mandatory duty for Chinese religious of Tibetans in all his public scholars. There is also a long history of trade. But events, especially the one week- contemporary Chinese leaders have regarded long religious discourse in nationalism of their own kind, which is imperialism in conjunction with the Kalachakra actuality, to be above all. This is why Mao Tse Tung consecration ceremony. Radio and television daily programs targeted India in 1962, as soon as the period of eight in the Tibetan language have year Panchsheel Treaty expired preserved the language and maintained its flow. Fourth, there are facilities India’s Experience India, damaging its national for treatment based on Tibetan What has been India’s experience self-confidence and became a medicine and astrology centres with China and Tibet? For India, claimant for supremacy in Asia8. (Men-tse-khang) in every its holiest centre of pilgrimage There are adherents of Tibetan migrant zone. Also, the Kailas-Manasarovar lies in Tibet. communism even today who learning centres at Dharmashala That is why Tibet and Tibetans blame Nehru and the Congress and Sarnath are engaged in the are very close to India. From the and also the Dalai Lama for teaching of the Tibetan mode seventh century onwards, Tibetans the India-China war of 1962 of medicinal treatment and have regarded India as their “guru and China’s occupation of our healing. This system of treatment nation”. From the seventh century territory. But they have no answer has begun to be welcomed in till the year 1959, India’s role in as to why China continues to India and the world, thanks to Tibet’s religion, language, script, make attempts to encircle India the lifelong efforts of Tibetan trade and conflict-resolution has even after its unilateral ceasefire friends. With the help of Tibetan been historical. The Dalai Lama in 1962. China’s unceasing friends, Tibetan medical practice and the Tibetans along with him attempts to create tension for has begun being welcomed in living in exile go to the extent of India by courting Pakistan and India and the world. The Tibetan admitting that much of their body wooing Sri Lanka, Bhutan and system of medicine has enjoyed and soul has been preserved and Nepal are well known. A string acceptance in all Himalayan enhanced only because of India’s of Chinese naval bases have regions. The process of making hospitality. For China’s Buddhist been set up in the Indian Ocean. Tibetan medicine accessible in seekers, India has always been China has entrapped all the small many important cities, including the land of enlightenment. countries in the neighbourhood the capital of India, has become Repeated pilgrimages of Bodh in its enticing web of ‘One Belt extremely popular. Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, One Road’ and India seems to be Fifth, a special training Nalanda, Takshashila, etc., enduring its isolation. centre in Dharmashala for has been a mandatory duty for Most important is the fact that the preservation of Tibetan Chinese religious scholars. There even today, China continues to culture, art, dance and music is also a long history of trade. But occupy Tibet and most countries has continuously been extended. contemporary Chinese leaders of the world remain silent on There is also an attractive Tibet have regarded nationalism this. The desire to benefit from House in Delhi, where they of their own kind, which is trade, diplomatic, military and organise lectures about Tibetan imperialism in actuality, to be intellectual ties with China history, politics, environment above all. This is why Mao Tse is everywhere. Many civil and culture on a regular basis. Tung targeted India in 1962, as organisations and university Education of Tibetan language soon as the period of eight-year research centres link this to the is also imparted there. There is a Panchsheel Treaty expired. China terminology of human rights rich library and literary centre. committed aggression against violation, cultural genocide and
17 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 protection of the environment, geography are indelible in shape to the present Tibetan and not an outright case of Tibetans’ memory. Tibetans alphabet based on the Indian invasion and forcible occupation know that to the east of their system of alphabets. This was the of a country by an alien power. country lies Sinkiang, Kashmir beginning of the Indo-Tibetan This is tantamount to covering up to the west, the Himalayas to the relationship. The translation into the inhuman reality of the forced north and the Kunloon mountains Tibetan of timeless Indian works enslavement of a centuries’ old to the south. Tibet’s geographical from the Rāmāyaṇa and the nation even in the twenty-first area is more than 47,000 miles. Amarakosha to those of Buddhist century, owing to the exigencies It is the world’s third snow-clad philosophers Nāgārjuna and of the politics of modern nation- country and a large perennial Kamalsīla lent continuity to this states and the vested interests water reservoir of Asia. From relationship. This was accorded of industrialised countries. One its plateau emanate rivers that the recognition and respect akin the one hand we see the brutal irrigate east and north India, to two branches of the Bodhi suppression of a nationhood, among which the Brahmaputra, tree. Within a just century of its while on the other hand, this Indus, Sutlej, Karnali, Sankosi introduction to Buddhism, the is sought to be explained away and Manas are the prominent period of rise of Tibet began in under the rubric of human ones. In the distant past, during 780 AD. rights, environment and cultural the reign of Tibetan emperor In the contemporary age, injustice! Whereas China itself Songtsen Gampo (604-650 AD), when China’s military pressure has been unable to ignore the Buddhism began being accorded became stifling, thousands of indomitable Tibetan nationalism, royal patronage upon the initiative Tibetans along with their spiritual which is why during the decade taken by the emperor’s Nepali leader and head of government 1980-90, it established contact wife Queen Bhrikuti. In order to the Dalai Lama fled Tibet and with the representatives of the meet the needs of script, grammar obtained refuge in India in 1959. Dalai Lama and has called them and alphabet of the Tibetan But Tibetans also remember that for talks eight times. It is another language, Emperor Gampo the Chinese Government, after matter that the silence on the part dispatched Thomi Sambhota the collapse of the Ming Dynasty of India and the world has not to India, who learnt Indian in 1911 had apologised for the made any difference to Chinese languages under the tutelage of atrocities committed on Tibet and arrogance. Dev Vidyasingh. After his return accepted Tibet’s independence. Some dates and details of to Tibet, Sambhota began giving Tibet too had, as a sovereign country, concluded treaties with Mongolia in 1913 and Britain in 1914. Due to the unfortunate loss of Tibet’s freedom, these refugees who were a few thousand when they arrived in India have today grown to more than one and a half lakh people. Enduring the loss of their political freedom, Tibetan men and women have along with India and Nepal, proliferated to many other countries of the world. The year 2019 marked the sixtieth year of life in exile for Tibetans, with no end in sight to their suffering, as Chinese repression of the Tibetan people continues. Tibet, which
A protest in front of Potala Palace in Lhasa against Chinese occupation of Tibet and its repression by has been struck by the calamity the Chinese Army. of becoming a Chinese colony,
18 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 is suffering the steady erosion It was hoped that China in its new capitalist rebirth would of its national independence, understand the importance of profits and would alter its the Buddhist religion, Tibetan nationalist priorities of its communist era and reciprocate culture, the Himalayan ecology and Asia’s water resources. But India’s goodwill. It was expected to pay more attention India and the rest of the world has to the boundary dispute and cooperate with us in the not been able to come up with any development of our Himalayan region. But there was no plan of action. But even during place in China’s priority for anyone else other than America. this long period of suffering and In fact, China considers India to be its rival even in Africa sorrow, Tibetans living in exile do not forget to organise “Thank you, India!” events to express governments, it is China’s side with us in the development of our gratitude for the support and help in the India-China-Tibet triangle Himalayan region. But there was our government and citizens have that keeps getting longer9. no place in China’s priority for given them. There was a fresh attempt to anyone else other than America. After invading Tibet, in woo China during the tenure In fact, China considers India to 1962 China made India’s of Prime Minister Atal Bihari be its rival even in Africa. Himalayan region the target of Vajpayee, wherein our government Since 2014, a non-Congress its expansionism. Beginning in a joint statement accepted the and non-Communist government from October 20, 1962, China’s “Tibetan Autonomous Region” has come to power under the armies attacked and advanced as an “integral part of China”. leadership of Narendra Modi, into Indian Territory from In return for this gesture, China which again won a mandate Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh merely accorded recognition to in 2019. This government has and Assam for 32 days. India’s Sikkim’s merger with India in recognised the need to be much then Prime Minister Jawaharlal 1976. There was no discussion on more sensitive to the shameful Nehru in an address to the nation Tibet’s autonomy or the one lakh reality of the brutal suppression of voiced his apprehension that square miles of Indian Territory freedom in Tibet and the Chinese Assam could slip out of India’s under Chinese occupation since occupation of our territory for hands, as Chinese forces had 1962. The two sides did not more than half a century. This reached up to Tezpur. From even exchange maps related to government has shown a new then till today, the entire India- territorial claims. resolve from Arunachal Pradesh China border of nearly 4,000 Then during the ten-year tenure to Ladakh. A former Foreign kilometres has become disputed of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Service official with professional and tense. Both countries dispute Singh, we opened our markets and specialised knowledge and a territory of 1,35,000 square for Chinese goods under the experience of dealing with China kilometres. Moreover, China pretext of liberalisation. We also has been made our external has encroached 800 square sealed our lips on the boundary affairs minister. Prime Minister kilometres of Indian Territory issue and ignored China’s Modi also invited the elected in Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) reluctance to address the issue representatives of the Tibetan and created a linking zone to of the trade route via Sikkim. government-in-exile to his Pakistan. The Sino-Pak military The Communists filly backed swearing-in ceremony. On the nexus has further widened this the Manmohan regime’s soft other hand, a continuing dialogue dispute. Many experienced approach to China. It was hoped with China has been accorded the people who have served in that China in its new capitalist highest priority. However, there India’s ruling establishment, rebirth would understand the has been no improvement in political parties, military, foreign importance of profits and would China’s attitude in the imbalance and administrative services have alter its nationalist priorities of of trade, its Himalayan policy, examined facts from various its communist era and reciprocate behaviour in the Indian Ocean, perspectives and criticised our India’s goodwill. It was expected or its assertiveness in the Asia- policies and lack of direction. to pay more attention to the Pacific region. During the But despite many changes in boundary dispute and cooperate Dokalam standoff with China, we
19 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 were also saddled with the ‘gift’ Let us not forget that China’s rulers employed tanks to of the Sino-Bhutanese dispute. crush their own new generation for the crime of dreaming The BRICS platform has turned of bringing democracy to their country. Sinkiang, or out to be a failure, while SAARC has remained only on paper. Not Eastern Turkestan as it is alternatively known, and a part only that, we have been forced to of Mongolia are also under the unjust occupation of exit the Free Trade Organisation China, just like Tibet and India’s Himalayan border of 18 countries in order to steer region. The people of Eastern Turkestan are known as clear of China’s machinations. Uighurs whose faith is Islam Perhaps time has come to know that there is no other way than to recognise the truth of which about 40 per cent of the of Buddhist spiritualism. China India-China relations. Neither world’s population resides. Both thus raised a mighty challenge for the unilateral gifting away of are also the world’s prominent all of its neighbouring countries. border territory like Nehru- economic powers in the 21st India had to invest in nuclear Indira, neglect of Tibet like century. China chose the Maoist weapons for its own defence. Vajpayee, unilateral opening of version of communism to rebuild Pakistan, emulating India, soon India’s markets like Manmohan itself, in which the Communist followed suit and stockpiled Singh did, nor the hot and cold Party and the Chinese military nuclear warheads. In the process, policy of Narendra Modi will be occupy the central place and we are slipping in the fight against the correct response. The truth role. India on the other hand disease, illiteracy and poverty is that though Tibet may hold chose parliamentary democracy in our endeavour to safeguard no importance for India’s ruling and a mixed economy. But ourselves from our neighbours, class, for India’s common people owing to the presence of the particularly the Sino-Pak nexus. and those living in the Himalayan large territory of a free Tibet It is often claimed that after regions, Tibet’s freedom and between these two countries, the World War II, the world moved India’s strategic and economic memories of the centuries before towards liberty and democracy security are synonymous. It is the period of 1951-62 are one of under the guidance and initiative therefore time to examine whether peaceful coexistence. There was of the US and Western Europe. the pathway to good relations no political or military tension There was an opposing bloc too, between India and China can between the two, only limited in the form of the Communist pass only through self-rule for cultural, religious and trade countries under the leadership Tibet, i.e., real autonomy. Or else contact. One would therefore be of the Soviet Union, which not? This is what the Dalai Lama naturally surprised looking at however, owing to its own and those connected with Tibet’s today’s highly complex situation. internal contradictions and the endeavour for freedom suggest. How did it turn worse? pressure of global capitalism. Can we become free of the knot The reality is that ever since However, the fact cannot be of ‘over cautiousness?’ Can we, Tibet, which two-thirds of ignored that it is during this very without damaging the interests Europe’s area in size, became a period of history that Chinese of our neighbours, big or small, victim of Chinese imperialism nationalism rose and has become take the initiative for meaningful between 1949-59, not only have a continuing and growing menace dialogue with the rest of the the Himalayas become disturbed, to the world. The relationship world along with China, in order an undeclared arms race in the between both tendencies is a to protect our national interests entire Asia-Pacific region was matter of study. There is silence as well as fulfil our yugadharma set off. China first built nuclear in the world over China’s (contemporary duty)? weapons and then swarmed Tibet economic might and growing with missiles, military bases and military challenge. Why do the How China Remains thousands of Chinese soldiers, United Nations Organisation, Constantly Expansionist grossly disfiguring a peaceful the European Union, the India and China are the world’s country and society that had for Organisation of Islamic Countries two very ancient civilisations in centuries adhered to the pursuit or the Commonwealth not say
20 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 anything about the immoral and Indonesia and Taiwan too are on the most important beacon of expansionist behaviour of China? the increase. peace and compassion, despite The results of this mysterious six decades of life in exile. global silence will be devastating. The Astonishing Reality of He encompasses and balances Let us not forget that China’s Tibet’s Self-Preservation three roles together: love for rulers employed tanks to crush However, it is highly admirable the Tibetan homeland, that of their own new generation for the that despite enduring China’s a Buddhist monk and a global crime of dreaming of bringing dominance, the Tibetans even citizen. Therefore, under him, the democracy to their country. today hold their dream of endeavour for Tibet’s freedom is Sinkiang, or Eastern Turkestan freedom from China’s clutches. active on a global scale coupled as it is alternatively known, Thousands of Tibetans over the with global responsibility. The and a part of Mongolia are also last six decades, adhering to their Dalai does desire that Tibet’s under the unjust occupation of Buddhist faith and preserving interests must be secured but does China, just like Tibet and India’s their identity, both in Tibet and not want to harm China, nor does Himalayan border region. The elsewhere in the world have he want India-China relations to people of Eastern Turkestan are been engaged in the endeavour turn sour10. known as Uighurs whose faith for Tibet’s liberation under the It is this commitment, which is Islam. Due to their unending guidance of the Dalai Lama. despite the veracity of complete hostility to China, the Chinese Five salient features contribute freedom based on historicity, has regime has imposed martial law to this incessant quest of theirs: led to the development of a ‘Middle on this region and cut it off from 1) The Dalai Lama’s benign Path Policy’ under the leadership the rest of the world. It shows and gentle persona 2) The deep of the Dalai Lama since 1974 to Tibet and Sinkiang on its maps roots of Tibetan culture 3) The achieve "equitable autonomy" as provinces of China, with no active unity of Tibetan society 4) to adapt to the changing world historical basis whatsoever. It China’s brutal cultural repression situation. Based on this, in 1979, does not even publish maps of of Tibet and the exploitation of welcoming Chinese President the Indian Territory it occupied its ecology and resources and 5) Deng Xiao Peng's proposal for in 1962. In all, there are 18 The increasing affinity with Tibet talks, a beginning in negotiations neighbours whose land or sea of freedom-loving people in India became possible. But the cycle borders touch China. Riding and throughout the world. of repression went into motion on its growing economic and It is widely known that the men once again in Tibet between military might, China disregards and women of that generation 1987-89. The process peace the world and has border disputes of Tibetans who chose a life of talks broke down in 1993, was with each one of its neighbours. exile rather than living under the and no outcome could emerge. China has colonised some of slavery of China have now grown Dialogue was resumed later in these and has resorted to armed very old. The Dalai Lama has 2002. Again in 2008, the people clash with India, Russia and himself turned 85. The Dalai, of Tibet became agitated and Vietnam. Apart from these, its who till 1959 was revered only were made victims of yet another disputes with Bhutan, Myanmar, in Tibet today is accepted as cycle of repression. A total of nine rounds of talks have been There is a dispute over the evaluation of the results of the held. In spite of the absence of any notable progress, the Tibetan Middle Path approach. The Tibetan leadership lists out at diaspora between 2008-2010 least 12 benefits. It cites example of the European Union approved the continuance of the where rather than nationalism, identities and shared endeavour to follow this path in a interests are being simultaneously fostered through comprehensive manner. What is the establishment of a federation of national entities the essence of this policy? While not tolerating its current plight, it based on national autonomy. Whereas many committed does not seek complete political Tibetan youth consider 'Rangzen' (freedom) as the only independence from China. There means to fulfill the quest of the liberation of Tibet is a dispute over the evaluation
21 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 of the results of the Middle The success of Tibetans in keeping up unrelenting Path approach. The Tibetan activism in maintaining their identity and existence and leadership lists out at least 12 also forging an effective solidarity, even while living in benefits11. It cites example of the European Union where rather exile, is indeed a stupendous achievement. They have than nationalism, identities also gradually established a democratic administration for and shared interests are being themselves and the necessary discipline that comes with simultaneously fostered through it. The Tibetan government-in-exile has a representative the establishment of a federation stationed in every major country of national entities based on national autonomy. Whereas many committed Tibetan youth discipline that comes with it. the eighties. After this, under the consider 'Rangzen' (freedom) The Tibetan government-in-exile chairmanship of former Speaker as the only means to fulfill the has a representative stationed in of the Lok Sabha Rabi Rai, the quest of the liberation of Tibet. every major country. In order to movement in the form of the Indo- The organisations of Indian bring out the truth of the reality Tibet Friendship Association supporters of Tibet too maintain inside Tibet before the rest of the spread to more than a hundred a commitment to the principle world, the Tibetan information districts of the country. With the that in Tibet’s freedom lies the network is active in Tibetan, advent of the new century, under protection of India. Hindi, English and Chinese as the guidance of Indresh Kumar, a well. The activism of the Tibetan remarkable new stream of public Conclusion parliament, the Tibetan Women’s support has been created in the Before becoming a victim of Association, Tibetan Youth form of Himalayan family12. Chinese imperialism, Tibet was Congress and four generations of Due to their increasing plurality, almost an unknown country. Tibetan men and women is the those who seek the liberation of Thanks to the worldwide fountainhead of this. Tibet have also brought about a campaign of the last sixty years, The increasing affinity of proper system of management the lack of attention towards India and all freedom-loving in the form of the Indo-Tibet Tibetan culture has ended. Tibet citizens of the world with Tibet Coordination Centre. has gained not only the world’s is indeed a welcome change. This Despite China's economic admiration but also respect. The endeavour was commenced by might and military brutality, world’s interest in Tibet is rising, Lokanayak Jayprakash Narayan the quest for Tibet’s liberation ranging from its spirituality to by organising a public conference has received the support and its ancient techniques of healing in Calcutta in 1959. A national contribution of thousands of and enhancing longevity. Tibet’s conference was held in Kolkata men and women including history, language, philosophy, by the Tibet-India Coordination some Nobel peace laureates on geography, ecology, society and Center upon the completion the initiation of Bishop Tutu. culture have now begun to be of its sixty years. It obtained a National organisations of Tibet studied and researched in many widespread base through the supporters are active in all five countries of the world including support it obtained from the continents including America, India. various campaigns to safeguard Canada and European Union. The success of Tibetans in the Himalayan frontiers held in But alas, the world rests on keeping up unrelenting activism the decade of the sixties with the international relations of the in maintaining their identity inspiration of Dr. Rammanohar governments of nations and and existence and also forging Lohia. A compilation of Lohia's silence of the world is not going an effective solidarity, even works about the Himalayas and to break due to the fear and greed while living in exile, is indeed Tibet has been republished with from China and there seems to a stupendous achievement. They Tibetan cooperation during the be no end to the silence of the have also gradually established year of his birth centenary. Later, countries of the world on this a democratic administration for George Fernandes assumed issue. Will Tibetans be unable themselves and the necessary command of the movement in to resolve this crisis due to
22 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 excessive optimism and China’s foreign policy establishment of excessive caution? Who can excessive scepticism? Is India’s also sitting on this issue because answer this?
References: 10-15 3 March 1995). But in the era of 1. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia 5. Through this annual message, zew economic policies, China described the Chinese the Dalai Lama outlines the became a new economic occupation of Tibet as next step, connecting both the attraction. Since then, silence ‘infanticide’ in 1950, citing the background and the current has been reigning on both the need for an overall Himalayan state of Tibet’s suffering. media and political fronts. The policy of independent India. 6. “Current Human Rights last important discussion on this See: Anand Kumar and Manoj Situation in Tibet” (UN, issue even in India’s Lok Sabha Kumar (editors) (2013) ‘Himalaya EU and Human Rights Desk, was held in 1967. Policy’, Tibet, Himalayas, India, Central Tibetan Administration, 10. Dalai Lama (1996) ‘Foreword’, China and Dr. Ram Manohar Dharmashala) July 2015 Tibet a Sourcebook (Editor— Lohia (New Delhi, Anamika 7. Overseas Tibetans, with Anand Kumar; New Delhi, Publications) pp. 29-35 the help of their supporting p. Vii – x) 2. The affinity of Prime Minister international organizations, 11. Central Tibetan Administration Nehru who coined the slogan have prepared a two-tier (2013) Form, Sequence of of ‘Hindi- Chini Bhai Bhai’, and action plan of ‘Tibet—Five, Development and Results his Foreign Minister Krishna Fifty’ from 2017. It is of the Middle Way Policy: Menon with China is a well conducted by the Central Tibetan An Introduction (Dharmashala; known fact. The evaluation of Administration at Dharmashala. Department of Information its far-reaching results 8. There are many accounts that and International Relations, continues till today. Former describe both India and China Central Tibetan Administration) Foreign Secretaries of India as equally blameless in the 12. India’s first President Dr. have repeatedly made mention India-China war. Among these, Rajendra Prasad, Deputy Prime of this. See: Shyam Saran India’s China War by Neville Minister Sardar Patel, first Law (2014) India, China and the Maxwell (2011; New Delhi, Minister Dr. Babasaheb Border Dispute, How India Sees Natraj Publication), Himalayan Ambedkar, veteran freedom the World (New Delhi, Blunder by Brig. P. Dalvi (2009; fighter Acharya Kripalani, senior Juggernaut). New Delhi, Natraj Publication), Congress leader S.K. 3. Trilokinath Kaul has been one The Untold Story by BM Kaul Nijalingappa, President of the of the senior-most officers of (1977; New Delhi, Allied Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Dr. India’s Ministry of External Publishers), India, China, The Raghuveer, former External Affairs. He served in highly U.S., Tibet and the Origins of Affairs Minister M.C. Chagla, important positions in the 1962 War by John W. Garver former Prime Minister Foreign Service establishment (2004; New York, Francis & Chaudhary Charan Singh, Bharat during the prime ministership Taylor), The Unfought War of Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh, of both Nehru and Indira 1962: The Nefa Debacle by J. R. socialist leader George Gandhi. His two books are Saigal (1979; New Delhi, Allied Fernandes, Gandhian Nirmala extremely important in this Publishers) and 1962: Sino- Deshpande, Sarvodaya leader context: Diplomacy in Peace Indian Conflict by Mrinal Radha Bhatt and many national and War (New Delhi, Vikas, Talukedar (2014; Guwahati, leaders from various significant 1979) and A Diplomat’s Diary, Kaziranga Books) are notable. parties till the present have 1947–99: China, India and 9. A number of thought provoking consistently supported USA—The Tantalising Triangle articles appeared on this topic fundamental reform in the (New Delhi, Macmillan, 2000) in the early nineties, notably country’s policy on the issue 4. Samdong Rinpoche (2015) those by Nikhil Chakraborty of Tibet. Many of them are still Tibet ki Mukti Sadhana (New (Hindustan Times, 22 June associated with the pro-Tibetan Delhi, Anugya Books, 2015) pp. 1993); Ajit Bhattacharjee(Pioneer, Indian Parliamentary Forum.
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Trivishtap or Tibet The World’s Roof and
Prof. Bhagwati Prakash Nehru-era Lapses - II
...Continued from previous issue independence by signing the 1951 treaty with China. It would not be out f India would have offered of place to mention that like Tibet, support in the United Nations the South Korea had also reached Ifor Tibet's independence in on the brink of defeat at that time on November 1950 on invasion of Tibet 25th June 1950, after it was attacked by China, Tibet could survive as an by the North Korea with the active independent Buffer State between cooperation of Russia and China. India and China. Then, our northern United States had then intervened border would have been completely and proposed before the UN Security safe. India was a member of the U.N. Council, for a UN-backed multi- Security Council as well for two country military intervention. So, years, 1950 and 1951. So, India was restoration of independence of the well capable to play an effective role South Korea had become possible at in restoring Tibet’s autonomy. China that time and only due to the multi- was not even an ordinary member of country military intervention after the United Nations then. Moreover, a U.N. Resolution was passed for You knew about outside the communist countries, this. India too was then a member geographical and India was alone to support China for (though non-permanent) of the social features of U.N. Membership. Besides, the U.S. Security Council, but had very too was then eager to actively defend conspicuously abstained from voting Tibet along with and liberate Tibet from China at to declare China as an aggressor in its significance every cost. But, Jawaharlal Nehru the United Nations Security Council. in spreading seemed unduly committed, probably The resolution was also aimed at under the influence of Russia to restraining the North Korean and civilization all support China in capturing Tibet. Chinese aggression. The resolution over the world in Therefore, on the instructions of the was still passed, inspite of India’s the last issue of P.M. Nehru, Indian representative abstention. The United States-led in the United Nation opposed for joint military intervention could Manthan. This the any discussion on restoring Tibet's then become possible after that second part of the independence. At India’s insistence resolution was passed under the same article is alone the discussions were deferred leadership of the US for the defense about its strategic on the petition of Tibet as well as the of South Korea and consequently the proposal of Al Salvador scheduled restoration independence of South importance to to be discussed on 24th November. Korea could become possible.1 Like India As a result, Tibet had to lose its in the case of South Korea, United
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States was equally willing and independent nation in the same of supporting Tibet in the United supportive of UN-supported way as the South Korea is today. Nations.3 Therefore, when the military intervention in Tibet as The Tibetan Lamas were rather Prime Minister Nehru shifted his well. Since, South Korea was keen to make Tibet a protectorate stand and begun favoring China, located on the Sea Coast, direct of India, just like Bhutan, with all of them were shocked as it US military intervention could which we had signed a treaty in was detrimental to our national become possible. But, Tibet 1949 and to take up their defense interests. To rule out the any was a land lock between India and foreign affairs. influence of the Ministry of and China. So, India's consent Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister for liberation of Tibet and Most of the Ministers Nehru started bypassing the willingness was necessary or and Foreign Affairs officials, including the Secretary rather crucial. Indeed Jawaharlal Departments Against General in the Ministry of Nehru had earlier promised to the Nehru’s Stand Foreign Affairs, Sir Bajpai. He Tibetan leaders that as and when Ever since Chinese invasion then directly started instructing the issue would figure in the UN. of Tibet in October, most of the pro-left and pro China Indian India would fully support. Nehru the Union ministers including, Ambassador to China K.M. had only shown his unability to Sardar Patel, many socialist Pannikar. Concerned over the raise the issue at its own. But, leaders in Congress like Prime Minister's move against the After this sudden volte face by Jayaprakash Narayan and most nation's interests, Sir Bajpayee the then P.M. Nehru, India even of the officials in the Ministry of brought the whole issue into the asked the US also to stay away Foreign Affairs, including Girija notice of the then Deputy Prime from criticizing China in the Shankar Bajpayee– the Secretary Minister, Sardar Patel. On hearing Matter of Tibet.2 Otherwise, if General in the Ministry of this, Sardar Patel got irked and Nehru would have sticked to his Foreign Affairs, were against wrote a long letter to the Prime words Tibet would have been an Nehru’s stand and fully in favor Minister Nehru on November 7, 1950.4 The Governor of Assam also warned the Prime Minister. Patel turned too anxious, when Prime Minister Nehru suddenly changed his stand and, along with Pannikar, begun stating Tibet as China's internal problem. Sardar Patel then had a long discussion with Chakravarti Raj Gopalachari, who had been the Governor-General of the country till recently. As a result, there was a very fierce altercation between Rajaji and Nehru on 2nd November on the issue of supporting Tibet. Thus, Sardar Patel, the former Governor General of the country, Rajaji, Defense Minister Baldev Singh, Finance Minister C.D. Deshmukh and several prominent ministers and foreign department officials, including Babu Jagjivan Ram, China attacked on Tibet on 21st of October 1950 and had brutally killed thousands of Tibetans Shri Prakash (Governor of the Courtsey: https://www.bhaskar.com/news/INT-CHN-chinese-peoples-liberation-army-attack-on-tibet- state of Assam located in Padaos, news-hindi-5444017-PHO.html China), etc. begun explicitly
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expressing their differences with member of the United Nations. resolving the issue of restoring Nehru as the were clearly in favor But, may be under the pressure Tibet's independence with of supporting Tibet in the United of Russia and out of his love for legal arguments in the United Nations, keeping in view the Russia-China, India responded Nations.11 But, unfortunately country’s interest.5 Only Gopal tried to cleverly stear away Nehru restrained England Swamy Ayengar (who had earlier Nehru stated that India is unable too by saying that there was proposed the Article 370 in the to move any proposal on its own no justification for such legal Constituent Assembly), Rafi in the UN for restoring Tibet’s arguments regarding Tibet. Ahmed and Maulana Azad were independence. But it assured On instruction from the P.M. with Prime Minister Nehru. In the Tibet is most unequivocal term Nehru, the Indian representative aftermath of it, probably out of that if any other nation would in UN asserted that the General his frustration for being isolated propose unconditionally support Assembly of the United Nations on December 12, Prime Minister such a proposal to protect Tibet's should only give a call for peaceful Nehru divested Sardar Patel from independence. India was also a solution to both the countries. all ministerial responsibilities, member of the Security Council Was there any peace possible unilaterally and without any for two years from 1950 to 1951 when China had invaded Tibet discussion with him, in the name and China was not even an to grab it forever? America was of his fickle health. He (Nehru) ordinary member of the United in favor of protecting Tibet's had then given the charge of Nations. So, India had been well freedom at all costs and as much states to Gopal Swamy and took capable to propose a motion for as possible. However, the US over the Home Ministry himself. restoring Tibetan Independence. considered India's cooperation Patel is believed to have got very Finally, on November 15, a crucial and indispensable upset by this.6 He may have nation with a tiny population of on the issue of protecting died on December 15, even out 22 lakhs and an area of mere 21 Tibet's independence due to of insult, shock and depression. thousand square kilometers, El geographical and historical Ultimately, ignoring country’s Salvador10, proposed for listing reasons.12 Unfortunately, interests and broader democratic the appeal of Tibet. El Salvador betrayed Tibet inspite of the values, Prime Minister Nehru is at a distance of 15000 km from fact that Jawaharlal Nehru had succeeded to convert a peaceful Tibet. This Central American committed to support Tibet in Indo-Tibet border into a country located much far, the United Nations until earlier precarious Indo-China border. supported Tibet. But, Nehru, the in October only if a proposal is There could be some influence of nearest democracy neighboring moved by another country. But, Russian pressure as well on the Tibet, betrayed the neighbor within a month he changed the Prime Minister Nehru, behind and not only shied away from stand on November 24th, and this volte face. Now it has proved helping a friendly neighbor, but decided to oppose any discussion beyond doubt that the air crash even changed sides later. on restoring Tibet’s freedom in that is alleged to have killed Moreover Indian even the UN. So, when the proposal Netaji, had never occurred7 and opposed discussion on restoring came up for discussion, the many people believe that Netaji independence of Tibet and Indian representative opined was alive and was in Russia.8 unbelievably blocked the to defer discussion. Prime proposal of El Salvador. Even Minister Nehru advised the Unbelievable Breach of England too was in favor of Indian representative in the trust with Tibet On the very moment after Chinese invasion of Tibet from five sides Finally, on November 15, a nation with a tiny population in October 1950, Tibet while of 22 lakhs and an area of mere 21 thousand square considering India as its most kilometers, El Salvador, proposed for listing the appeal trusted protector and friendly neighbor, requested India to of Tibet. El Salvador is at a distance of 15000 km from raise this issue in the United Tibet. This Central American country located much far, Nations. Tibet was then not a supported Tibet
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United Nations to say that "the i.e. China and Tibet".13,14 China has become our neighbor, Government of India has a Finally, with Jawaharlal Nehru's with a troubled border of 4057 definite view that the question such unpredictable cooperation km. By inviting China on the of the autonomy of Tibet be China forced Tibet to sign an Indo-Tibetan border, P.M. resolved only by full peace unequal agreement in May 1951 Nehru made that border most negotiations between the two to capture Tibet. So, ultimately vulnerable for us.
References: patel-nehru-rift-over-tibet- 9. R.S. Kalba, Tibet as factor 1. https://satyagrah.scroll.in/ china-was-deep.html in Sino-Indian Relations Past article/14124/korean-war-and- 6. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ and Present journal of Defence role-of-india indiahome/indianews/article- Studies, Vol.6,No.4,October 2. http://www. 5055805/Why-Patel-strongly- 2012 pp.7-12 https://idsa.in/ indiandefencereview.com/ opposed-Nehru-s-suicidal- jds/6_4_2012_ news/tibet-the-international- policy.html TibetasaFactorinSino- betrayal/0/ 7. https://hindi.oneindia.com/ IndianRelationsPastandPresent_ 3. https://www.deccanchronicle. news/features/netaji-subhas- RSKalha com/opinion/op-ed/081118/ chandra-bose-death- 10. http://www. patel-nehru-rift-over-tibet- controversy-how-to-solve- indiandefencereview.com/news/ china-was-deep.html 418644.html tibet-the-international- 4. https://www.deccanchronicle. 8. https://economictimes. betrayal/0/ com/opinion/op-ed/081118/ indiatimes.com/news/ 11. Ibid. patel-nehru-rift-over-tibet- politics-and-nation/was-netaji- 12. Ibid. china-was-deep.html subhas-chandra-bose-in-russia- 13. Ibid. 5. https://www.deccanchronicle. till-1968/articleshow/53148364. 14. Ibid. com/opinion/op-ed/081118/ cms?from=mdr Prayer flags rayer flags were originally used as talismans to Pprotect Tibetans during the war. It is originated from Bon religion that people used prayer flags for protection, and it is printed symbols such as snow lion, dragon, and tiger the flag. Tibetan prayer flags were eventually adopted into Tibetan Buddhism with prayers or messages of hope and peace printed on it. The colors of Tibetan prayer flags are significant in five different color, and it symbolize five basic elements in a certain order, blue stands for the ether, or wind, white for air, red for fire, green for water and yellow for earth. Prayer flags depicts mantras of different deities and protectors, such as Tara, Guru, Chenrezig and so on, prayer flags can be placed inside of a room in your house, and traditionally they were placed outside of house. Tibetan hang the prayer flag on clean and windy spots like high passes and river side, that is why you see heaps of prayer flags on almost every passes in Tibet. Tibetan Prayer flags above all symbolize peace and harmony.
Courtesy: https://www.exploretibet.com/tibetan-culture-arts/
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Panchsheel: Is it right or Born in Sin? Claude Arpi
oday, India and China extremely unhappy not to be a party 'celebrate' the 50th anniversary to the accord. Tof the 'Agreement on Trade and Ten years later (March 1914), Intercourse between the Tibet region wanting to show fairness, London of China and India,' better known as called for a tripartite conference in the 'Panchsheel Agreement.' Simla to settle the issue: the three Is there something to celebrate? main protagonists sat together at a While this can certainly be questioned, negotiation table for the first time. nobody can dispute that the events of The result was not fully satisfactory as 1954 marked an epoch for India and the Chinese only initialized the main Tibet. document and did not ratify it. The The time has perhaps come to British and Tibetans however agreed look into the history of these troubled on a common border demarcated on a Tibetologist years and introspect to see if new map: the famous McMahon Line was Claude Arpi wrote opportunities can be found to sort out born. many articles the old knots of the past. This treaty was still in force when in regard to the The ball started rolling a hundred India became independent in August years ago (in July 1904) when a 1947. Panchsheel young British colonel, Francis But in October 1950, an event on different Younghusband, forced his way into changed the destiny of the Himalayan occasions. the holy city of Lhasa. Today it is region: Mao's troops marched into fashionable to speak of the 'clash of Tibet. Among these He civilisations' but in this particular Lhasa appealed to the United wrote the one case, it was truly two different worlds Nations against China's invasion article on the meeting for the first time. of Tibet. India, though recognising At the end of his stay in the Tibet's autonomy ('verging on 50th anniversary Tibetan capital, Younghusband independence' as per Nehru's words), of Panchsheel forced upon the Tibetans their first began to vacillate and was unable to in 2004 and the agreement with the mighty British stand up in favour of their peaceful Empire. By signing this treaty with neighbour against the might of Red second on its the crown representative, Tibet China. 60th anniversary was 'acknowledged' by London as a In May 1951, some of the Dalai in 2014. This separate nation. However, political Lama's representatives signed -- is a compiled deals are never simple; Tibet's Western 'under duress' -- a 17-Point Agreement neighbour, China, whose suzerainty with Communist China. For the presentation of over Tibet in Lord Curzon's words first time in its 2,000-year history, the two articles was a 'constitutional fiction', was Lhasa officially 'accepted' Tibet as
28 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 a part of China. However, the intrusions into Indian Territory today’s Uttarakhand. incorporation of the Tibetan nation began hardly 3 months after the More interestingly, Article IV into China was not immediately signature of the accord. mentions: “Also, the customary acknowledged by Delhi which The Agreement opened the route leading to Tashigong along continued for a couple of years to door to China's military control the valley of the Indus River maintain a full-fledged mission in of the Roof of the World by the may continue to be traversed in Lhasa. People's Liberation Army. This accordance with custom.” The signature of the Panchsheel translated into building a network This refers to the Ladakh road, Agreement between India and of roads and airstrips heading via Demchok, which for centuries China on April 29, 1954 marked towards the Indian frontiers in was used by the Indian pilgrims the tail-end of events set in motion NEFA and Ladakh. wanting to visit the Kailash- by the entry of Younghusband Nehru and his advisors had Manasarovar area. into Tibet. While the British progressively fallen in love with Today, the border post is expedition accepted Tibet as a a 'revolutionary' China and closed. separate entity, the signatures on sacrificed Tibet for the sake of Why is Beijing adamantly the Agreement put an end to its the new-found brotherhood. India refusing to reopen this route? existence as a distinct nation. The did not obtain any benefit out of Probably because Demchok, for Land of Snows merely became her 'generosity.' On the contrary, centuries the first Ladakhi village, 'Tibet's Region of China.' The she lost a peaceful and friendly is today occupied by China! circle was closed with incalculable neighbour. India had to pay dearly, and consequences for India and the Eight years later, the Principles is still paying 50 years after an entire Himalayan region. One of had evaporated so much that the agreement (which in any case the most ironic aspects is that the two Asian giants fought a war in lapsed in June 1962) for the idealist Tibetans themselves were not even the Himalayas. policy of her first prime minister. informed of the negotiations. The Panchsheel Agreement Nehru wanted to be a modern The preamble of the Agreement is composed of two parts: the Asoka, renouncing violence contains the Five Principles Preamble (the Five Principles) and force to solve the problems which formed the main pillar and the content (regarding trade of the world. In his admiration of India's foreign policy for the between India and Tibet and for the noble emperor, he did next five years. They heralded pilgrimage rights for Indians and not remember that the Mauryan the beginning of the Hindi-Chini Tibetans). However it was the title Empire did not survive the Asokan Bhai-Bhai policy and the 'non- itself, 'Agreement on Trade and edicts. The greatest empire of aligned' position of India. Intercourse between the Tibet ancient India crumbled less than A great tragedy is that the region of China and India' which 70 years after Asoka's death. Agreement is remembered not for was the most important victory It is perhaps unfortunate, but its content, which concerns the for Beijing. For the first time since still a fact of life that strength and trade relations between India and Younghusband had entered Lhasa, power are necessary to defend Tibet, but for its preamble which India acknowledged Tibet as only some eternal values. Sardar Patel directly caused the destruction of a 'Region of China.' knew this, but he passed away an ancient, spiritual 'way of life' The only objective of the ‘Indo- in 1950. Had he been alive, no (backward in one sense though Tibet’ Agreement was to regulate Panchsheel Agreement, finishing much more advanced at an inner trade and pilgrimage between off the Tibetan nation, would have level). India and Tibet. It specified several ever been signed. Another misfortune is that the points of entry into Tibet: “Traders Today, fifty years after idealistic Five Principles have and pilgrims of both countries the signing of the Panchsheel never been followed either in may travel by the following passes Agreement, one can only hope letter or in spirit by China. Non- and routes: Shipkila, Mana, that a new generation of Indian interference in the other's affairs Niti, Kungri Bingri, Darma and leaders will be able to live by the and respect for the neighbour's Lipulekh passes.” Apart from Principles as enunciated in the territorial integrity are two of the first one located in Himachal agreement, but will also have a the Five Principles, but Chinese Pradesh, the other passes lie in more insightful vision to take firm
29 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 actions to make India truly strong to China and his colleagues But the spirit of the agreement and self-reliant. 'cleverly' tried to avoid bringing was never implemented, with The agreement had many tragic the border question to the table. tragic consequences for India consequences. We recently wrote Their reasoning was that if the (and Tibet). about the proposed damming and Chinese did not consider the While ‘experts’ continue diversion of the Brahmaputra border to be an agreed issue, they to lecture about the Grand which can only happen because would themselves bring it up for Principles, the agreement expired the people of Tibet have no say in discussion. The Indian cleverness 52 years ago. what is happening in their country. backfired, ending in a disaster One of the disastrous outcomes Though neither the Preamble (the for India. In his speech after of the agreement is that the Indian Five Principles) nor the provisions the signature of the agreement, Government did not use the of the agreement are in force Zhou Enlai congratulated the occasion to bargain, against the today, the acceptance of Tibet as negotiators for having solved all relinquishment of India's rights a part of the People's Republic of the matters 'ripe for settlement.' in Tibet, for a proper delimitation China remains a fact. Some clauses of the 1954 of the border. Delhi considered Another disastrous outcome Agreement were good: for these ‘privileges’ as an imperialist of the signing of the agreement example, “inhabitants of the heritage to be spurned by a newly is the refusal of some of Nehru's border districts of the two independent India. advisors to bargain for a proper countries who cross the border Fifty years later, the folly of delimitation of the border between to carry on petty trade or to visit this policy still haunts an India Tibet and India, against the friends and relatives may proceed unable to sort out her border relinquishment of India's rights to the border districts of the tangle. In June 2003, Prime in Tibet (accrued from the Simla other party …and shall not be Minister Vajpayee expressed the Convention). These officials required to hold passports, visas wish to start 'fast track' parleys on considered these advantages an or permits.” the issue with Beijing. imperialist heritage to be spurned It was how the relations Does it mean that today by a newly independent India. between the Himalayan region the border tangle is 'ripe for During the talks with Beijing and Tibet had worked for settlement'? between 1951 and 1954, K M centuries; India and Tibet were Courtesy: http://claudearpi. Panikkar, the Indian ambassador neighbours and friends. blogspot.in/ Panchsheel: An Introduction he Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, known as the Panchsheel Treaty: Non-interference Tin others internal affairs and respect for each other's territorial unity integrity and sovereignty (from Sanskrit, panch: five, sheel: virtues), are a set of principles to govern relations between states. Their first formal codification in treaty form was in an agreement between China and India on in 1954. The word Panchasheel has been taken from the Buddhist doctrines which are originally five precepts to define the conduct of monks. These are as follows: Precept to abstain from 1. onslaught on breathing beings, 2. taking what is not given, 3. misconduct concerning sense-pleasures, 4. false speech and 5. alcoholic drink or drugs that are an opportunity for heedlessness. In diplomatic relations they were enunciated in the preamble to the "Agreement (with exchange of notes) on trade and intercourse between Tibet Region of China and India", which was signed at Peking on 28 April 1954.The Five Principles, as stated in this treaty, are listed as: 1. Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, 2. Mutual non-aggression, 3. Mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, 4. Equality and mutual benefit, and 5. Peaceful co-existence.
30 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 Rebirth of Lost Scripts of Ancient
Vijay Kranti India ccupation of Tibet by from countries as far as Greece, Communist China in 1951 Persia, Tibet, China and many South Oand subsequent escape of its East Asian and South Asian countries supreme spiritual leader and ruler the came to live and study for years. Dalai Lama to exile in India in 1959 Scholars from these countries studied It is India that was one of the most tragic events of many subjects under the guidance shaped the world history in the post-World-War-2 of great Indian scholars, translated Tibetan Culture era in the last century. But, like most Indian literature into their own other tragedies, this development too languages and carried it home. That and in the has had some fallout which has proved is how Buddhist literature travelled same way Tibet a blessing in disguise. An outstanding to so many countries and helped in contributed in result of the arrival and stay of Tibetan spreading Buddha's message to these safeguarding the refugees in India under the leadership countries. Many of these translations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the have survived till this date in many of most valuable revival of many important aspects of these countries. heritage of our traditional Indian culture and wisdom According to the Persian historian culture. Tibetans which were either believed to be lost Minhaj-i-Siraj who described the forever, or were on the path of decline burning of Nalanda in his chronicle did all their best and decay. the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, "thousands to keep the books One such aspect is ancient Indian of monks were burned alive and leaving other literature which had suffered heavily thousands were beheaded as Khilji did at the hands of invading foreign his best to uproot Buddhism...... " valuables back armies and other developments in past The burning of library continued for to their home. centuries. The most fateful event being several months and "smoke from the Some of these the ransacking and burning of Nalanda burning library continued for several University by the Turkish Muslim months...... "1 manuscripts are invader Muhammad Bakhtiar Khilji There were some efforts to revive among those in 1193 AD. Innumerable historic and the university in coming years by some that we could important manuscripts, stored in the surviving scholars but it could never never have after libraries and resident quarters of the regain its lost glory. According to Chag scholars, were lost forever in the fire Lotsawa (1197-1264) who visited the Nalanda arson, which is said to have raged for over site in 1235, he was witness to yet if those were three months. another attack by the Turkic Islamic not preserved Before this unfortunate event took invaders which forced the remaining place, Nalanda had established itself students to flee. Historian D.C. Ahir as Tibetan as one of the greatest international in his book 'Buddhism Declined in translations centres of learning where scholars India : How and Why?' notes that
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"the destruction of the temples, monasteries, centres of learning at Nalanda and northern India to DALAI LAMA'S ESCAPE TO be responsible for the demise of ancient Indian scientific thought in mathematics, astronomy, alchemy, EXILE ---- WHY AND HOW ? and anatomy."2 Subsequent turmoil witnessed What were those circumstances that compelled His by India due to a chain of foreign Highness the Dalai Lama to choose exile leaving invasions also did not provide back all his land and people and he reached to India suitable environment to recover the cultural damage. As a result a crossing the difficult paths of Tibet… huge mass of literature, cumulated over many centuries, was lost n 1959 the escape of Dalai viz. People's Republic of China. forever in India. Lama was one of the most It's a different matter that Lhasa The last throne-holder of Isensational news which kept government claimed later that the Nalanda, Shakyashribhadra, the world in awe and suspense 'Agreement' was signed under travelled to Tibet in 1204 at the for nearly a fortnight. It was on duress by its delegation which invitation of the Tibetan translator the night of 17th March 1959 that was never authorized to sign any Tropu Lotsawa (Khro-phu Lo-tsa- 25 year old Tenzin Gyatso, the agreement with China. However, ba Byams-pa dpal). In Tibet, he 14th Dalai Lama, the supreme the 'Agreement' promised and started an ordination lineage of the spiritual leader and the titular assured the Tibetan government Mulasarvastivada to complement ruler of occupied Tibet escaped and its people that under China's the two existing ones. quietly to India in the darkness rule there will be no interference of night from his home in in the social and cultural system Tibet as a Cold Storage of Norbulingka Palace of the Tibetan of Tibet. It also assured every Indian Literature capital Lhasa. It was going to Tibetan that the Communist Luckily, a good part of this be a difficult task because the Party of China (CPC) and its literature survived in Tibet in situation was fast taking a shape PLA would never take anything the form of Tibetan translations. when China's People's Republic free from Tibetan people and Looking back at history, now Army (PLA) could go all out to that they will pay even for the it appears that Tibet practically catch him 'dead or alive'. The gap 'thread and needle' they take from worked as a perfect 'cold storage' between the success or failure of Tibetans. to preserve a good part of this his escape bid was going to be But in past eight years things lost human heritage. It was only just as thin as between life and had gone too astray and too far following occupation of Tibet by death or between a free stateless to return to normal. Soon after refugee and a parrot in a golden the Chinese PLA and the CPC cage. cadres entered Tibet and took The last throne-holder of charge of everything, the things Nalanda, Shakyashribhadra, Empty Promises had started going in a direction travelled to Tibet in 1204 at Things in Tibet have been that was different from what was deteriorating since 1951 when promised in the 'Agreement'. For the invitation of the Tibetan Chinese managed to force the example, the decision making translator Tropu Lotsawa Tibetan delegation in Beijing powers of the Dalai Lama and (Khrophu Lo-tsa-ba Byams- to sign on the dotted lines. The his Kashag (cabinet of ministers) pa dpal). In Tibet, he started '17-Point Agreement', thus were overshadowed by the an ordination lineage of signed between China and Tibet, 'Preparatory Committee' of the announced to the world that Tibet CPC that was established to the Mulasarvastivada to was willingly 'returning' to the reorganise the administrative complement the two fold of the great 'Motherland' system of Tibet. With the ever existing ones
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China in 1951 and subsequent increasing number of communist and massive land grabs from the flight of its ruler and religious cadres and PLA soldiers pouring local lords and the monasteries leader Dalai Lama to India in 1959 into Tibet, the initial gestures of in the name of 'land reforms' that drew attention of scholars paying rent to the Tibetan house too lead to open clashes. Many towards this priceless store. owners and shopkeepers through a time bloody ones. In many Unfortunately, later specially minted silver currency cases the local anger took shape developments in occupied Tibet, 'Da Yuan', gave way to stern of armed resistance which especially during the fateful years orders and demand for free food had become widespread in the of "The Great Leap Forward" supplies. Eastern provinces of Amdo and (1958 to 1962) and the "Cultural Kham by 1956. Many local and Revolution" (1966 to 1976) which Price Rise And Scarcity tribal lords joined hands to form lasted sequentially from 1958 to The quantities of food demanded a loosely organised guerrilla 1976, witnessed wanton cultural by the 'guests' touched dimensions resistance army under the name destruction across Tibet. This which were unknown to the 'Chu-Shi-Gang-Druk' (literally was an unprecedented chapter in Tibetans because of Tibet's scarce meaning 'Four Rivers Six the history of Tibet. Most of the population. This vast gap between Ranges' - a traditional reference monasteries were either destroyed the availability of essential to Tibet). There were occasions or occupied by the China's People commodities and the demands when the Chinese army posts Liberation Army and Communist from the Chinese bosses resulted were raided by the guerrillas cadres. Precious books from the into price rise and scarcity and Chinese soldiers and cadres libraries were used as daily fuel which Tibetan people had never were butchered. In many areas to cook food and to keep the experienced. This sharp and the clashes between the Tibetans rooms warm for the occupant successive rise in prices for daily and Chinese erupted into serious PLA soldiers, communist cadres necessities gave rise to frequent ones with PLA using artillery to and their animals in biting cold. If clashes between ordinary people bombard the local monasteries. In statistics presented before the US and the Chinese. some cases it even used air force Senate and the Congress in 1987 Further, forcible occupation bombers to completely decimate are to be believed, the Chinese of local monasteries by the the monastic complexes where oppression had claimed over 1.2 Communist cadres and military large number of Lamas (monks) million lives and destruction of personnel and their insulting and their guerillas had taken to 6254 Buddhist monasteries and behaviour with senior as well arms. temples (out of a total of 6259). as junior monks gave rise to Things came to a boil in early Thanks to the vision and widespread tension. In many 1959 in Lhasa during the annual thoughtful leadership of His cases senior monks were arrested national 'Monlam' prayers festival Holiness the Dalai Lama, most by the Chinese and some of them which attracted thousands of of this literature, brought over by just disappeared without any devotees from across Tibet. escaping monks and scholars, was public explanation. This was an event when Lhasa's collected and reorganised soon handful population of about after the community recovered Armed Resistance twenty thousand would grow from the initial trauma of escape. Reorganisation of land holdings many folds for over a month. Luckily, this campaign has been successful over past 60 years to the extent that India has today The quantities of food demanded by the 'guests' touched emerged as the largest reservoir of dimensions which were unknown to the Tibetans because Tibetan culture in the world. of Tibet's scarce population. This vast gap between the Sanskrit roots of Tibetan availability of essential commodities and the demands language from the Chinese bosses resulted into price rise and However the case of Tibet has scarcity which Tibetan people had never experienced been unique both in terms of quantity as well as quality of these
33 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 translations. The main credit for this goes to the wisdom of Tibetan That year it was about a hundred added to public adamancy and kings like Srongsen Gompo (604- thousand. Environment was further swelling of the crowds. 650 AD) and Trisong Detsen (742- charged with news of Chinese By 16th March the Chinese 797 AD) who took a two pronged atrocities and people's resistance General had summoned most decision of choosing India as being shared from all over Tibet. of PLA personnel and mortar Tibet's root source of teachers guns from around Lhasa into the and Buddhist texts and adopting Musical Trouble city. After seeing that crowds Sanskrit as the root language to Suddenly, the news of the Chinese had blocked all possibilities of develop Tibetan script and Tibetan General inviting the Dalai Lama Dalai Lama's visit to the Army (Bhoti) language for translation of to attend a musical event inside camp the PLA fired two volleys entire range of Buddhist and other the PLA garrison electrified the of mortar bombs to scare the literature. They took this decision environment. Things became crowds on 17th afternoon. All despite the fact that their another worse when some palace insiders the shells exploded near the neighbour China too could have leaked out the information that the Palace walls. The General's been an alternate source for the General had especially instructed purpose appeared to scare the same Buddhist wisdom along with the Dalai Lama to come to the crowds. But the impact proved added advantages like China's garrison unarmed and without to be just opposite. The message easier geographic approach from the contingent of his traditional that went around was that the Tibet and more convenient climate personal armed guards. Chinese army wanted to destroy as compared to India. The public commotion the Norbulingka Palace and to Buddhism had arrived in China soon took shape of a public kill the Dalai Lama. That lead from India long before it reached demonstration on 10th March to a new wave of anger among Tibet and quite a few Chinese which demanded the Dalai the demonstrators and further scholars and Chinese translated Lama not to accept the Chinese swelling of crowds. texts were already available invitation. On getting no specific Inside the Palace Dalai Lama there. But despite difficult and assurance from the palace, the and his advisors were in double treacherous journey through demonstrators encircled the minds. Some of them were firmly snow laden Himalayan mountains palace and put a round the clock against his attending the music and extremely hot and hostile public vigilance at all the gates event. But Dalai Lama was keen weather conditions in India for of the Norbulingka Palace. They to find a middle way out of this its scholars, these kings decided wanted to ensure that Dalai Lama crisis. In his autobiographies "My to send scholars to universities was not taken out to the Chinese Land My People" and "Freedom like Nalanda and invited top garrison. The environment was in Exile" the Dalai Lama says ranking Indian scholars like already charged with the stories, that he had assured the Chinese Acharya Shantrakshit and Guru some true and many imaginary General that he was keen to attend Padmasambhav to Tibet because ones, of many senior monks his function but also advised him they did not want to adopt a 'second disappearing or taken to China to postpone the event till public hand' version of Buddhism. after they were taken to the anxiety and worries cooled down. These kings and Tibetan Chinese quarters on one or other But General's sudden decision to scholars demonstrated additional pretext. fire mortars ended whatever faith wisdom of developing the Tibetan and hopes that Dalai Lama or his language exactly on the lines of A Firy Precipitation advisors had in finding a peaceful Sanskrit script and grammar so On the other hand the Chinese way out. Entire cabinet decided that the Indian literature could be General was getting hysterical that it was no more safe for the translated in its most authentic about ensuring that Dalai Lama Dalai Lama to stay any further in form, both in matters of content must come to his event on the Norbulingka. It was decided to as well as vocabulary and syntax. fixed day. He tried to get the move him to a safer place far away The main reason behind this demonstrators vacated from from the Chinese army's reach exercise was that the Tibetan around the Palace. But it only as soon as possible. The most leaders of that time did not want
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The scientific rules favourable direction was India. It Dalai Lama was dressed up as a developed for translation was decided that he should move Tibetan soldier who walked out from Sanskrit into Tibetan to a place near Indian borders last with a batch of soldiers in the so as to take a right decision in night on THE pretext of security lead to evolution of such near future in the light of new duty. It was a great challenge to a huge bank of authentic emerging situation. evade the eyes of Chinese soldiers Indian literature which does along the three kilometer route. not exist today in any other The Escape But luckily the night had become language of the world Same night the Dalai Lama, his much colder due to strong winds immediate family members and which kept the Chinese soldiers important officials quietly slipped inside their tents. Tibetan scholars to risk the ordeals out of the Palace in small groups The ride over to the other of journey to India or to waste to assemble at a suitable point on side of the river in some 'Ku- their precious youthful years in the South bank across the Kyichu Dru', traditional Tibetan Yak learning Sanskrit before going river on other end of the city. To hide boats, was a challenging ahead for taking teachings in keep the operation secret and task because any noise of rowing Buddhism in Indian universities. avoid any suspicion among the could have invited machine gun The scientific rules developed crowds at the Palace gates the fire from Chinese soldiers. But for translation from Sanskrit into Tibetan lead to evolution of such a huge bank of authentic Indian literature which does not exist today in any other language of the world. The subjects go far beyond Buddhism and also include many sciences like Ayurveda medicine, astronomy mathematics, alchemy, anatomy etc. prevailed in India in that era. Scientific Methodology for Translations The methodology involved in this translation exercise was quite logical and scientific. For example, no Tibetan scholar was permitted to translate a Sanskrit text into Tibetan language unless he was supported by an Indian Sanskrit Pandit (scholar) as his team member. After the completion of each translation project, a specially chosen Parishad (committee) of scholars of that subject would certify the authenticity of the translation before it was accepted for studies in Tibet. Many centuries later this policy has shown some interesting results. It was one of those rarest events of human history when precious books formed the main baggage of
35 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 many Tibetan refugees when they fled from their homes and country When Dalai Lama opened his transistor radio next morning amidst a blood bath caused jointly to scan international news bulletins on BBC and VOA by China's People's Liberation stations as his routine habit, the news were shocking. Army (PLA) and the Communist According to reports the Chinese PLA had bombarded at the Party of China (CPC). Especially the monks and scholars, who crowds outside Norbulingka with heavy artillery. Hundreds formed a substantial chunk of the of Tibetans were feared killed, the reports added. The radio fleeing Tibetan crowds, carried with broadcasts termed the Tibetan demonstrations as 'Tibetan them as many sacred manuscripts Uprising against Chinese occupation' as one could hold through a long and taxing journey through snow and mountains to India. once they arrived safely on the Once the party crossed the other side, the rest of caravan Tsangpo river they were in a Scholarly Pursuits of a was ready to move on horses relatively safe zone where armed Handful Community and mules. Their immediate goal freedom fighters of Chugang Thanks to Tibetan society's love for was to cross the Che-La pass with their smart horses and guns books and its deep rooted tradition before the sunrise and to cross dominated the arena. The escape of scholarship and systematic the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river party had a restful night at Ra-Me preservation of sacred books, the soon after so as to leave behind monastery while the Chugang Tibetan refugee community in the last Chinese army posts. volunteers kept a watch for any India today can boast of a vast chain Once on the other side of the Chinese movement along the of institutions that are engaged Tsangpo it was a region more route which the party had already in education, scholarly studies, dominated by the Chu Shi Gang covered. Their next destination research and publishing. It may Druk (conveniently refered to was Chen-Ye which was a bit be surprising for many people to as 'Chugang') guerrillas that the deeper into the safe zone and had realize that a microscopic refugee PLA who would venture there a relatively bigger monastery for community of just 150 thousand only on special missions or some the party to take some rest. and odd has successfully revived casual inspections. almost all monasteries and centres Bad News of higher learning in India which Long Journey However, the peace and comfort thrived inside Tibet over centuries But the journey to Che-La was at Chen-Ye were short lived. before China destroyed them quite steep and difficult one with When Dalai Lama opened his following Tibetan occupation in added danger of Chinese soldiers transistor radio next morning to following up aggressively had scan international news bulletins they had got the scent. They on BBC and VOA stations It may be surprising for arrived the top pass safely but as his routine habit, the news many people to realize only to meet a ferocious dust were shocking. According to that a microscopic refugee storm which was a common reports the Chinese PLA had community of just 150 occurrence at Che-La. More bombarded at the crowds outside than the dust and wind, the real Norbulingka with heavy artillery. thousand and odd has problem was to keep the horses Hundreds of Tibetans were successfully revived under control because a terrified feared killed, the reports added. almost all monasteries and horse could toss itself and its The radio broadcasts termed centres of higher learning rider into a deep ditch. Luckily the Tibetan demonstrations as in India which thrived the storm cooled down well in 'Tibetan Uprising against Chinese time and without any incident. occupation', inside Tibet over centuries The next goal was to reach the Very soon a rider messenger before China destroyed base of the hill to cross over to arrived from Lhasa with a letter them following Tibetan the other side of Tsangpo river. that carried details of what occupation in 1951
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1951. Tibetan refugee community happened on the night when this Chinese conduct the Dalai today can boast of at least two such Dalai Lama fled from Lhasa. Lama took three decisions. institutions in India which, thanks According to these details One, that there was no sense left to their high standards in imparting the Chinese soldiers freely to negotiate and discuss with education and research, have won bombarded the Tibetan crowds Chinese. Two, to abrogate the formal recognition as a University and gunned down hundreds of "17-Point Agreement" and three, or a 'Deemed University' from the them with guns and machineguns. to leave Tibet and try to seek University Grants Commission of Many parts of Norbulingka asylum in India. But the Indian India. were damaged by mortars and borders were still about ten days PLA soldier chased and killed away as no roads or means of A Remarkable the Tibetan demonstrators travel other than on foot or horses 'Guru-Dakshina' throughout the city. After the were available. One of these institutions, originally firing cooled down the soldiers After another week of grueling known as the Central Institute of went through Norbulingka and journey through mountains, snow Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS) its damaged rooms desperately and jungles the escape team and later upgraded and renamed as to look for Dalai Lama -- dead or arrived in Lhuntse Zong which the Central University of Tibetan alive. happened to be the last major fort Studies (CUTS) at Sarnath near This Chinese violence town on way to Indian borders. Varanasi, has created history continued for quite some time There the Dalai Lama organized through one of its many special in Lhasa and many other places a public meeting in which he projects. This project, titled as of Tibet. Later, in its report publicly and formally announced 'Restoration Project' has recreated submitted before the United the abrogation of the "17-Point over two hundred such important Nations in the same year (1959), Agreement", declared Tibet as Sanskrit texts which were believed the International Commission independent of China and put his to have been lost forever in India of Jurists reported that the total official seal on the declaration. A since ages. CUTS has resurrected number of Tibetans killed by simple but energetic celebration them in original Sanskrit, English China to quell this uprising with traditional Tibetan dance, and Hindi from the Tibetan was around 80 thousand. In its music and prayers marked the translations which had survived three resolutions on Tibet in declaration of Tibet's freedom in Tibet over centuries. What a 1959, 1961 and 1965 the UN from Chinese occupation. remarkable 'Guru Dakshina' (a condemned these human rights Following the celebrations, student's tribute to the teacher) violation by China in Tibet. the Dalai Lama dispatched a team from Tibet to India? of riders to nearest Indian border Most of these are historic works of Final Decision post to make a formal request great Indian scholars like Nagarjuna, For the Dalai Lama who has for asylum in India. The journey Shantarakshita, Kamalasheela, been hoping that good sense ahead was far more difficult due Atisha, Aryadeva, Deepankar, would prevail upon the Chinese to high Himalayan mountains and Bhartrihari, Ashwaghosh, rulers of Tibet, this news was tracks laden with deep and biting Bodhibhadra, Dharmakirti etc. too shocking. He was sad that snow. On one early morning the This list includes nearly 30 major the Chinese government had party was shocked to find an and minor texts of Acharya walked out of all the assurances airplane approaching them from Nagarjuna e.g. Dharmasamgrah, it had given on its own in the one direction, flying away and Ratnavali, Bodhicitta-Vitarana, "17-Point Agreement" which then flying back in the direction it Bodhicittodpadavidhi, they themselves had drafted and came from. Their first worry was Pratityasamutpadahridaya etc. signed. He and his colleagues that if it was a Chinese plane then Acharya Nagarjuna is credited realized that their decision to it might come back with a heavy with the founding of Madhayamika quietly move out of Norbulingka attack team of the Chinese army. school of Mahayana Buddhism with and to leave Lhasa was wise But it did not happen. Now it can the help of his disciple Aryadeva. and timely. Deeply shocked by be said that this plane was on a Although reference to many such writings of these scholars existed
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in other surviving literature, but many of these writings remained probe mission by USA or some House at Mussoorie, just a few untraceable and were considered to other friendly country who were kilometers above Dehradoon. be lost forever until a new wave of keen to know about the location In coming months nearly 80 Tibetan scholars arrived and settled and safety of Dalai Lama and his thousand Tibetans followed in India as refugees since 1959. escape party. him into exile in India, Nepal It was under the directions What lied ahead was a very and Bhutan. Today their total of His Holiness the Dalai Lama tiring and taxing part of the number is about 150 thousand. that a project was undertaken by journey with some high passes Out of these a little less than erstwhile CIHTS at Sarnath under like Lagoe-La and Karpo-La 100 thousand now are settled in the leadership of Prof. Samdhong with snow and steep tracks yet India and rest are spread all over Rinpoche, a great Tibetan scholar to be negotiated by the escape the world. and the first director. This project party. But by the time the Dalai On 14th April, 1959 Pt. Nehru was focused at identifying and Lama crossed these passes and visited Dalai Lama at Birla retranslation from all such Tibetan reached the last Tibetan village House in Mussoorie. It was here translations of manuscripts which Mang-Mang before the Indian during their very first meeting were supposed to be permanently border, he was running high that Nehru demonstrated a lost in Sanskrit but were available fever and urgently needed rest. brilliant visionary aspect of his in Tibetan. The party decided to stop and personality when he advised the Started during late 1970s, rest in Mang-Mang. By that young Dalai Lama to seriously this project is still in progress time the response from Indian focus on the younger generation under the leadership of another government had also arrived of refugees and bring them up famed Tibetan scholar and Vice there. New Delhi had agreed to with modern education. Within Chancellor of CUTS Prof. Geshe welcome Dalai Lama and offered first couple of hours Pt. Nehru Ngawang Samten who has been him asylum in India. took a decision of establishing associated with the project from After recovering from fever an autonomous network of its beginning. Indian scholars who the Dalai Lama was still quite schools for Tibetan children have been closely associated with week. To make his journey which later grew into 'Central this restoration project included comfortable to Indian border Tibetan School Administration' doyens like Prof. Jagannath the locals organized a Yak for which has proved to be the main Upadhyay, Prof Vrajvallab him to ride. Yak, a high altitude fountainhead of Tibetan refugee Dwivedi, Prof. S.S. Bahulkar, beast of burden belongs to community's highly motivated Pr. Janardan Shastri Pandey, the cattle species and is quite and educated manpower that has Prof. Shrikant Shankar Bahulkar. similar to bullock in looks, is deep roots in Tibetan culture and Some other names include Other quite slow but very sturdy and national aspirations. scholars Dr. Thakur Sain Negi, suitable for long hauls in high From Mussoorie the Dr. Banarasi Lal, Sh. Thinley Ram mountains. As the Dalai Lama Dalai Lama soon shifted to Shastri, Dr. Tsering Dokar, Dr. and his party reached the India- Dharamshala which was a part Ranjan Kumar Sharma, Dr. Vijaya Tibet border, a representative of of erstwhile Punjab state and Raj Vajracharya. the Government of India and a is currently part of Himachal (A complete list of the Indian personal letter of Prime Minister Pradesh following reorganization texts, restored through this project Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru of Punjab in 1971. Today Dalai is given in the Apendix- Editor) greeted him. He was received Lama lives in McLeod Ganj with a guard of honour by a (Upper Dharamshala) where References: contingent of Indian Army. From he has established 'Central 1. http://en.banglapedia.org/index. the border point he was taken to Tibetan Administration' which php?title=Tabaqat-i-Nasiri Tajpur where he rested for a few functions like a de-facto Tibetan 2. D.C. Ahir (2005). Buddhism days before a special railway 'Government-in-Exile'. Declined in India : How and Why?. train took him to Dehradoon. His Courtesy: The Tibet Journal,Vol. 13 No.1, B. R. Publishing. ISBN 81-7646- first house in exile was the Birla Spring 1988 447-3
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Appendix The list of restored texts existed in the Kagyur & Tangyur Published by Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies Sarnath, Varanasi (U.P.) Derge Publi- Sl. Name of Scholars Title of Restored texts Author texts shed Book Title No. no. Year 1. Prof. S. Rinpoche 1. Abhisamyalamkaravṛtti Acharya 3793 1977 Abhisamayalamkaṛattiḥ Prof. R.S. Tripathi Haribhadra Sphutārtha Prof. Jamphel Lobsang 2. Bhikkhu Prasa- 1. VimalakĪrtinirdeŚasūtra Sūtra 176 1978 VimalakĪrtinersaŚūtra dhika etc. 3. Prof. Sempa Dorjee 1. Śūnāyatasaptatiḥ Ācārya Nāgārjuna 3827 1985 ŚūnayātasaptatĪḥ of Acharya 2. Śūnāyatasaptativṛtti 3831 Nāgārjuna
4. Ven. Gyaltsen 1 Bhāvanākrama II middle Acharya KalamalaŚĪla 3916 1985 Bhāvanākrama of Ācharya Namdol 2 Āryadharmadhātugarbhavivaraṇa Nāgārjuna 4101 1997 KamalaŚila 3 Āryasāgarnāgarājaparipricchās Sūtra 155 2004 Āryadharmadhātugarbhavivaraṇa utra Caturdharmoddānasūtra 5. Ven. Lobsang 1. BodhipathapradĪpa DīpaṃkaraŚrījñāna 3947 1984 BodhipathapradĪpa Norbu Shastri 2. Candoratnākara RatnākaraŚāntipāda 4303 1990 Candoratnākara 3. Śatagāthā (Partial restored) Vararuci 4332 2001 Śatagāthā 4. TarkabhāŚa (Partial restored) MokŚakāragupta 4264 2004 TarkabhāŚa 6. Ven. Tsultrim 1. Dharmadharmata vibhanga Maitreya 4023 1990 Dharmadharmatā vibhanga kārikā Phuntsok kārĪka Vasubandhu 4028 1990 Vasubandhutṛitadharmadhad 2. Dharmadharmatā vibhangaṭĪkā harmatāvibhangaṭĪkā 7. Mr. Jita Sein Negi 1. Santānāntarasiddhiḥ Dharmakīrti 4219 1997 Santānāntarasiddhiḥ of 2. SantānāntarasiddhiḥṭĪkā Vinītadeva 4238 1997 Acharya Dharmakirti and SantānāntarasiddhiḥṭĪkā of Acharya VinĪtadeva 8. Dr. M.R. Chin- 1. Santānāntarasiddhi Dharmakīrti 4219 1997 Santānāntarasiddhiḥ and chore 2. SantānāntarasiddhiḥṭĪkā Vinītadeva 4238 1997 SantānāntarasiddhiḥṭĪkā 9. Dr. Sonam Rapten 1. Satyadvāyāvatara DĪpaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3902 2000 Satyadvyādi grantha 2. EkasmṛtyupadeŚa Ācārya Nāgārjuna 3928 2000 catuṢtayam 3. MadhyamakopadeŚa Ācārya Nāgārjuna 3929 2000 “ 4. Prajñāhṛdayavyākhyā 3823 2000 “ 5. ĀryaŚalistambakakārĪkā 3985 2004 Ārya Nāgārjuna’s 6. ĀryaŚalistambakanāmamāhayan 3986 2004 ĀryaŚalistambakakārikā with asūtraṭikā Auto-commentary 10. Dr. Pema Tenzin 1. Āryaprajñānapārāmitāvajracch Ācārya KamalaŚhĪla 3817 1994 Āryaprajñāpāramitāvajracch edika Ācārya Nāgārjuna 4182 1996 edikāṭĪka 2. Suhṛallekha Ācārya Maḥamati 4190 2002 Suhṛllekha of Acharya 3. SuhṛllekhaṭĪka Ācārya Asaṅga 4048 2012 Nāgārjuna with the 4. Mahāyanasamgraha commentary of Jetsun Rendava Suhṛllekha of Acharya Nāgārjuna and VyaktapadāĪka of Acharya Mahāmati
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11. Dr. Penpa Dorjee 1. Madhyamāloka Ācārya KamalaŚĪla 3887 2001 Madhyamāloka of Acharya 2. Jñānasārasamuccaya Ācārya Āryadeva 3851 2008 KamalaŚila 3. Jñānasārasamuccayanibandhanam Ācārya Bodhib- 3852 2008 Acharya Āryadeva’s 4. Ratnakaraṇḍ1odghāta-nāma- hadra 3930 2018 Jñānasārasamuccayaḥ with madhyamakopadeŚa Ācārya the Commentray of Acharya DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna Bodhibhadra Ratnakaraṇḍodghāta-nāma- madhyamako-padeŚa 12. Dr. Ramesh Chan- 1. Garbhasamgraha DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3949 1992 dra Negi 2. Bodhisattavādikarmikamārgāvat DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3952 1992 āradeŚana 1992 3. ŚaraṇagamanadeŚana DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3953 1992 ĀtiŚa racita ekadaŚagrantha 4. Mahāyānasādhanavarṇasamgrah DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3954 1992 5. SūtrarthasamuccayopadeŚa DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3957 1992 6. DaŚakuŚalakramapathadeŚana DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3958 1992 7. CaryasamgrahpradĪpa DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3960 1992 8. Cittotpādasamvaravidhikrama DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3969 1992 ĀtiŚa racita ekadaŚagrantha 9. ĀpattideŚanāvidhi DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3973 1992 10. Gurukriyākrama DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3977 1992 11. Samādhisambhāraparivarta DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 2460 13. Dr. Tashi Tsering 1. Madhyamakāvataraḥ Chapter 1-5 Ācārya CandrakĪrti 3862 2005 Madhyamakāvataraḥ 14. Dr. Lobsang Dorjee 1. Bodhisattvamaṇyāvali DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3951 1999 Five Treatises of Ācārya 2. LokātitasaptāṅgavidhĪ DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 2461 1999 Dipaṃkaraśrījñāna 3. saṅcodana sahita DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 3956 1999 Do svakṛtyakramavarṅasamgraḥ DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 2314 1999 Do 4. DharmadhātudarŚanagĪttiḥ DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 4333 1999 Do 5. Vimalaratnalekha Ācārya Nāgārjuna 4005 2001 Ārya Trisakandhasūtra and 6. BodhyāpattideŚanāvṛttiḥ Ācārya Jitāri 4006 2001 its three Commentaries (TriskandhasūtraṭĪkā) DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 4007 2001 Do 7. BodhyāpattideŚanāvṛttiḥ Ācārya AŚvaghoṢa 601 2001 Do bodhisattvaŚikṢākramāḥ Sūtra 3976 2006 Do 8. KarmāvaranāviŚodhanavidhibh DipaṃkaraŚrĪjñāna 2229 2006 Caityasancakayornirmāṇavid āṢyam Ācārya Advayavajra 267 2006 hisaṃgrahaḥ 9. Sāmānya PratideŚanā Sūtra 1135 2014 Do 10. Sarvāprajñāntapāramitāsiddhaca Ācārya Nāgārjuna 3918 2017 Do ityanāmadhāraṅĪ Ācārya KamalaŚĪla 3966 2011 Dhih patrika-54, 2014 11. Pāramitāyānasacchanirvanavidhi Ācārya Nāgārjuna 2013 Dhih patrika-57, 2017 12. SañcakatādanavidhĪḥ Dhih patrika-48, 2009 13. PrahaṇapūrakaŚata-vandanā- Dhih patrika-53, 2013 nāmamahāyāna-sūtra 14. DvādaŚakāranaya-stotram 15. Bhāvanā-yogāvatāraḥ (Team work) 16. Bodhicittotpādavidhiḥ (Team work) 15. Dr. Tsering Dolkar 1. Samādhisambhāraparivarta Ācārya Bodhib- 3924 2004 Samādhisambhāraparivartau 2. Samādhisambhāraparivarta hadra 3925 2004 of Ācārya Bodhibhadra and 3. DhyānaṢaḍdharmavyavasthāna Ācārya KṛṢṇāpāda 3926 KṛṢṇāpāda 4. DhyānaṢaḍdharmavyavasthāna- Ācārya 3927 Dhih patrika-26, 1998 Vṛatti Avadhūtipāda Dhih patrika-26, 1998 Ācārya DānaŚĪla 16. Dr. Sanjiv Kumar 1. Sūtrasamuccayaḥ Ācārya Nāgārjuna 3934 2012 Sūtrasamuccayaḥ of Ācārya Das Nāgārjuna
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Indian Influence on Tibetan Society: Rahul Sankrityayan’s Opinion Isht Deo Sankrityaayan
he relationship of the land of these two longings that made him India with that of the ancient undertake very difficult journeys Tregion of Triviṣṭapa (today’s to Tibet four times. It would be Tibet) is millennia old. It is believed no exaggeration to say that for the that it is here that humans first first time that he had traversed this originated and from where human distance at immense risk to his life. civilisation expanded. Almost all Rahulji made his first trip to Tibet ancient texts from the Ṛg Veda to the in 1929–30, the second in 1934, Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata mention the third in 1936 and his final one this in some form. A particular in 19381. This sacred region of Though Tibet emotional attachment towards each ours is now under the illegitimate might politically other too can be discerned in people occupation of China. Modern means on both sides. Culturally, we are of transport are available today, but have been a certainly part of the same territory back then, there was no other way to separate entity, and the message of Lord Buddha reach Tibet from this country, except on delving has served to further strengthen this by foot and on horses and mules. deeper into it, cultural unity. It is the influence of In those days, special permits were the message of Buddhism and its required to go to Tibet, which Rahul at a cultural becoming firmly ensconced in Tibet Sankrityayan did not have. He thus level, it appears that today many important ancient entered there like an illegal infiltrator. to be a natural texts of Sanskrit—which vanished All along, he called himself a resident in their original form because of of Ladakh. Although he reached the extension of the barbarism inflicted by foreign capital Lhasa and revealed his true India. Mahapandit invaders and their animosity to our identity and despite establishing Rahul civilisation—are available to us in cordial relations with almost all the the form of Tibetan translated works. important people there, he could Sankrityayan The first individual who in the not evade constantly surveillance by strove to modern era strived for the material British spies. Nevertheless, Rahul not merely authentication of the Tibetan Sankrityayan, who believed in the translations of those ancient texts was dictum, “work must be accomplished, understand Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan. else life ought to be shed”, relented the soul of this Undoubtedly one of the reasons only after fulfilling his quest. society, but for this was Rahul Sankrityayan’s also to capture attachment to Buddhism, but his Faith in Dharma and its attachment to the Sanskrit language Origins in India it through his and its literature was second to none. The difficulties along this route writings It was the combined influence of and the near-impossibility of the
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task being as they were, its holy relic4. Not only that, in their the mountain of Shiv-Ri on the great accomplishment was that folklore, just like ours, there is a left side of the river. Where most the knowledge about the then personification of these things. other mountains of Tibet are prevalent social structure of Tibet To the left, there were three small covered by earth, one finds only and its emotional ties with India, rocks under the water. About stones (making up the edifice which we find in the accounts them it was said that these are of) on this mountain. Because of Rahul Sankrityayan is not So-Nam, Phun and Sum, which of this feature, there is a saying available to us elsewhere. This actually were three individuals; that this mountain is not of the is the intent of this article. After father, mother and son. Finally, Bhot, but of Gy-gar (India). This China’s invasion and its illegal we were now nearing Sam-Ye, Bhot is considered very sacred occupation of Tibet, His Holiness which too was built by the pandits in the country. These days it the Dalai Lama himself had to of India in Indian style”5. This is was their period of performing be go into exile. It is difficult a manifestation of not only folk the circumambulation. This to imagine how the indigenous beliefs, but also of their being ceremony encompasses Tibetan people in such a situation rooted in India. many temples, much like the would have survived in their During the same journey, circumambulation of Chitrakoot real form and led their way of at nine o’clock in the night, (in India). Many people perform life. But then, i.e., from 1929 to Sankrityayan reached a rock the act of circumambulation in 1938, Tibetan society was just as structure situated in the middle a posture of lying prostrate on religious as Indian society was. of the Brahmaputra. There is the ground7”. This tradition of All their symbols of religiosity a tradition of hanging tapestry going around mountains, rivers and spiritualism are directly or on the walls of this structure etc., is found all over India. The indirectly connected to India. during festive occasions. About reasons and contexts might be One can infer from the fact that this triangular stone about 150 enunciated in different ways, many mountains of Tibet are feet high, he writes: “My fellow- but the original sentiment is believed to have been brought travellers told that during the the same. The very meaning from Gya-gar, i.e., India2. Just time the Sam-Ye vihara was being of Gya-gar is India, which for as the king is considered to be an built, there was felt the need of the people of Triviṣṭapa (Tibet) incarnation of Vishnu, in Tibet, a wall on which their religious holds the sanctity of being their His Holiness the Dalai Lama tapestry could be hung. It was for gurudesha or the land of their is considered an incarnation of that reason this great rock was teachers and preceptors. Now, Lord Buddha and this tradition brought here from India6”. Such with the land having fallen under is still alive among indigenous popular beliefs are prevalent in Chinese occupation, the situation Tibetans3. The belief that this region about many other rocks has certainly changed, but in mountains can be moved from and mountains. There is also a those days, the very meaning of one place to another exists not tradition of circumambulation of pilgrimage in Tibet generally just in our country but in Tibet as such mountains. Regarding Shiv- meant going to India. Rahulji well, and this belief perhaps even Ri, one such mountain situated gives indication of this at the time today holds the place of tradition on the left bank of Phu River, of his entry into Tibet, when he among the indigenous Tibetan Rahul Sankrityayan writes: informed sentries at the border people. A particular incident “After walking for hours we saw post that they were proceeding pertains to the time when Rahul Sankrityayan was travelling from Lhasa to Sam-Ye. He was The very meaning of Gya-gar is India, which for the passing through the valley of the people of Triviṣṭapa (Tibet) holds the sanctity of being Brahmaputra River. He has this to their gurudesha or the land of their teachers and say: “In the evening we reached a preceptors. Now, with the land having fallen under mountain that was rocky. People told very earnestly that this is not Chinese occupation, the situation has certainly changed, a mountain of Tibet, it has been but in those days, the very meaning of pilgrimage in Tibet brought here from India as a generally meant going to India
44 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 to Lhasa after completing the In Tibet, the rosary is often seen in the hands of all men pilgrimage from Gy-gar to 8 and women. Most of them keep on rotating it with their Dorje-dan (Bodh Gaya) . Just as fingers (in chanting) whether seated or walking. More in India, every village in Tibet too has its village (local) deity devotees rotate the rosary in one hand and the māṇī in and there is similar reverence the other. In this māṇī, more than one lakh mantras are towards them. Further, Rahulji written on paper folded and wrapped around a thin plate has this to say about the tradition: of copper or silver, folded and kept on paper, within which “Finally we saw flags of black, the nail-head like small rod is stored yellow and white cloth. I came to know that we had touched the peak of La (a mountain). There accruing of the merit of chanting proceeding from Furi. Describing is a god of every La in Bhot. As all the mantras written inside the inn, he writes, “Two men and soon as people approach him, it10”. These māṇīs are of many women came shortly after we sat they get off their horses, so that kinds. There are ones that move down. The old lady offered him a the deity should not get angry. like a watermill, others have a drink. After a while, the woman We too got off. Sumatiprajña and flame placed inside a lamp and began yawning. The man started other Bhotis proclaimed victory attached to an umbrella of paper folding his hands repeatedly. to the deity with loud chants of or cloth hanging above it, while Dharmakīrti told me that a deity ‘Sho Sho Sho’”9. some others that operate like a had entered the woman’s being, Like India, the tendency fan driven by the wind. and the man was behaving in a towards chanting and Rahul Sankrityayan has manner as to not let the deity accumulation of spiritual merit commented in a humourous vein enter her. The woman stood up, is present in Tibet as well. on this, saying “If electricity wearing the attire of the deity Small rosary and receptacles comes to Tibet, there is no and picking up the poles, musical with mouth shaped like a cow’s doubt that a lot of māṇīs would drum and instrument, went into head called the gomukhi, used begin to run on electric power as the mistress’ room. A lamp was for chanting, can generally be well. In our country, chanting is lit in the front; incense began to seen here in the hands of elderly done by pronunciation through burn, and to the beat of a thin people. In the suburban and the tongue; some also write wooden musical instrument, the metro trains in our metro cities, down mantras on paper for deity began to speak in fluent one can sometimes see similar accumulation of merit. At places, verse. All mule-riders and other rosary and/or religious books in thousands of handwritten copies travelers kept narrating their the hands of adults struggling to with the name of Rāma written troubles to the divine carrier find time for their daily worship. in them are also distributed; yet after placing some money before But “in Tibet, the rosary is often the pace of our accumulation of it. They did not speak in prose; seen in the hands of all men virtue is very slow. Even perhaps all answers were in verse12. and women. Most of them keep in hundreds of years, we might It is not the gods enter the on rotating it with their fingers not be able to compete with the beings of only women. Men are (in chanting) whether seated or Tibetan people in this regard11”. also no less fortunate in this walking. More devotees rotate Similarly, the belief of deities matter”. Rahulji makes another the rosary in one hand and the entering the person of some reference in his journey from māṇī in the other. In this māṇī, people is also very strong in Lhasa to Sam-Ye, “He was more than one lakh mantras Tibet. Such people are respected hopeful that he would go on from are written on paper folded and as others regard them as blessed here in a while; but it turned wrapped around a thin plate of with special attributes; people go out that the deity had entered copper or silver, folded and kept to them to seek solutions to their the being of the old woman’s on paper, within which the nail- problems. In return, people also husband. He is highly welcome head like small rod is stored. donate money to them. On his here. In Tibet, he or she who One complete twirl of this way back from Lhasa, Rahulji narrates about the deity is also small instrument is akin to the stayed at an inn somewhere after worshiped like a deity13”.
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Traditional System of After our midday meal, our convoy left for Nalanda. Education While there is a Nalanda in Lanka named after India's This concept of equality applies Nalanda, Tibet too is not devoid of it. After walking for not only in the religious realm, but equally so in the Tibetan about two hours, we reached Nalanda. Although it stands society’s education system, somewhat uphill from the ground, it is like plains albeit with a slight difference. In ancient India, education took place in ashrams. Apart from our country, students had to sciences while 2-Mchen-Jnid this, there were gurukuls and also undergo a rigorous examination, would be darṣana or philosophy). universities. In many of these “The position of Lhram-Pa (a There are also many Kham- places, there were provisions for doctorate or an āchārya) would Jans and hostels established in studying according to the need be awarded by the government to accordance with the hierarchy of and convenience of the students, only sixteen persons every year, territories17”. and many of them also had and only to such scholars, who facilities for students to reside. could clear debates and rigorous The Tradition of Debate Such traditional schools can still oral examinations16”. Like India, Tibet too has a be seen in India. It is another The biggest example of its tradition of debate. This tradition matter that centuries of slavery origin in India is that many of of debate is prevalent among have diminished their glory and Tibet’s viharas are based on students as well as teachers. The influence. In Tibet, even in that our universities like Nalanda methods are the same in both period (between 1929 and 38) or Vikramashila. Not only this, instances, distinction being only there existed such monasteries there is a vihara named Nalanda. at the level of content. In his and schools. Although, one In a travelogue pertaining to his travel account of the Nalanda of cannot say what their situation journey from Lhasa to the north, Tibet, Rahul Sankrityayan makes is now, after the country fell Sankrityayan writes, “After our mention of this: “I visited the under Chinese occupation. In midday meal, our convoy left for lawn (Chhos-Ra) where debates his mention of such centres of Nalanda. While there is a Nalanda would held for a few minutes in learning, Sankrityayan writes: in Lanka named after India's the evening. There were twenty- “Students live in Khun-Chhun Nalanda, Tibet too is not devoid twenty-five men in all. There and study at the same place; of it. After walking for about was a lot of clapping, chanting this is thus both a college and two hours, we reached Nalanda. and chanting amidst which the boarding14”. For residing in Although it stands somewhat debate would be conducted20”. a hostel though, students had uphill from the ground, it is Chaos and theatrics there might to observe very strict rules. like plains. Construction of this be plenty in these debates, but Permission to reside in most vihara was completed by the no arrogance”. One may also hostels was granted only to early fifteenth century. Its builder ponder on Rahulji’s comment on those students who came there Röng-s Ton Sakya Gryal-M-Chan the theatrical manner in which to become lamas. Those who was an outstanding philosopher these debates were conducted: wished to become householders of his time and was a rival to “The questioner got up from his had to travel from their homes Makhs-Pruva (1385–1432) the seat. He first paid obeisance to and study there. There were scholarly disciple of Chong-Kha- both the elders and sought their also two kinds of teachers. “The Pa (1357–1419). This Nalanda consent to put questions to them. lower grade teachers are called was once the Nalanda of Tibet. Then he started to ask questions Ge-Grthen (lecturer) and the Similar to the viharas of Chong- regarding the Pramāṇavārtik higher grade teachers are Gay- Kha-Pa like Dey-Pung and (a work of logic, based on Shay (professor)15”. It is not easy others, it was an excellent centre judgmental methodology) of to obtain a degree in research of learning, like the deities of the Dharmakirti. The manner of or specialization. In Tibet too, deities of Cho-Kh-Pa's followers. questioning was odd; at times for this, like the universities It has two D-Sang (1-SS-Chhen the questioner would move of Nalanda or Takshashila in means mahāguhya or esoteric forward, and step back on other
46 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 occasions. Upon each category same is true of popular taste. The India. Sankrityayan continues, of question(s), he would slap the trend of composing and singing “There was a lot of artificiality palm of one hand on the other. He songs focused on contemporary in pronunciation. Upon listening would hold the rosary necklace political-social events is seen to the dialogues, the unnatural in both hands making the among folk artists of almost all pronunciation of the Ramlilas posture of discharging an arrow languages and dialects of India. (drama on the life and saga of from a bow21”. This method of Being contemporary, it soon Shri Rama) came to one’s mind. questioning appeared odd to a engulfs the entire environment. People could understand the pandit like Rahul Sankrityayan, Even the adulterousness of an dialogues spoken in prose25”. who had studied in a Sanskrit eminent person becomes the Such dance forms too resemble school. He asked one of his subject of song there. Refer to many classical and folk styles of fellow logicians, “What is the the mention of one such incident, India. “Moving one’s hands in a reason for clapping one’s hands “Someone found this incident rhythmic manner in the motion and holding the rosary necklace very fascinating. He set it to verse of flying a kite, moving back and in the manner of shooting an and let it loose in the market. In forth at a slow pace, or moving arrow from a bow?” The answer a couple of days, all the boys of around in a circle, all of which he got was surprising, “This Lhasa began singing these songs was beautiful to see26”. is not a something that is of of Sho-gang (sur-khang) de pon Bhot; it has come from Nalanda ki klu (the song) set to great Epilogue and Vikramshila; you are the melody. De-Pon did not dare to Is this similarity that extends ones who brought it here. In come out of his home for many from the field of art, the system reply, I said that in Nalanda and days. Someone even composed a of education, social behaviour Vikramshila debates would have song on the style of the haircut and ethical conduct to people’s been conducted in this theatrical of the police of Sardar Bahadur beliefs only a coincidence? style could have been conducted Le-Dan-la23”. Or just a matter of emulation? Courtesy: The Tibet Journal, only if such a system of debates Similarly, dramas in Tibet have No. This is neither coincidence were prevalent throughout India been staged using plain ground as nor emulation. This is actually Vol 2, no. 2, Summer 1977 at that time. Had such a system the stage, much like the Bhojpuri the outcome of mutual trust been there, some of its remains Bidesiya or maidani style. The and understanding between would still be found in the Bhotia people do utilise curtains two entities. It is a world of community of scholars in Kashi in their plays24. One must bear understanding and shared ethos (Varanasi) and Mithila (Bihar). in mind that there is no evidence that stayed intact for centuries, But this method is not to be seen of the practice of curtains and is the result of close ties. there at all. Then another friend even in India before Muslim This is an effect of the mutual said that perhaps Je-Rinpochhe invasions. Here, the very word closeness between India and (Chong-Kha-Pa) might have for curtain is yavanikā, which is Tibet. It cannot be denied that the introduced it22”. associated with the Yavanas, i.e., Chinese occupation has limited (unwelcome) aliens. The imprint Tibet’s original culture to a few Similarities in Folk Art of Sanskrit plays can be seen on smaller entities. The Chinese There are also striking their dialogues in the form of occupiers have reduced it to a similarities in folk art, their its lyrical quality, which is even mere exhibit or museum piece. styles and subject matter and the today found in folk-genres in No one knows how much it will survive in its original abode; whether it will even survive or There are also striking similarities in folk art, their styles not. But with the efforts of His and subject matter and the same is true of popular taste. Holiness the Dalai Lama and the The trend of composing and singing songs focused on support of the Government of India, efforts are on to preserve it contemporary political-social events is seen among folk to a great extent. Hopefully such artists of almost all languages and dialects of India. Being endeavours will be successful as contemporary, it soon engulfs the entire environment well.
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References: 12. Sankrityayan Rahul, Merī 18. Sankrityayan Rahul, Tibbata 1. Sankrityayan Rahul, Merī Jīvana Yātrā- Part-2, (Kitab mein Sawā Barasa, (Sharda Jīvana Yātrā- Part-2, (Kitab Mahal, Allahabad, 1950) pp. Mandir, New Delhi) p. 170 Mahal, Allahabad, 1950) 103-104 19. Ibid, p. 170 2. Sankrityayan Rahul, Tibbat mein 13. Sankrityayan Rahul, Tibbata 20. Sankrityayan Rahul, Sawā Barasa, (Sharda Mandir, mein Sawā Barasa, (Sharda Merī Tibbata Yātrā, New Delhi) p. 322 Mandir, New Delhi) p. 321 (Chhatrahitkari Pustakmala, 3. Ibid, p. 189 14. Ibid, p. 285 1937) p. 12 4. Ibid, p. 322 15. Ibid, p. 285 21. Sankrityayan Rahul, Tibbata 5. Ibid, p. 322 16. Sankrityayan Rahul, Merī mein Sawā Barasa, (Sharda 6. Ibid, p. 322 Jīvana Yātrā- Part-2, Mandir, New Delhi) p. 308 7. Ibid, p. 134 (Kitab Mahal, Allahabad, 22. Ibid, p. 309 8. Ibid, p. 116 1950) p. 85 23. Ibid, p. 279 9. Ibid, p. 126 17. Sankrityayan Rahul, Merī 24. Ibid, p. 175 10. Ibid, p. 140 Tibbata Yātrā, (Chhatrahitkari 25. Ibid, p. 175 11. Ibid, pp. 151–152 Pustakmala, 1937) pp. 10-11 26. Ibid, p. 176 History of Potala Palace he Potala Palace is a dzong fortress in the north western part of the city of Lhasa, in Tibet. TIt was the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas from 1649 to 1959, has been a museum since then, and is a World Heritage Site since 1994. Thirteen storeys of buildings, containing over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues, soar 117 metres (384 ft) on top of Marpo Ri, the "Red Hill", rising more than 300 metres (980 ft) in total above the valley floor. The palace is named after Putul, believed to be the abode of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. Its construction was started in the seventh Century when King Songtsen Gampo was keen to marry Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang dynasty. Even today, Tibetan people could not forget the interesting story behind this marriage. The site on which the Potala Palace rises is built over a palace erected by Songtsen Gampo on the Red Hill. The Potala contains two chapels on its northwest corner that conserve parts of the original building. One is the Phakpa Lhakhang, the other the Chogyel Drupuk, a recessed cavern identified as Songtsen Gampo's meditation cave. Lozang Gyatso, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, started the construction of the modern Potala Palace in 1645 after one of his spiritual advisers, Konchog Chophel (died 1646), pointed out that the site was ideal as a seat of government, situated as it is between Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa. The external structure was built in 3 years, while the interior, together with its furnishings, took 45 years to complete. The Dalai Lama and his government moved into the Potrang Karpo ('White Palace') in 1649. Construction lasted until 1694, some twelve years after his death. The Potala was used as a winter palace by the Dalai Lama from that time. The Potrang Marpo ('Red Palace') was added between 1690 and 1694. The new palace got its name from a hill on Cape Comorin at the southern tip of India—a rocky point sacred to the bodhisattva of compassion, who is known as Avalokitesvara, or Chenrezi. The Tibetans themselves rarely speak of the sacred place as the "Potala", but rather as "Peak Potala" (Tse Potala), or most commonly as "the Peak". The palace was moderately damaged during the Tibetan uprising against the Chinese in 1959, when Chinese shells were launched into the palace's windows. Before Chamdo Jampa Kalden was shot and taken prisoner by soldiers of the People's Liberation Army, he witnessed "Chinese cannon shells began landing on Norbulingka past midnight on March 19th, 1959...".
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Tibet's Influence in Ladakh and Bhutan K. Dhondup
he following purports to reveal Tibet and hence came to be known as the distinctive influence Tibetan 'mi-log' (those who refuse to return). Tculture has had upon the culture According to Geshe Gedun Chophel's and religion of Ladakh and Bhutan. (dGe - bshes dGe- 'dun Chos-'phel) The geographical and genealogical Deb-ther-karpo (Deb-ther-dkar-po), similarity of both Bhutan and Ladakh cavaliers of King Tr'i-song's (Khri- to Tibet is apparent to any observer, srong) expedition to Magadha, but far more pronounced is the affinity organised specifically for importing in gesture, rituals, language and social relics from India for the Sam-yä customs. These similarities are by no (bSam-yas) stupa, deserted while means accidental, but are derivative returning to Tibet and settled in the in the sense that they trace their origin Himalayan regions. These deserters to indigenous Tibetan religious and eventually came to be known as Ta- cultural influences. If a chapter on the mag (rTa-dmag) (cavalry), from civilisations of Ladakh and Bhutan whom numerous Himalayan hill be written, the source of inspiration tribes descended, as for example, the upon which these civilisations were Tamang tribes of Nepal. Ladakh and founded will undoubtedly be Tibet. Recorded Ladakhi history trace Bhutan had had While Buddhism came to Tibet their early kings to the descendants deep relations from India in the 7th century, both of Lang-darma, the pro-Bön king of with Tibet. Due Bhutan and Ladakh, in turn, derived it Tibet who destroyed monasteries and from Tibet. Bön {Borì) or Shamanism monks in his campaign to root out to the trade seems to have preceded Buddhism in Buddhism from Tibet. Lang-darma' and social all three countries. Bhutan experienced s legitimate heir Ö-srung ('Od-srung) customs these the first Tibetan incursions from about ('Guarded by Light') established his A.D. 650 and Bhutanese people of empire in the Western Tibet areas, regions were Tibetan origin date from the time of proximate to Ladakh. The latter's also connected King Tr'i Räl-pa-chen (Khri Ral-pa - descendents, two Guge brother kings, frequently with chen) (r. 816-36). Tibetan domination Jang-chub-wö (Byang-chub-'od) and in Bhutan came to an end with the Yeshe-wö (Ye-shes-'od) invited Pandit each other and onset of a civil war in Central Tibet Atiša (the Bengali saint) to Tibet in it made them to following the assassination of King order to revive and spread Buddhism exchange the Lang-darma (gLang-dar-ma) (r. once again. 836-42), but Bhutan by that time Nomenclature Ladakh, in the cultural attributes. had been extensively colonialised by ancient scriptures, is referred to An analysis of the Tibetan garrison stationed there, as 'Ka-wa-chen-pa' (Ka-ba-chen- cultural influences many of whom refused to return to pa) or the inhabitants of the land of
49 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 snow. This is very similar to the compelled the king of Ladakh to in the western and northern nomenclature generally attributed accept Islam. But before long the areas of Bhutan, together with to Tibet: Kha-wäi-jong ( Kha- Tibeto-Mongolian forces returned Bhumthangkha spoken in Central bai - Ijongs ) or the land of snow. and compelled the king of Ladakh Bhutan and Sarchakpa spoken Bhutan, according to David to sign a treaty, promising to send in Eastern Bhutan, all of which Field Rennie (1866) means "the annual tribute to Lhasa. Ladakh utilise the classical Ü-chän script. country of Bhots or Thibetians. . during that period was called Notwithstanding the seemingly .more correctly, it should be spelt the Western Tibetan empire, different styles between the Bhotstan - stan in the* Persian but subsequent to the 1846 Bhutanese dialects and Tibetan, and Arabic meaning place: invasion of Zarowar Singh, a Sikh the root remains basically hence Hindoostan, Afghanistan general, Ladakh, together with Tibetan. and Baloochistan, the places Baltistan, became dependencies The original language respectively of the Hindoo, the of Kashmir. of Ladakh, specially of the Afghan and the Balooch." But The recorded history of Bhutan strategically important town a far more convincing origin of and Ladakh do not date back of Leh, was Tibetan, and even the name Bhutan lies with the earlier than the 7th century. Extant today Sanskar, Spiti, Khunnu Sanskrit explanation of the word historical literature of these regions (Busha- har), Mayul Ladakh, Bhotstan, according to Rennie pertaining to the period mentioned Purig and Baltistan are known and which is "the end (anta) of above are fragmentary. The as Western Tibetan speaking Tibet (Bhota) on the landscape disastrous fires of Bhutan which areas. But in course of time, the of Tibet." These similarities in burnt the printing establishment local Tibetan dialect indiscrimi- nomenclature are interesting in at Sonagachi in 1828, Punakha nately assimilated non-Tibetan that the physical appearance and in 1832 and the 1896 earthquake, words and phrases which, in gestures of the inhabitants of the ravaged valuable manuscripts most cases, replaced the original respective countries are so alike which could have shed much- Tibetan words, thereby obscuring that often, early historians have needed light on the origins of the original Tibetan. This was treated them as one and have been Bhutan and its inhabitants. The done through the replacement of confused over the mutual cultural lack of a system of writing is a Kashmiri, Hindustani or even a influences and the signi- ficance another factor which points to the Turki word. of the individual states. limited historical records of these regions. The only system known to Social Customs History and Language them is the Tibetan Ü-chän (dBu- Religious mask dances, folk Originally, Bhutan was a part can) script evolved by Thonmi songs, including Gesar war songs of Kamarup (Assam), but the Sambhota in the 7th century. But from the Gesar epic of Tibet are political upheavals that shook even this system of writing must extremely popular in Ladakh and Northern India after the death have reached these regions some Bhutan. Every festival assumes a of Bhaskaravarm of Kamarupa centuries later. Despite indigenous religious tone with the sounding in A.D. 650, exposed this tiny scriptural changes, this system of cymbals, clarinets and drums, kingdom to inroads and invasions continues to be the only script in all suggestive of the sanctified from the north and to its final use today. atmosphere of a Tibetan festival. occupation by Tibet. The history of Dzongkha is the official Masked dancers entertain the Ladakh's early kings may be traced Bhutanese language spoken entire audience with intervals of to Lang-darma's descendents. Her early history indicates that she had been invaded on numerous Shah Jahan, the Mughul emperor, on one occasion sent occasions by Tibetan and Tibeto- a large army to assist Ladakh against a Tibeto-Mongolian Mongolian forces. Shah Jahan, the invasion and simultaneously compelled the king of Ladakhto Mughul emperor, on one occasion sent a large army to assist Ladakh accept Islam. But before long the Tibeto-Mongolian forces against a Tibeto-Mongolian returned and compelled the king of Ladakh to sign a treaty, invasion and simultaneously promising to send annual tribute to Lhasa
50 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 a lively and immodest humour Religious mask dances, folk songs, including Gesar participated by jesters, while in war songs from the Gesar epic of Tibet are extremely Tibet, the religious dances or popular in Ladakh and Bhutan. Every festival assumes Chham is something so sacred that no profane or indecent joke a religious tone with the sounding of cymbals, clarinets can ever be interjected into the and drums, all suggestive of the sanctified atmosphere performances. But this rustic of a Tibetan festival humour is cherished in Lhamo or Tibetan opera where the theme is always the triumph of good over Trade Medicine and Astrology evil. Interestingly enough, Bhutan Trade was an important channel of Bhutan is sometimes referred has not patronised Lhamo, despite cultural exchange and influence. to as 'the land of medicine'. But the fact that Dr'ub-thob Thang- Leh, Ladakh's capital, used to the form of medical practice and thong Gyalpo ( Grub-thob Thang- be the foremost barter centre of treatment prevalent in Bhutan stong rGyal-po ), the founder Central Asia and caravans from and Ladakh is actually a system of Lhamo as well as a reputed Tibet, Hindustan, Turkestan and incorporated from the Tibetan architect, visited Bhutan and China would pass through or medical science, a science constructed the Cylinder Temple gather there to sell their wares. which has acquired considerable on the west bank of Paro Valley, Bhutan would collect dyes, coarse skill and sophistication in Tibet and his famous bridges still span silk, arecanut, tobacco from over the centuries. In fact, rivers in Bhutan. Assam and Bengal and exchange Bhutanese doctors were sent for Despite attempts at them for wool, tea, salt and musk study to Chok-po-ri (IChog-po- modernisation, superstitions and from Tibet. Their local produce ri) Medical College in Lhasa. fancy rituals combine to make such as spices, timber, agricultural Herbal medicinal plants used Ladakh and Bhutan anachronistic products would also be bartered for to be exported from Bhutan to states. The monasteries, aristocracy the merchandise of Tibet. Hah, a Tibet. For traditional societies and peasants are reminiscent of Bhutanese town, two days journey like Bhutan and Ladakh where a medieval epoch in the days of from the Chum-b'i (Chum-'bi) the inhabitants took recourse to the feudalistic estate. Monogamy, valley was a busy centre of trade astrological calculations in an polyandry and polygamy all co- with Tibet and numerous caravans effort to grasp the vicissitudes of exist. Death rites in both Ladakh of horses and pack mules passed life, astrology played an important and Bhutan are similar to those of back and forth until quite recently. role. From the two systems the Tibetans. Offerings to lamas of astro- logical calculations and monasteries are made for the Art and Architecture prevalent in Tibet - the Manjušri deceased and prayer flags and In painting, sculpture, murals and astrology from China and the ťang-kas ( thang-ká ) are erected frescoes, Tibetan art has had a Kalacakra Tantric astrology from for the departed soul. The actual direct and prominent influence. India, the Bhutanese have in- date of the cremation is decided But the stylistic influence of the herited the latter method, whereby by astrological calculation and Newari artists and craftsmen their calendars are based upon the the corpse is kept for forty-nine from Nepal is discernible in lunar months. days during which Bardo Thodrol the Bhutanese, as with Tibetan (Bar-do gTho-grol) (The Tibetan art and architecture. Newari Religion Book of the Dead) is read in front artists found court patronage and By far the greatest Tibetan of the dead person. Such death encouragement to further their influence introduced in both rites could be a source of heavy artistic skills in the Tibetan and Bhutan and Ladakh has been that financial burden on an average Bhutanese courts. The monastic of Tibetan Buddhism. Drug-yul family, leaving it in debt for arts of t'ang-ka painting, religious ('Brug-yul) is the Land of the many years to come. In the case masks, interior frescoes of dzongs Dťug-pa school of the Ka-gyii-pa of a high lama or the king, the and temples of Ladakh and Bhutan (bKa'-rgyud-pa) lineage of Tibetan cremation ceremony may prolong maintain a classical grandeur Buddhism. This has been the state for two years. peculiar to Tibetan religious art. religion since 1616 when Lama
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Nangmar Namgyal (bLa-ma Nang- Buddhism and its rituals have had a strong impact on Bhutan mar rNam-rgyal) of South Tibet and Ladakh. If Tibet looked towards Aryabhumi of India as established it on a firm foundation. the mother source of learning and Tibetan scholars ventured But Tibetan Buddhism, especially of the Nyingmapa (rNying-ma-pa) across the hostile Himalayan ranges to obtain knowledge school was introduced in Bhutan and wisdom, it was to Lhasa that the Bhutanese, Ladakhis, as early as the 8th cen- tury when and even Mongolians and Chinese monks looked for spiritual Guru Padmasambhava entered guidance and knowledge Bhutan after subjugating the elfs, goblins and demons at the construction site of Sam-yä (bSam- one may light an offering lamp and culture have elements of both yas) in Lhasa and spread the word and say a prayer for the welfare Indian and Chinese influence, the of Tantra in Tibet at the request of of all fellow sentient beings. Tibetan religio-cultural influence King Tr'i-song De'u-tsän (Khri- Buddhism and its rituals have which established itself in Bhutan srong IDe'u-btzan). Ladakh also had a strong impact on Bhutan and Ladakh was purely Tibetan. advocates Tibetan Buddhism and and Ladakh. If Tibet looked If it had not been for Tibetan some Ku-shong (sKu-shongs) or towards Aryabhumi of India as religious and cultural penetration Head Lamas of Ladakh trace their the mother source of learning in the kingdoms of Bhutan and genealogical tree to Yu-thog Yon- and Tibetan scholars ventured Ladakh, both these areas would tan Gonpo (gYu-thog Yon-tan across the hostile Himalayan have been spiri- tually the poorer mGon-po), the Tibetan medical ranges to obtain knowledge and and devoid of the wider interest genius. In this context, the devotion wisdom, it was to Lhasa that the which has been provoked today as with which the Ladakhis attended Bhutanese, Ladakhis, and even a result of the cultural influences. the recent Kalacakra ceremony Mongolians and Chinese monks While Tibetan Buddhism has (1976) initiated by His Holiness looked for spiritual guidance and reduced the militancy of the the Dalai Lama at Leh is a living knowledge. While Tibet remained people, as it did in Tibet, it has testimony to the Tibetan reli-gious isolated from the rest of the world brought about simultaneously a influence in the region and the except for its brief encounters decent code of conduct based on respect and love with which the with Chinese emperors and compassion. These two Himalayan Tibetans and Ladakhis regard their Indian pandits, Bhutan and kingdoms are perhaps one of ancestral past. Ladakh have had greater contact the last few strongholds evident The age-old sanctity and with Tibet than with any other in the 20th century of theocratic grandeur of Hemis monastery country, besides India. But the conservatism and anachronistic in Ladakh and Thimphu Dzong religion and culture which had feudalism. of Bhutan strike a Tibetan as the greatest impact on these two being a familiar Tsug- lag- countries was that of Tibet and not Courtesy: The Tibet Journal, khang (gTsttg-lag-khang) where of India. Though Tibetan religion Vol 2, no. 2, Summer 1977 Tibetan houses ibetan houses are widely different from region to regions, in the central Tibet it is built by Tcombination of stone, earth and wood, where in the eastern part use mostly wood and very thin wall in the outermost, some part in the western and far-eastern(Khampa) use adobe and wood, only in eastern Tibet the houses has peak roof to accommodate the long monsoon in the region, other regions has a flat roof with Lungta (wind horse prayer flags) on each corner to disperse the prayers in the wind, all the doors and windows are beautifully decorated with paintings and colorful clothes called Shambu. Each family has a special room as temple and it is fully decorated with ritual items, images and thangka. In the villages there is a small compound around the house as animal shelter and southern walls of the houses are largely covered by circular cow-dung for drying.
52 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 Tibetan Diaspora in India: Longing and
Javeed Ahmad Belonging
he Tibetan Community has arenas which directly or indirectly been facing a constant human has generated large movements of Trights violation following the people in almost every region today. Political instability in the region As migratory trends have registered a particularly after 1950 as a result tremendous acline at all the regional, of which, they have been in a state national and international levels, so of hopelessness. This has in turn, too has the formation of diasporas resulted in their exile into the or translational communities leading neighbouring countries especially to increasing number of people with India. Given the forbearance shown allegiances straddling their place Just after China by this community while in exile, this of origin and their new homelands. community has invited the attention Today, the ambivalences can be seen occupied Tibet of one and all. The present paper, in the country’s responses to the it became more therefore, represents an attempt to identity status of their expatriates as and more difficult understand the Tibetan Diaspora in well as their attempts to expand their for natives to live India from the historical view point ambit of their non-residents (NR’s). and also by analyzing the various Further various latent but important in their homeland. issues confronting this community issues such as those of exclusive Consequently while in exile. Besides this paper loyalties on the behalf of immigrant they chose exile. highlights the role of Central Tibetan populations to their host countries Administration (CTA) towards its have been inviting the concerns A large number of exiled Tibetan community and in across the various quarters. people escaped chasing the long cherished dream Given the various push and pull from Tibet who of free Tibet. The paper is based on factors such as economic, religious the quantitative analysis of factual and political uncertainties or the are still residing information available through print processes of industrialization, in many countries and electronic media. modernization, globalization etc. including India and the attendant virtues such as Formation of Diaspora revolutionized real (locomotionary) and tragic aspect The volatility in the world social, and virtual (telecommunication) of their exile is economic and political order ever communications, the level of that they can’t since the dawn of 20th century has mobility among the people has even claim to be been transcendental as a result of increased tremendously and, hence, which the nations across the globe diasporas are on increase, which recognised as have been witnessing phenomenal has, therefore, generated a need to refugees changes in all the aforementioned understand and classify them. While
53 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 the Cohens historical approach and the subsequent perpetration Tibet was opened to trade and of classifying diasporas into five of human rights violation till tourism between 1986 to 1996, different categories of victim 1959 when a revolt broke out thereby, raising the percentage (African-American, Jewish and in Lhasa, Tibet's administrative of the already exiled Tibetan Armenian), imperial (British), capital and when China community in India. labour (Indian), trade (Chinese) annexed whole of the Tibet. In addition to the above two and cultural (Caribbean) based What followed was the historic, phases of displacement, the third on the forces underlying the infamous and heart wrenching phase of Tibetan displacement original population dispersion exodus of approximately 80,000 can be said to have started from may not exemplify the Tibetan Tibetans who fled to India along 1996 till date. But this phase not Diaspora, Gabriel Shaffer’s with his Holiness the 14th Dalai being so distinct can be treated classification of diasporas into Lama Tensin Gyatso. This was as an extension of the second “state linked diasporas” and continued by a steady flow of displacement phase. stateless diasporas” based on Tibetan migrants filtering into Today, there are approximately their identity/linkage/non- India in the years that followed. 150000 Tibetan refugees living linkage with the nation states Fundamentally, three phases of in India in almost 37 diverse exemplifies the Tibetan Diaspora displacement can be broadly settlements and 70 scattered in a much comprehensive manner. traced in the history of Tibetan communities. The below given Elaborating his distinction of displacement as: table presents the population Diasporas into “state linked figures of Tibetan refugees in Diasporas” and “stateless First Phase major states of India as: Diasporas”, he mentioned that The first phase began in 1959 “state linked Diasporas” include with the Tibetan uprising, when Population Figures of all those Diasporas which communist China invaded and Tibetan Community in are connected to societies of illegally occupied whole of Major States of India their own ethnic origin that Tibet. This resulted in the escape constitute a majority in their of his Holiness 14th Dalai Lama STATE POPULATION own in established states”, into India through Himalayas Karnataka 75000 while “stateless Diasporas” to followed by Exodus of some which the Tibetan Diaspora also 80,000 Tibetans between 1959- West Bengal 24000 belongs, include all those groups 1960. of dispersed people, who have Delhi 14000 been unable to establish their Second Phase Uttaranchal 9800 own independent state. The second phase of Tibetan Though Tibetan people are influx into India began in Himachal 9600 spread throughout the continents early 1980’s when a chunk of Pradesh of Asia, America, Europe and approximately 3100 Tibetan’s Australia etc. in more or less entered the country from Bhutan Arunachal 5700 Pradesh concentrated communities, between 1980 to 1985 in the but given the huge population wake of Citizenship crises, where Jammu & 2300 of Tibetans living in exile in under, the exiled Tibetans were Kashmir India, Tibetan Diaspora in India forced by Bhutanese government comprises the largest Tibetan to owe allegiance to the country Maharashtra 2200 Diaspora in the world today. by accepting its citizenship. Uttar 1800 Unwilling to do so and following Pradesh Migration of Tibetans to the India’s approval, the country India and Emergence of witnessed an indirect, but historic Assam 800 Tibetan Diaspora influx of an aforementioned and The history of Tibetan migration approximately 3100 Tibetans Others 3800 can be traced back to communist from Bhutan. Another 25000 Total 149000 China’s invasion of Tibet in 1949 Tibetans arrived in India, when
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Graphic Representation of Above Population Figures the West. Today, the CTA has been successful in garnering a huge amount of international support and aid for the struggle. It also works towards creating unity among the exiled Tibetans by promoting Tibetan culture and religion besides working on the image of a non-violent, co-friendly and Tibetan nation. By putting to use the traditional symbolism, it has performed a dual role of invoking the Tibetan identity and arousing a sense of national loyalty in its people. Tibetan Diaspora: A Case of Heuristic Binaries Tibetans in exile today, are Source: http://www. departure from the democratic grappling with the problems joshuaproject.net/people-profile. set-up of the CTA. However to of deterritorialisation and php?peo3=15468&rog3=IN maintain the democratic sanctity reterritorialisation. The In order to rehabilitate the of the CTA, his Holiness Dalai problematique of “in between” exiled Tibetan’s and restoring Lama has himself many a times identities of Tibetan refugees freedom and happiness in Tibet, offered to give up his position and imbricated in these processes the democratic administration in also went to the extent of making is crucial. The problem has got exile was set up by his Holiness14th a clause which provides for his further compounded in the wake Dalai Lama Tensin Gyatso in the impeachment by the people subject of variations in the legal status city of Dharamsala in India on to their desire. Today, he is being granted to Tibetans who arrived 29 April 1959. Working under treated as the undisputed leader of in India since their first exodus the name of “Central Tibetan Tibetans in exile and majority of in 1959. Today, the Tibetans in Administration” and also referred the Tibetans recognize the CTA exile are dwindling between the to as “Tibetan Government in as the only form of legitimate two polar ends of foreigners and Exile”, the organization claims Tibetan government being headed refugees. The acronym “RC” which to be the rightful and legitimate by his Holiness Dalai Lama. In stands for “Registration Card” government of Tibet. Though, the the words of Lhasang Tsering, and not a conceived misnomer “Central Tibetan Organisation” a Tibetan writer and activist, “Refugee Card” delimits the (CTA) is not officially recognised “he is our greatest strength and otherwise myriad privileges that as the ‘government-in-exile’ by any our greatest weakness” . The would have been available to this country, but it still receives huge Tibetans greatly depend upon exiled community had they been financial support from various him as a leader. The structure of granted the true refugee status in governments and international the CTA, thus, represents a polar the legal sense of the term. India organisations across the world. opposite of the largely feudal being neither a party to the 1951 The CTA’s structure is analogous and oppressive institution of the UN Convention relating to the to a constitutionally democratic government in Tibet, predating the Status of refugees nor to the 1967 state, with an elected Parliament Chinese occupation. Its structure Protocol is devoid of any specific and Prime Minister. The tradition reflects the egalitarianism and legislation about refugee rights of regarding his Holiness Dalai magnanimity of its founding father and protection. These informal Lama as the divine leader still for having allowed a combination refugees were allotted residence stands strong in the Tibetan of the principles of Buddhism permits and identity certificates community which represents a and the political concepts of which facilitated their movement
55 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 out of India. Although, the refugees who continue to live in a comfortable life. The older government of India allowed the host country carry a constant generation, on the other hand, the Tibetans to enter India even fear and threat of being deported dreams and longs of/for the day after the first phase, however, or being put behind bars. Further, when they will be able to return those who arrived in India after as illegal immigrants, they possess to the land which had once been 1980’s and particularly of late, a blurred future. Moreover, the their home. had to manoeuvre the huge crusts Indian government assisted the and troughs while ensuring the Tibetan refugees till the 1980s. Socio-Economic Cum needed registrations and to have However, it stopped encouraging Educational Status of the the required documentations. them after the 1980s, given its Tibetan Diaspora in India: Granting “Registration national interests, overpopulation An Overview Certificates/Cards” to this exiled of the Tibetan settlements, The rehabilitation process of community, in other words, shrinking land area and also in its the Tibetan community in India confers a “Foreigner’s Status” pursuit to improve relations with following their exile in 1959 can upon them, which unfortunately China. be said to be par excellence, given deny them or snatches away from The biggest challenge the acceptance and firmness of them many fundamental humanly confronting the Tibetan migrants the resolve of the first Prime rights such as right to expression; in India is the preservation of their Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to assembly and right to protest native culture, while adapting of the host country to provide viz-a-viz Indian citizens. More the modern ways of life. Today, all possible assistance in order so, it also squeezes their job the Tibetan Diaspora in India to resettle the exiled community incentives, besides keeping them has reached its third generation. and also because of the priority, away from the ambit of various While one side of this continuum this exiled community is held prestigious scholarships, that too, is represented by the first and in comparison to other refugee despite of their qualifications and second generation Tibetans, the settlements in India. Thus began educational eligibilities. In the other side of the continuum is the settlement process of Tibetans absence of these privileges, the dominated by the third generation in India with Lugsum Samdupling Tibetan people in India cannot Tibetans in exile. Though the (Bylakuppe Settlement) being work, book an apartment or for Tibetan refugees are keen to retain their first settlement following that purpose open a simple bank their native culture, a number the nod by Karnataka state account by their names. With of third generation Tibetans are government¬¬-- the then Mysore the miniscule authority in hand, somewhat estranged from the government. Today, of all the 37 the government in exile cannot traditional way of life. Further, in settlements of 70 Tibetan scattered do much except encouraging the wake of economic and other communities in India, almost half these Tibetan refugees to take a benefits that the host country are agriculture based, one-third backward recourse. Unfortunately, offers, remaining committed to are engaged in agro-industrial this severely tarnishes the long the cause may be a very difficult pursuits while one-fifth thrive on constructed image and, hence, task. They have become more handicraft business. Alternatively harms the goodwill that the used to the democratic and speaking, most of the Tibetans in government-in-exile has built over modern way of life. Going back to India are either peasant farmers the years. On the contrary, the Tibet would mean leaving behind or nomadic shepherds. Some Tibetans living in northern India, have become rulers and nobles. Though the Tibetan refugees are keen to retain their Others are lamas (monks) who native culture, a number of third generation Tibetans live in monasteries and spend their are somewhat estranged from the traditional way of life. time in prayer and meditation. Further, in the wake of economic and other benefits that The education responsibilities of the children are taken care of the host country offers, remaining committed to the cause under the banner of the Central may be a very difficult task. They have become more Tibetan Schools Administration used to the democratic and modern way of life with a seat in New Delhi. It is
56 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 an autonomous and umbrella The traditional Tibetan society being quite open in nature organization established in 1961 was a witness to all the three forms of marriage such with the objective to establish, as monogamy, polygamy and polyandry. But, today the manage and assist schools in India for the education of polygamy and polyandry as major forms of traditional Tibetan children living in India marriage have yielded to modern form of marriage while preserving and promoting i.e., monogamy which is a common form of marriage their culture and heritage. As nowadays among the modern Tibetan community of 2009 the Administration was particularly those in exile running 71 schools in the areas of concentration of Tibetan population, with about 10,000 to all the three forms of marriage being the world’s largest Diaspora students on the roll from pre- such as monogamy, polygamy in India complimented by the fact primary to class XII, and with and polyandry. But, today the of adoption of non-violent path by 554 teaching staff . Further as of polygamy and polyandry as major Tibetan people in their struggle 13th January 2009, there were 28 forms of traditional marriage for freedom adds resolution CTSA schools whose enrollment have yielded to modern form of and new dimensions to Tibetan was 9,991 students. The first marriage i.e., monogamy which Diaspora, it also speaks volumes Tibetan higher college in exile was is a common form of marriage about the tenacious tolerance, established in Bangalore which nowadays among the modern sustainability and the noble was named as “The Dalai Lama Tibetan community particularly character, the Tibetan Diaspora is Institute for Higher Education”. those in exile. Among other grounded in. However, this is the Along with the goals of Tibetan changes that the institution only one aspect of the story as no language and Tibetan culture, of marriage has registered, is one can deny the cataclysms; this instruction of teaching of science, trend of love marriage which exile arts and information technology has dominated the practice of Community has passed also takes place in this college. traditionally arranged marriages. through. Among other problems, The institutions of marriage However, the prevalence of late the main issues that Tibetan and family have registered marriage can’t be evidenced out government in exile is grappled various if not sharp changes within this exiled community. This with today range from legal status among exiled Tibetan community can be accrued to the increased issues through unemployment in India. Though the traditional emphasis on the educational and and cultural identity issues system of joint families still career pursuits among the exiled up to schism in the exiled exists in exile, however, the joint Tibetan men and women. The Tibetan community between the family system couldn’t resist the institution of marriage is usually conservative Tibetans who have changes as a result of increased viewed as a non-religious joining adapted a middle way approach diffusion and exposure to the of two households except among and the various organizations modern and western education. Tibetan Muslims where marriage such as Tibetan Youth Congress This has resulted into a reduction is a religious affair. Moreover, the (TYC) who being radical in in the number of joint families role of Astrology and cosmology their approach want complete to a large extent. With modern in mate selection process is not independence. The feeling of methods of family planning being uncommon. disillusionment and frustration increasingly practiced by this which has been brewing among exiled community, the maximum CONCLUSION the young Tibetan generations number of children in most of Tibetan Diaspora today is running was evidenced in the uprising of the families is limited to three in its 53rd year –a fact which can March 2008. All this can severely today. Likewise, the institution give Tibetan Central Tibetan hamper the assistance and support of marriages has also registered Administration or Tibetan received by CTA from the West myriad changes over time. The government in exile and the as most of the support and traditional Tibetan society being people back home some reasons recognition that the CTA receives quite open in nature was a witness to celebrate. Also while the fact of from the western part is because of
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the representation of Tibetans as a the so called “Registration inertia that Tibetans find them in symbol of peaceful and spiritual Cards” given the complexity with the Chinese republic. With people under the headship of his of the tedious and changing no party willing to budge from Holiness Dalai Lama. Among procedures of the registration their present stances, the long other problems that are confronted process over time. Their stay in cherished dream of free Tibet as by Tibetan community in India India is temporary and subject to envisioned by this ever suffered is the grave problem of growing the good will of the host country. but diligent community seems unemployment which is steering Their ordeal, therefore, is not to be in jeopardy if not far from directly on their face with more ordinary but heart wrenching, realization. In the light of above and more inflow of the Tibetan which an outsider can’t perceive facts and experiences, there is an refugees in India in the search of and define. This is not all which utmost need for both the parties to better employment opportunities. is faced by Tibetan community. devise some catalytic measures so Moreover, the differential On cultural front, they are facing that tale of sufferings faced by the treatment which is being meted the problems of Ethnic identity Tibetan people comes to an end. out by the host country India to which is more a problem of their Alternatively, it calls for a much the Tibetan refugees of the first internal strife as more and more needed ethnographic attention on phase i.e., those who arrived in younger generations are carried the behalf of International front so India before 1980 and those who away by the modern appeals today as to back track the long derailed did so in post 1980’s has increased while their traditional part is still peace in this region which in the intensity of difficulties to this longing and looking for their other words can prove highly already suffered community in traditional ethos. Though the host beneficial for the countries of exile. Pertinently, the Tibetan country India has held the Tibetan Asian continent in particular and refugees who entered India community in priority over and the rest of the world in general. after 1980’s and particularly above other refugee communities, of late, had to undergo various the biggest challenge today before Courtesy: The Tibet Journal, tribulations in order to acquire them is the stalemate and the vol. 37, no. 4, 2012,
References: Integration. The Asiatic Society. 12. Shah, A. (2011). Tibetan 1. Amalendu Misra. 2003. “A Calcutta Muslims in Exile: A Sociological Nation in Exile: Tibetan 7. Jain, Ravindra, k. 1994. Profile, jamia journal, July 21, Diaspora and the Dynamics of Civilizations and Settlement 2011,http://www.jamiajournal. Long-Distance Nationalism,” Societies, The Eastern com/2011/07/21/opinion- Asian Ethnicity, Vol. 4, no. 2, pp. Anthropologist, 47(1):1-14 tibetan-muslims-in-exile-a- 189-206. 8. John S Conway, “The Tibetan sociological-profile/ 2. Bhat Maqsood,(1994).Muslims Community in Exile,” Pacific 13. Shah, A.R. (2012). Tibet in of Tibet, Tibetan Bulletin Affairs, Vol. 48, No. 1, spring Kashmir: A tale of suffering (January -February,1994) 1975, p. 78. and alienation. Milligazette. 31 3. Barua. et al (2002). (ed.), 9. Safra, William. 1991. Diaspora December, 2010.New Delhi. Ethnic Groups, Cultural in Modern Societies: Myths of 14. Rockhill, W.W.(1975). The Land Continuities and Social Homeland and Return, of Lamas. Asian Publications. Change in North-East India. Diaspora, 1(spring):83-99 New Delhi. Mittal Publications. New Delhi 10. Serin Houston and Richard 15. Tung, J.J (1980). A Portrait of 4. Chopra, P.N. (1989).Social, Wright, “Making and Remaking Lost Tibet, Indian .Thomas and cultural and political history Tibetan Diasporic Identities”, Hudson Publications of Tibet, New Delhi, critern Social & Cultural Geography, 16. Venkateswar, G. (2002). Publications. Vol. 4, No. 2, June 2003, pp. Tibetans’ Plight – an Indian’s 5. Cohen, Robin. 1977. Global 217-32. Empathy and Appeal. Diasporas: An Introduction. 11. Sheffer, Gabr iel (ed.), 1986. Tibetan Review Vol. 37, p. 29. London: UCL Press. Modern Diaspora in 17. William, Raymond. 1983. Key 6.. Danda, A. K. (1999). (ed.). International Politics. London: Words: A Vocabulary of Culture Ethnicity Nationalism and Croom Helm. and Society. London: Fontana
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The geographical and cultural relationship between Tibet and India has existed since time immemorial. In such a situation, outrage is evident in the minds of the Indian people against the illegal occupation of Tibet by China, which took place in 1950. But even after this, in the newly independent Indian Government's foreign policy, China continued to be given the status of a friendly country and every effort was made to maintain this friendship not only in mutual relations but also on the global stage. However, this effort of India remained one-sided. China could not be seized to Tibet alone; in 1962, it attacked India itself. How then was it possible that the common Indian people would not be enraged at China and the then prevalent one-sided Indian foreign policy? Especially given the fact that before China annexed Tibet, prominent leaders and thinkers of the country had tried to draw the government's attention towards this from various forums.
India, Tibet and China: Views of Indian Leaders Understand China’s Real Intent Towards India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sardar Patel was among those Indian leaders who fully understood the significance of the events in Tibet. In a historic letter written to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 7 November 1950, on this issue, Patel not only deplored the Indian Ambassador’s (K.M. Panikkar) action, but also warned about dangers from China. Here, we present Sardar Patel’s original letter
My dear Jawahar, tried to peruse this correspondence as Ever since my return from favourably to our Ambassador and the Ahmedabad and after the Cabinet Chinese Government as possible, but I meeting on the same day, which I had regret to say that neither of them comes to attend at practically fifteen minutes’ out well as a result of this study. The notice and for which I regret I was not Chinese Government has tried to delude able to read all the papers, I have been us by professions of peaceful intention. anxiously thinking over the problem My own feeling is that at a crucial period of Tibet and I thought I should share they managed to instil in our Ambassador with you what is passing through my a false sense of confidence in their mind. so-called desire to settle the Tibetan I have carefully gone through the problem by peaceful means. There correspondence between the External can be no doubt that during the period Affairs Ministry and our Ambassador in Peking covered by this correspondence the Chinese must and through him the Chinese Government. I have have been concentrating for an onslaught on Tibet.
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The final action of the Chinese, of ‘whoever is not with them being attitude is determined by foreign in my judgement, is little short of against them’— this is a significant influences. It looks as though it perfidy. The tragedy of it is that pointer, of which we have to take is not a friend speaking in that the Tibetans put faith in us, they due note. During the last several language but a potential enemy. chose to be guided by us, and we months, outside the Russian camp, In the background of this, have been unable to get them out of we have practically been alone in we have to consider what new the meshes of Chinese diplomacy championing the cause of Chinese situation now faces us as a result or Chinese malevolence. From entry into UN and in securing of the disappearance of Tibet, as the latest position, it appears that from the Americans assurances we knew it, and the expansion we shall not be able to rescue the on the question of Formosa. We of China almost up to our gates. Dalai Lama. Our Ambassador have done everything we could Throughout history we have seldom has been at great pains to find to assuage Chinese feelings, to been worried about our north-east an explanation or justification allay its apprehensions and to frontier. The Himalayas have been for Chinese policy and actions. defend its legitimate claims in our regarded as an impenetrable barrier As the External Affairs Ministry discussions and correspondence against any threat from the north. remarked in one of their telegrams, with America and Britain and in We had a friendly Tibet which there was a lack of firmness and the UN. In spite of this, China gave us no trouble. The Chinese unnecessary apology in one or is not convinced about our were divided. They had their own two representations that he made disinterestedness; it continues to domestic problems and never to the Chinese Government on regard us with suspicion and the bothered us about frontiers. In our behalf. whole psychology is one, at least 1914, we entered into a convention It is impossible to imagine any outwardly, of scepticism perhaps with Tibet which was not endorsed sensible person believing in the mixed with a little hostility. I by the Chinese. We seem to have so-called threat to China from doubt if we can go any further than regarded Tibetan autonomy as Anglo-American machinations in we have done already to convince extending to independent treaty Tibet. Therefore, if the Chinese China of our good intentions, relationship. Presumably, all put faith in this, they must have friendliness and goodwill. In that we required was Chinese distrusted us so completely as to Peking we have an Ambassador counter-signature. The Chinese have taken us as tools or stooges who is eminently suitable for interpretation of suzerainty seems of Anglo-American diplomacy or putting across the friendly point to be different. We can, therefore, strategy. This feeling, if genuinely of view. Even he seems to have safely assume that very soon they entertained by the Chinese in spite failed to convert the Chinese. will disown all the stipulations of your direct approaches to them, Their last telegram to us is an act which Tibet has entered into indicates that even though we of gross discourtesy not only in with us in the past. That throws regard ourselves as the friends of the summary way it disposes off into the melting pot all frontier China, the Chinese do not regard our protest against the entry of and commercial settlements with us as their friends. Chinese forces into Tibet but also Tibet on which we have been With the Communist mentality in the wild insinuation that our functioning and acting during the last half a century. China is no I doubt if we can go any further than we have done longer divided. It is united and already to convince China of our good intentions, strong. All along the Himalayas in the north and north-east, we friendliness and goodwill. In Peking we have an have on our side of the frontier Ambassador who is eminently suitable for putting across a population ethnologically and the friendly point of view. Even he seems to have failed culturally not different from to convert the Chinese. Their last telegram to us is an Tibetans and Mongoloids. The act of gross discourtesy not only in the summary way undefined state of the frontier and the existence on our side of it disposes off our protest against the entry of Chinese a population with its affinities to forces into Tibet but also in the wild insinuation that our the Tibetans or Chinese has all the attitude is determined by foreign influences elements of the potential trouble
60 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 between China and ourselves. While our western and north-western threat to security is Recent and bitter history also tells still as prominent as before, a new threat has developed us that communism is no shield from the north and north-east. Thus, for the first time, after against imperialism and that the communists are as good or as bad centuries, India’s defence has to concentrate itself on two imperialists as any other. Chinese fronts simultaneously. Our defence measures have so far ambitions in this respect not only been based on the calculations of superiority over Pakistan cover the Himalayan slopes on our side but also include an important part of Assam. They have their Assam. From the point of view of firmness, strength and a clear line ambitions in Burma also. Burma communication, there are weak of policy. I am sure the Chinese has the added difficulty that it has spots. Continuous defensive lines and their source of inspiration, no McMahon Line round which to do not exist. There is almost an Soviet Union, would not miss any build up even the semblance of an unlimited scope for infiltration. opportunity of exploiting these agreement. Chinese irredentism Police protection is limited to a weak spots, partly in support and communist imperialism are very small number of passes. of their ideology and partly in different from the expansionism There, too, our outposts do support of their ambitions. In my or imperialism of the Western not seem to be fully manned. The judgement the situation is one powers. The former has a cloak contact of these areas with us is which we cannot afford either to of ideology which makes it ten by no means close and intimate. be complacent or to be vacillating. times more dangerous. In the The people inhabiting these We must have a clear idea of what guise of ideological expansion portions have no established we wish to achieve and also of lie concealed racial, national or loyalty or devotion to India. Even the methods by which we should historical claims. The danger from Darjeeling and Kalimpong areas achieve it. Any faltering or lack the north and north-east, therefore, are not free from pro-Mongoloid of decisiveness in formulating becomes both communist and prejudices. During the last three our objectives or in pursuing our imperialist. years, we have not been able to policies to attain those objectives While our western and make any appreciable approaches is bound to weaken us and increase north-western threat to security to the Nagas and other hill tribes the threats which are so evident. is still as prominent as before, a in Assam. European missionaries Side by side with these external new threat has developed from the and other visitors had been dangers, we shall now have to face north and north-east. Thus, for the in touch with them, but their serious internal problems as well. first time, after centuries, India’s influence was in no way friendly I have already asked Ayyangar defence has to concentrate itself to India or Indians. In Sikkim, to send to the External Affairs on two fronts simultaneously. there was political ferment some Ministry a copy of the Intelligence Our defence measures have so far time ago. It is quite possible that Bureau's appreciation of these been based on the calculations of discontent is smouldering there. matters. Hitherto, the Communist superiority over Pakistan. In our Bhutan is comparatively quiet, but Party of India has found some calculations we shall now have its affinity with Tibetans would difficulty in contacting communists to reckon with communist China be a handicap. Nepal has a weak abroad, or in getting supplies of in the north and in the north-east, oligarchic regime based almost arms, literature, etc., from them. a communist China which has entirely on force which is in They had to contend with the definite ambitions and aims and conflict with a turbulent element difficult Burmese and Pakistan which does not, in any way, seem of the population as well as with frontiers on the east or with the friendly disposed towards us. enlightened ideas of the modern long seaboard. They shall now Let us also consider the political age. In these circumstances, to have a comparatively easy means conditions on this potentially make people alive to the new of access to Chinese communists troublesome frontier. Our northern danger or to make them defensively and through them to other foreign and north-eastern approaches strong is a very difficult task communists. Infiltration of spies, consist of Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, indeed and that difficulty can fifth columnists and communists Darjeeling and the tribal areas in be got over only by enlightened would now be easier. Instead
61 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 of having to deal with isolated strength of our forces and, if i) Establishing intelligence and communist pockets in Telengana necessary, reconsideration police networks along the and Warangal we may have to of our retrenchment plans for border posts. deal with communist threats to the Army in the light of the j) The future of our mission our security along our northern new threat. at Lhasa and the trade posts and north-eastern frontiers, d) A long-term consideration at Gyangtse and Yatung where, for supplies of arms and of our defence needs. My own and the forces which we have ammunition, they can safely feeling is that, unless we in operation in Tibet to guard depend on communist arsenals in assure our supplies of arms, the trade routes. China. The whole situation thus ammunition and armour, we k) The policy in regard to the raises a number of problems on would be making our defence McMahon Line. which we must come to an early perpetually weak and would These are some of the questions decision so that we can, as I said not be able to stand up to the which occur to my mind. It is earlier, formulate the objectives of double threat of difficulties possible that a consideration of our policy and decide the method both from the west and north- these matters may lead us into the by which those objectives are to west and north and north- wider question of our relationship be attained. It is also clear that east. with China, Russia, America, the action will have to be fairly e) The question of China’s entry Britain and Burma. This, however, comprehensive, involving not into the UN. In view of the would be of a general nature, only our defence strategy and state rebuff which China has given though some might be basically of preparations but also problem us and the method which very important, e.g., we might have of internal security to deal with it has followed in dealing to consider whether we should not which we have not a moment to with Tibet, I am doubtful enter into closer association with lose. We shall also have to deal whether we can advocate its Burma in order to strengthen the with administrative and political claim any longer. There latter in its dealings with China. problems in the weak spots along would probably be a threat in I do not rule out the possibility the frontier to which I have already the UN virtually to outlaw that, before applying pressure on referred. China, in view of its active us, China might apply pressure It is of course, impossible to be participation in the Korean on Burma. With Burma, the exhaustive in setting out all these War. We must determine our frontier is entirely undefined and problems. I am, however, giving attitude on this question the Chinese territorial claims are below some of the problems also. more substantial. In its present which, in my opinion, require f) The political and position, Burma might offer an early solution and round which we administrative steps which easier problem to China, and have to build our administrative or we should take to strengthen therefore, might claim its first military policies and measures to our northern and north- attention. implement them. eastern frontier. This would I suggest that we meet early a) A military and intelligence include the whole of the to have a general discussion on appreciation of the Chinese border, i.e., Nepal, Bhutan, these problems and decide on threat to India both on the Sikkim, Darjeeling and the such steps as we might think to frontier and to internal tribal territory in Assam. be immediately necessary and security. g) Measures of internal security direct, quick examination of other b) An examination of military in the border areas as well problems with a view to taking position and such re- as the states flanking those early measures to deal with them. disposition of our forces as areas such as Uttar Pradesh, Signature might be necessary, Bihar, Bengal and Assam. Vallabhbhai Patel particularly with the idea h) Improvement of our of guarding important routes communication, road, rail, Courtesy: Vijay Kranti (ed.), or areas which are likely to air and wireless, in these areas Thankyou India: Bharat aur Tibet, be the subject of dispute. and with the frontier Bharat-Tibet Samanvay Kendra, c) An appraisement of the outposts. New Delhi, Page 115-119
62 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020
India, Tibet and China: Views of Indian Leaders Tibet, China and India Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Excerpts from his speech in Delhi on January 2, 1963
have repeated the Tibean issue Other than that they were left with many times and only reiterate nothing. It has been a tussle between the Iit here. On the criteria of one, native and the foreigner. And whatever language; second, script; third, has taken place in the Himalayas over way of living; fourth, religion; these thousand years—treaties, wars or fifth, topography; sixth, history and political control over the Himalayas, seventh, the will of its people, Tibet I say on the basis of that this happens is certainly not a part of China. Tibet to be the rather sordid picture of the is much closer to India than China. I Himalayas. But then why look at only do not wish to say here that Tibet is the last thousand years? Why not look a part of India. But India and Tibet at the last two, three or four thousand have very close ties. If I were to state years? After all, an individual like in a broad, lay language, I would say Ghengiz Khan too rose in that period. that Tibet is an independent country and has its own Apart from him, there were Chinese rulers too, way of living and its people desire to remain free. who sometimes ventured into the Himalayan This is the biggest truth. The people of Tibet wish region whenever they were strong enough to do so. to remain independent. Their territory is some five Whereas we Indians were in no position to even lakh square miles. Their population is around 40- think of venturing outside our country during the 50 lakhs. It is not a small region. If they wish to last thousand years. We would be so caught up in remain free, they must remain so. But then the next issues inside our country as we had to be constantly question arises as to who is Tibet closer to? About prepared to safeguard ourselves from being enslaved 80 per cent are close to Indians while barely 15 to and fight for our survival. This then was India’s 20 per cent might be closer to the Chinese. They so situation. I therefore appeal that no Indian should not have any closer ties to China than this. take the last thousand years and the adjustments Until we take a long-term view of history, we made in that period as an example. It would be a shall not be able to grasp the major issues. India grave error if we were to do so. has been a fallen and beaten country for the last Whatever treaties, exist between Tibet and China, thousand years, as well as enslaved and weak. Even prove one thing clearly. Even if for only 10 or 15 if we were to ignore this, we have to accept that India years, Tibet had ruled China. If you wish to hold has been powerless for the last thousand years and treaties alone as the basis, why not make China a foreigners have been enslaving this country with vassal of Tibet? Second, it will also be proved that their power. Babar, a foreigner, comes along and whatever treaties are available, if at all, establishing captures the country. What to say about the likes any link between China and Tibet, only mention of Timur Lang. Babar’s descendant Bahadur Shah that it was China that paid tribute to Tibet. Maybe become nativized and all he was fit for was writing not direct control, but this could be said to be poetry. another kind of control. Even when China was more
63 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 powerful, it had nothing to do with the abode of their gods and that is the region of Kailash and Tibet’s internal affairs. China also goddesses in a foreign land? A Manasarovar and the eastward has had no say in Tibet’s external few minor ones perhaps, but the flowing Brahmaputra. affairs, as Tibet entered into many major worshipped figures of the One thing we must definitely be treaties with other countries even divine, like Shiva and Parvati, careful about is the misconception when China was present, or in having their abodes in a foreign about the Himalayas which has instances where China did not land? Has it ever happened? been very cleverly propagated by interfere in the least. When were the legends of Shiva the Chinese. Actually it not they British Foreign Policy: There and Parvati spoken of? I am who began this; it was begun by is another point to be considered talking like a thoroughly modern others. The Christian priests were in this regard. The British in India person. Maybe some would ask very devious at this. Some among accepted China’s suzerainty over why I drag Shiva and Parvati them used to read history, and Tibet only because the Chinese into an international debate on also wrote books. They enquired emperor was weak and ineffective. diplomacy. I believe that whenever into and found that the Mongol The British therefore accepted his these legends were created, they people live in the Himalayan nominal suzerainty and weilded were done so by Indians. We may region. We also read the same the real power themselves. It were enquire as to when they came history. What are our children they who exercised real power over about. It may be that they were taught in almost every school Tibet. Otherwise, there is no other created only 400-500 years ago or and college? It is propagated logic of the British acceptance of as far back as 4,000-5,000 years that Aryans, Mongolians and Chinese suzerainty over Tibet. ago. But whenever these legends Dravidians were the castes who This was a result of the Great arose, Kailash and Manasarovar have settled in different regions game of the 19th century, and of certainly would have been part and have proliferated here and their own method of conducting of India. The abode of these those who have settled in the international relations. supreme figures of worship Himalayas — Nepali, Tibetan, And now when the Chinese was established at Kailash- Monpa, Abher or Dafla — all say that the McMahon Line is Manasarovar; otherwise, they are termed Mongoloids. We 45 an imperial boundary created by could have been set up elsewhere crore Indians too have become the British, I say it is indeed an too. It is meaningless to pick up victims of this misconception. imperial line; the McMahon Line some truncated and mothballed We see with our eye the yellow is not the real boundary. If the treaty of just two or three years colour of skin of the Chinese, real border has to be drawn it will ago and try to prove that Tibet their flat noses and narrow eyes. be done so elsewhere. is linked to China. Indian and Leave aside the people of the Kailash-Manasarovar: the Chinese officials have had long Himalayas who fall in the zone of question of Kailash-Manasarovar discussions on the topography Indian Himalayas, Kashmir and also figures in the matter of the of the land. Take for instance some other Himalayan regions McMahon Line. Which people the territory where the rivers and parts of Punjab too fall in the in the world would establish flow towards China. Clearly, Himalayan range, but the saga of narrow eyes, flat noses and yellow complexion has created The question of Kailash-Manasarovar also figures in the such an impression on the mind of Indians that we believe that the matter of the McMahon Line. Which people in the world Himalayas are inhabited only by would establish the abode of their gods and goddesses in people who are ethnically closer a foreign land? A few minor ones perhaps, but the major to the Chinese. worshipped figures of the divine, like Shiva and Parvati, In fact, the people who live having their abodes in a foreign land? Has it ever in the Himalayan region do not even have any filial relationship happened? When were the legends of Shiva with the Chinese. There is and Parvati spoken of? I am talking like a thoroughly ceratinly no semblance as far as modern person intellect is concerned. Not only
64 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 is there no similarity of either be known. And I believe that it when the Chinese occupied the script or language, even the filial would be proven that China’s territory of Ladakh for the second relationship is non-existent. relationship with the Himalayas time, and used Ladakh to build The two first verses composed is very flimsy and is limited to roads to Sinkiang and Tibet? by the poet Kalidasa in the likes of Genghis Khan and Even mentioning what they Kumārasambhavam about the Kublai Khan. Kalidasa’s shloka said is a very shameful thing. I Himalayas are about the penance is as follows: cannot even imagine how such of the Himalayas. Maybe not the Astyuttarasyām Diṣi Devatātmā an utterance can come out of the abode of the gods, but about the Himālayo Nāma Nagādhirājaḥ| mouth of any Indian, and that divine place the Himalayas are Pūrvāparau Toyanidhi Vagāhya too from the mouth of the Prime for the whole world. I shall first Sthita Minister. And what he said was narrate its meaning and then the Prithivyā Iva Mānadaṇdaḥ| that the area of Ladakh that has original verse. There is a great Ananta Ratna Prabhavasya fallen under occupation of the mountain in the north, which is Yasya Himam Chinese is stony and barren and called Himalayas, which delves Na Sowbhāgya Vilopi Jātam| not even a blade of grass grows on into the eastern and western Eko Hi Doṣo Guṇasannipāte it. It has many defects. If there is oceans in such a way as though Nimajyatīndroho a defect and many qualities, then it is measuring the world, which Kiranoṣvivānkaḥ| it is hidden. This is an atrocious has a multitude of faiths and [Kumārasambhavam] statement. If any portion of the many varieties of gems. Yet it has [In whose northern direction motherland passes into the hands a defect that stalks its fate. And are situated the mountains of foreigners, speaking in such a that is its snow, because of which named Himalayas, the lord of derogatory manner about cannot it obtains its name Himalayas. the mountains which are verily be the doing of its worthy progeny; But if many virtues converge— the very soul of the gods, which only a thoroughly unworthy and all are virtues—then nothing straddle the earth from the eastern progeny can make such utterances. is lost because of a single defect, to the western oceans. Such a When it is not in the possession just as the moon's rays flowing mountain is akin to the dividing of foreigners, and is with us, one out conceal its sole defect i.e., its line of this earth. (The Himalayas may say whatever one wants to spots. are) the abode from which come improve it, but when it slips into I have often asked professor to forth infinite gems. Perceiving the possession of foreigners, what try and find out whether there is the greatness and majesty of do such disrespectful utterances anything regarding the Himalayas the Himalayas, the sea wants to about it mean? in Chinese literature or even in engulf its greatness and its good Protecting the Himalayas is a Chinese legends. Is there any fortune (nobility) much in the question of strength. What kind poem of this kind, of this loftiness same way as the innumerable rays of strength this will be, when it or stories and fables of this kind? of the Moon, which is endowed will appear is a different issue, but So far no one has found anything with many properties, conceal its we should at least make up our of that sort. Perhaps any such black spots. minds as to what we believe the Chinese accounts do not exist at The time has now come to Himalayas mean to us. If those all; ceratinly not of this calibre is protect these Himalayas… without falsehoods about Tibet — the one not good, but not even any lesser going into the setback suffered in created by the documents of the legends or stories exist. It would the last two-and-a-half months, I British Empire, about Mongoloid be good if any Indian student or can say that in the Indian mind, people, or the belief in order to professor undertakes this work. the government particularly and be friends with a power situated On the one hand we have the the public too, have neglected the there, then we shall not be able revered place the Himalayas Himalayas, the very Himalayas to understand anything about the have in the Indian mind over the which are associated with our Himalayas. last three to four thousand years, literature, legends, stories and our Courtesy: Vijay Kranti (ed.), and on the other hand whether temples. Thankyou India: Bharat aur Tibet, the Himalayas hold any place in And what did the officials Bharat-Tibet Samanvay Kendra, the Chinese mind. The truth will of the government in Delhi say New Delhi, Page 128-131
65 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020
India, Tibet and China: Views of Indian Leaders India’s Integrity and Independence will be under threat Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya
This is an excerpt from a statement by Deendayalji on 27th of April 1959
ibet’s autonomy is vital to us. If military pacts on fundamental grounds, we cannot secure it, not only our he may not agree to give any categorical Tintegrity and independence will be assurance to Nepal. If he does agree, he threatened, but it may become well nigh will have to consider ways and means impossible for us to continue a policy of increasing our defence potential, of non-alignment. So far as China’s which is already too low and inadequate intentions are concerned, they are well even to meet the aggressive designs of known. Already she has committed what Pakistan. is known as catographic aggression. Now If Nepal goes to the American Zhou Enlai is reported to have come bloc, it will greatly influence India’s forward with a suggestion that undefined foreign policy. In fact it needs some boundaries between China and other Asian reorientation. Pandit Nehru may not countries should be settled by peaceful like to do anything that may displease negotiations. Obviously she does not recognise the communist China, but her attitude will depend not on Mcmahon Line, which forms the boundary line between what Panditji does but on what suits her. A booklet India and Tibet3. The seeds of discord between the two published by the UAR Information Department aptly countries have been sown and at any time the People’s writes, “Nehru and Nasser led the Bandung movement6 government of China may direct its ‘liberating’ hordes many years ago. Then communist newspapers were to ransack Indian villages. Pandit Nehru has admitted praising Nehru as a man of peace. Now Moscow that the Chinese have already occupied a few strategic imagines that he has lost his utility..." Indian villages in the district of Almora. Pandit Nehru Thus the idea of planting a communist base in India has so far taken no action. has emerged and local communists are being provided Besides India, China has her greedy eyes on Nepal, with money to spread propaganda against Nehru. Bhutan and Sikkim. Nepal, as an independent state, is A strong and definite stand on the issue of Tibetan responsible for her own defence. Communist China’s autonomy alone can set China right. Such a stand is activities in Tibet have posed a serious question to necessary to preserve friendship between the two her rulers about Nepal’s future defences. Whatever countries. Friendship must be based on trust and significance we may attach to the news published in the respect, equality and mutual benefit, and not on fear Pak paper ‘Dawn’ the King of Nepal4 is reported to have and misunderstanding arising out of a hesitation to sought assurances from Pandit Nehru of active help in look in the eye and face difference as well as seek an case of communist aggression, failing which Nepal open reconciliation. would consider the desirability of joining SEATO5, Courtesy: Dr. Mahesh Chandra Sharma (ed.), to increase her defence potential, What has Pandit Complete Works of Deenadayal Upadhyaya, Volume Nehru to say in this regard? Due to his opposition to 7, Prabhat Prakashan, New Delhi, pp 61-63
66 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020
India, Tibet and China: Views of Indian Leaders Deaf and Dumb World and a Helpless Tibet Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan JP had given a number of statements over Tibet issue and also had penned some articles. One among those is here
he question of Tibet for me has Mass murders on a large scale and been a simple one right from the atrocities beyond the even description Tbeginning. It is understandable have been inflicted to implement this that this issue often gets entangled in purpose. China’s objectibe is to make different kinds of historical and legal Tibet a Chinese colony, so that the disputes, but I find all this to be largely original character of Tibet can be dyed meaningless. in Chinese colours. And all this is I see this issue directly divided happening behind a screen that stands into two segments—political and on the basis of lies but which cannot humanitarian. The other aspect be crossed. particularly has generated both International Commission sympathy and anger across the world. of Inquiry: Some time ago, the You would recall that it was this aspect International Commission of Jurists, of the Tibetan issue that drew the attention of the which is an international commission of legal United Nations Organisation. But the other, the experts, set up an inquiry commission under the political aspect is even more important because the chairmanship of a distinguished Indian jurisprudent human aspect is not only directly related to it, but Mr. Purushottam Trikmadas whose task was to also based upon it. Until a political soultion is found investigate Chinese atrocities. But this commission to this problem, the human problem will continue to of inquiry was not allowed by the Chinese to enter take the form of one tragedy to another. Tibet—just as the UN Commission was not allowed First, I would like to express my thoughts on the in Hungary. human aspect of the issue. There cannot be a second It is unfortunate that the political aspect of opinion that the Chinese communist government the Tibet problem has been suppressed due has used savage and inhuman tactics to crush to controversy and international diplomatic Tibet’s national movement and is bent on using any machinations. But there are still many facts which method to exterminate the Tibetan opposition, no no one can deny. There is no scope for any doubt matter how cruel and lowly that method is. After that Tibet has always and consistently been an realising that Buddhism, its lamas and monasteries independent country and Tibetan society with its are a major hurdle in the way of completely own special history, culture and polity has been a enslaving Tibet, the Chinese regime is operating in distinct nation. This reality cannot be challenged a planned way to render Buddhist social order and by the fact that in the days of Mongolian and non- Buddhist institutions impotent and destroy them. Chinese imperialist expansionism of the Manchu
67 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 period, China enjoyed a kind of rule forcibly imposed on Tibet Perhaps there can be no more suzerainty over Tibet. It cannot in every possible way. When accurate answer to the talk of also be denied that the Thirteenth the Dalai Lama saw that every Chinese stooges. It was said in Dalai Lama formally declared hope of dealing with China by this announcement: Tibetan independence from the negotiations was extinguished, he Lenin’s Declaration: Our two year old Chinese control in fled and took refuge in India. government is of the opinion that 1912 and that Tibet remained a free But there is still considerable forcibly annexation and grabbing country until 1950. During this evidence that opposition from the of a small and weak state by period, the Tibetan government's Tibetan people to Chinese rule a large and powerful country, own passports continued to be is still alive. On the basis of all even though that smaller country used officially. Its own post and these facts, the two conclusions which is forcibly attacked and telegraph system and currency that can be reached cannot be incorporated in the larger country, continued in operation in Tibet. denied. These are: no matter how developed or Tibet did not participate in any 1. Tibet was an independent backward...“If any such country way in the Sino-Japanese War in country and it was forcibly is forcibly incorporated into its the course of World War Two, and annexed by China. territory by another big country, remained neutral. All these things 2. Tibet has as much right to against its express will; whether reveal the nature of the sovereign freedom and self-determination as this desire is expressed through and free country of Tibet. any other country in the world. newspapers or in the national Tibet was an independent The perfidy of Chinese assembly, in the decision of country: The International arguments: Supporters of the the party, or in the liberation Commission of Jurists reported Chinese are not willing to believe movement against this slavery, briefly on the subject in this that China has annexed Tibet. and the people of that country manner—from 1912 to 1950, They say that Tibet has been without any bond by the occupier Tibet was in fact an independent ‘liberated’. Here again the same or more powerful country, in the nation. During this period, China question arises which Prime absence of the armies of that had no control whatsoever over Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had aggressor country, are not allowed Tibet. Neither Chinese law was asked: “Liberation from whom” to decide through free franchise in force there nor did any Chinese and those people (who support what kind of government they judge or policeman operate there. the Chinese) cannot answer this want; the small country which is There was not a single Chinese question till date. They also deny incorporated into the larger and newspaper nor any Chinese that Tibet has any right to self- powerful country will be taken soldiers or representatives of the determination, and in order to as having being captured and Chinese regime in the streets. justify its ‘liberation’ repeatedly occupied by force and violence”. There is also no doubt that the the talk of the ‘backwardness’ of It would also be interesting Dalai Lama’s signature on the so- Tibet. In a befitting reply to this and important to remind again the called Sino-Tibet Agreement of character of illicitness and deceit, declarations made by two bigwigs 1951 was obtained by coercion. I shall repeat the declaration of of Communism with regard to the And finally, given all the Vladimir Lenin, the President right to self-determination. events so far, there is no doubt of the Commissars of Soviet Lenin and Mao: Lenin had that the Tibetan people have Russia, which he made on the declared—“If Finland, Poland, protested against the Chinese day the Bolsheviks took power. Ukraine separate themselves from Russia, then there is nothing bad in it. If anyone says that it is Supporters of the Chinese are not willing to believe that wrong then he is an extremist...” China has annexed Tibet. They say that Tibet has been “No country can be free that ‘liberated’. Here again the same question arises which oppresses other countries." And this second declaration is from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had asked: “Liberation the constitution of the Qiangsi from whom” and those people (who support the Chinese) Soviet Republic of China, which cannot answer this question till date was prepared in 1931 not by any
68 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 other person, but by Chairman unquestioned right of countries to Perhaps this issue is likely to be Mao Tse Tung himself. self-determination, it is very sad reconsidered in New Delhi as In the report of the International to see that apart from the Chinese well. On February 2, 1960, the Commission of Jurists, it has side there are some people who Government of India wrote to been briefly stated thus about want to deprive Tibet of its China, citing the 1914 Agreement this issue—from 1912 to 1950, birthright by arguing in favour (Shimla accord): Tibet was a truly independent of Chinese suzerainty. And even “This was not the first time nation. During this time, China more sadly, those countries Tibet had negotiated and entered had no control over Tibet. There which till recently fought for into agreements with other was neither Chinese law in force their independence and attained countries as an independent there nor any Chinese judge or freedom, now want to deprive country. Even before 1914, it Chinese police; there was neither this right from Tibet under the had negotiated and entered into a Chinese newspaper in the pretext of the rotten formula of agreements with other countries streets nor any Chinese soldiers posturing against imperialism, a on several occasions. For or representatives of the Chinese right thy themselves have been example, in 1856 Tibet entered government. It cannot also be struggling to obtain. It is very into agreements with Nepal doubted that the Dalai Lama was easy to identify imperial regimes and in 1904 with Great Britain. forced into signing the so-called across the seas, but why is it so China has never objected to these Sino-Tibet Agreement of 1951 difficult to identify the reality of agreements and they have been by applying coercive pressure on those imperial kingdoms spread fully implemented. During the him. on the same land, whose vast Simla Accord (1914) Tibetan China’s soviet regime domain pretends to be the same and Chinese officials met on an recognises the fact that China's country as that of its neighboring equal footing and this position minority nationalities have the countries? was accepted by the Chinese right to self-determination, they India-Britain-Tibet: Being government with absolutely no also have the right to separate an Indian, if nothing else, I can opposition. At the conference themselves from China and certainly express my grief that on October 13, 1914, the three establish themselves as separate India has played an unmistakeable delegates exchanged their independent countries. All role in in promoting the claim of credentials. The introduction Mongols, Tibetans, Miyas, the so-called Chinese suzerainty letter issued by the Dalai Lama to Koreans and others living in the over Tibet. It is being said that the Tibetan delegate makes it clear Chinese territory will have the we have only followed the British that Tibet attended the conference right of self-determination; that policy in this region. But that with a status of equality and that is, they will be allowed to join the British policy was born of an its representative had the right Union of Chinese Soviets or to imperialist mindset and the real to decide on subjects that would live separately as an independent reason behind determniing that be in the interest of Tibet. At the country”. policy was Britain’s fear of the conference, the Chinese delegate The unfortunate state of expansion of Russian influence found the Tibetan representative’s communist politics of power and not any legitimate claim letter of credentials to be proper is that both China and Russia of China. Nevertheless, it is and had endorsed it. The have thrown all these lofty necessary to remember here that documents of the representative commitments to the winds. The according to the British formula of the erstwhile British India, bland truth is that communism is of Chinese suzerainty over Tibet, which the Chinese delegate no longer a revolutionary system. if China refuses to respect Tibet’s too gave his approval to, also And the condition of Chinese autonomy, then China does not proved that the three delegations Communists is that instead of have any defined rights in Tibet. participating in the conference being Marxist-Leninist, they have There are indications that the had equal status and they were become Chinese extremist and British government is considering participating in that conference imperialist. the matter afresh. Perhaps the “in order to determine the mutual A hollow argument: In the same is happening in America relations between the different context of these facts and the and some other countries as well. governments”.
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All these facts prove only one demands. No one has the right to about disarmament today. This thing and that is that Tibet was create problems for others. But if should be welcomed. But at the not a ‘territory’ of China but a this happens and we start moving same time it is also important separate country which had its in this direction then it is certain to understand that the result own government which worked that we will become entangled in of actual disarmament should on the level of equality with the the Cold War. Therefore, I would be that colonialism does not government of China. These facts like to say that an approach on survive in any form. Policies for are no less important. This would this issue should be adopted disarmament and the wherewithal mean accepting them sooner or afresh and without any pressure. of countries to be able to decide later. And perhaps by doing so, both their policies themselves should Thinking afresh: Well, India and Britain will be able to proceed together. International whatever it is, it cannot be rid themselves of the dilemma peace and international justice deduced that because India and and difficulty in which they are are two sides of the same coin. Britain are the most connected trapped today. It is no longer a world where to the question of Tibet, therefore These days, while people are the law of the forest operates, other countries should also do hopeful about the upcoming like it used to before. Although what these two countries do summit, they are also anxious gradually, but surely a world on this issue. In this context, that nothing should happen that order is being created which will it can be said outright that would vitiate the atmosphere. be based on truth rather than brute because these two countries are This expectation is natural, but force. Although the realisation of bound by their own limitations it is also necessary to understand this dream is far away, its form has on this issue due to their old that if a policy of brushing gradually begun to come to the commitments, other countries international wrongdoings under fore by piercing the darkness. should make their decision based the carpet is adopted, it will lead Courtesy: Vijay Kranti (ed.), only on merit. After all, this is to the loss of the goals for which Thankyou India: Bharat aur Tibet, what a policy of neutrality and these big leaders are meeting. Bharat-Tibet Samanvay Kendra, independent decision-making There is also a lot of talk New Delhi, Page 120-124 Tibet must be Liberated: Dr. Rajendra Prasad (Excerpts from his last public speech, Gandhi Maidan, Patna, 24 October, 1962.) REEDOM is the most sacred boon. It has to be protected by all means - violent or non-violent. FTherefore, Tibet has to be liberated from the iron grip of China and handed over to the Tibetans.... The Chinese invaders have plundered Tibet and destroyed its peaceful citizens. Tibet is nearer to India in religion and culture. We have, therefore, to try hard to rescue Tibet from the bloody clutches of plunderer and let its people breathe in free air. If China stealthily infiltrate our land, they should be ruthlessly turned back. The world stands witness to the fact that India has never cast a vicious glance on any country. But in war, we have to give a fight at any place or land convenient to us in facing enemy. When we were raising slogan of ‘Hindi-Chini, Bhai-Bhai’, China was busy nibbling our land and through brute betrayal captured about 12 thousand square miles of our land. When [we] just stepped forward to evict them from those illegally captured posts, the Chinese had the guts to blame offensive on us. Today, on the high altitudes of Ladakh region, our military has built up check-posts, our engineers have constructed roads to assure security. In NEFA region also, the Chinese managed to capture a few check-posts stealthily but we have hundreds of check-posts, and this stealthily occupying a couple of posts does not affect us. We have a formidable and a strong army fully equipped with modern arms, and it is fighting. There is no cause to get panicky. It is imperative that like a disciplined nation, we should face the invaders. There is no doubt that we will clear our motherland of these invaders. Courtesy: https://tibet.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/indian-leaders-on-tibet1.pdf
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India, Tibet and China: Views of Indian Leaders India should have accorded recognition to the Tibetan government instead of China Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar A statement delivered in Loksabha during a debate in 1954
ur Prime Minister is depending Morality and by the same propriety on the Panchsheel which has you may violate your own promise Obeen adopted by Comrade Mao simply because tomorrow’s Morality and the Panchsheel in which one of the will have different demands ... in clauses is the No-Aggression Treaty my opinion our Prime Minister will on Tibet. I am indeed surprised that realise the truth in my words when the our Hon’ble Prime Minister is taking situation matures further. I don’t really this `Panchsheel’ seriously. Hon’ble know what is going to happen. By Members of the House, you must be letting China take control over Tibet’s knowing that Panchsheel is one of the capital Lhasa, the Prime Minister has significant parts of the Buddha Dharma. in a way helped the Chinese to bring If Shri Mao had even an iota of faith their armies on the Indian borders. in Panchsheel he would have treated Any victor who annexes Kashmir can the Buddhists in his country in a different manner. directly reach Pathankot, and I know it for sure that Panchsheel has no place in politics. The truth he can reach the Prime Minister’s House also. inherent in Panchsheel is that Morality is forever Courtesy: Vijay Kranti (ed.), Thankyou India: changing. There is nothing called Morality. You can Bharat aur Tibet, Bharat-Tibet Samanvay Kendra, abide by your promises in accordance with today’s New Delhi, Page 134 Brutal Colonialism in Tibet : C. Rajagopalachari T is difficult to find suitable words to express the sympathy that I feel in respect of this movement I- of what I may call in a different sense - a movement for the liberation of Tibet. The issue of Tibet is not a question of legalistic exploration as to the sovereignty of Tibet but a question of human rights which must be decided on the plane of justice and humanity and not on the basis of any legal puzzle. His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his message had made things quite clear and pointed out how even on a legalistic plane there can be no doubt about the rights of the Tibetan people to rule themselves irrespective of any belonging to other nationalities. This invasion of Tibet which terminated in His Holiness taking refuge in Indian Territory is brutal colonialism. There can, therefore, be no second thoughts in the matter. All Indian people wants Tibet to be released from the grip of China.
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India, Tibet and China: Views of Indian Leaders Do Not Trust China Acharya J.B. Kripalani Acharya Kripalani’s speech in the Lok Sabha on May 8, 1959, after China had invaded and occupied Tibet
he subject is important, the time concerned. Our Government’s allowed is very short and I will attitude is understandable only on Ttry to be as brief as possible. It is the assumption that Tibet is a far-off nothing unusual for countries to criticise country and is none of our concern. each other in their internal and external But supposing what had happened in policy. Nobody takes this criticism to Tibet happens in Nepal, then I am sure be interference in the internal affairs we will, whether we are well prepared of the country. If it were so, the harsh or not, go to war against China. In criticism that is being levelled by China that case what would become of our itself against Yugoslavia would be advocacy of China to the membership considered internal interference in that of the United Nations? country. But in the Communist world Then, Sir, again in 1954, I said in there are two standards of judgement— this House: “Recently, we have entered one for themselves and the other for others whom into a treaty with China. I feel that China, after it had they think they are their opponents. gone Communist, committed an act of aggression against Tibet. The plea is that China had the ancient The Rape of a Nation right of suzerainty. This right was out of date, old Recently, China has become supersensitive to any and antiquated. It was never exercised in fact. It had criticism. When a person is supersensitive, I am lapsed by the flux of time. Even if it had not lapsed, afraid, he has a bad conscience. Even the mildest it is not right in these days of democracy, by which remarks of the Congress President were denounced. our Communist friends swear, by which the Chinese Why? Because she said that Tibet was a country. I can swear, to talk of this ancient suzerainty and exercise understand the wrath against me because I have never it in a new form in a country which had and has believed in the bonafides, I have never believed in the nothing to do with China. Tibet is culturally more professions or the promises of the Chinese. Mine akin to India than it is to China. I consider this as has been the solitary voice in this House—almost much colonial aggression on the part of China as solitary—raised against this rape of a nation. As any indulged in by the Western nations. Whether early as 1950 I said in this house that the Communist certain nations commit aggression against others Government in China was in charge of the country. does not always concern us. But in this case we are The Government of India, therefore, thought it right intimately concerned, because China has destroyed a that it should not be denied the membership of the buffer state. In international politics, when a buffer UNO and we advocated the cause of China. But if state is destroyed by a powerful nation, that nation is we had waited a little, we would have been more considered to have committed aggression against its cautious. Soon this nation, that had won its freedom neighbours. so recently, strangled the freedom of a neighbouring England went to war with Germany not because nation with whose freedom we are intimately Germany had invaded England, but because it had
72 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 invaded Poland and Belgium. allowed to live its own life. A good It is an impossibility. Panchsheel, Sir, again, I said in this House: government is no substitute for therefore, implies mutuality and It is also well known that in the self-government.” you cannot practice it if others new map of China other border violate it. And we have seen how territories like Nepal, Sikkim, etc. China and the United nation after nation having sworn figure. This gives us an idea of the Nations by Panchsheel have been violating aggressive designs of China. Let us Sir, some of our friends in the it. see what the Chinese themselves Rajya Sabha have said that we did in the Korean war. I do not should continue to plead the cause China not a friend of India say that because China conquered of China for the membership In the present case, China has none Tibet we should have gone to war of the United Nations. I respect better. It has not only violated them, with it. But this does not mean that their opinion. They think that as but has accused us of violating we should recognise the claim of a member of the United Nations, them. Sir, I feel even if we go on China on Tibet. We must know that China would be subject to some emphasising our friendship with it is an act of aggression against a public opinion. This is not a fact. China and saying “Chini-Hindi, foreign nation. There is South Africa; there is Bhai-Bhai” (India and China Again Sir, in the same year, France; there is Russia and many are Brothers), I tell you that this I had said: “A small buffer state other aggressive nations. Just nation will never be friendly to us. on our borders was deprived of because they are members of Why? Because a friendly nation its freedom. When we made a the United Nations they have not does not go and howl at another feeble protest we were told that we ceased to be aggressive”. nation in the open. If they have to were the stooges of the Western We are again told that say that Kalimpong was—what do powers. If I remember it right though China might have they call it—the command centre, we were called “running dogs of broken Panchsheel, we must then they could have conveyed imperialism”. stick to Panchsheel. Sir, I do not this through diplomatic channels. Again, Sir, in 1958, talking consider that Panchsheel is a And they did it six months back; about Panchsheel, I said: “This moral imperative. Even moral the case was investigated and the great doctrine itself was born in imperatives cannot be stuck to charge was found baseless and a sin, because it was enunciated to unilaterally in the international report was sent to them. They had put the seal of our approval upon world. Panchsheel implies a nothing further to say. Why wasn’t the destruction of an ancient mutuality of respect for each this method of diplomatic approach nation which was associated with other’s integrity and sovereignty. on this occasion employed? Why us spiritually and culturally”. How can there be respect for these this howling at a friendly nation Sir, at that time, some Hon’ble things unless there is mutuality? in the open? I cannot understand Members intervened and asked: Panchsheel also implies at all how it is possible to be “Is that nation suffering?” My peaceful coexistence. How can friendly with this nation with this reply was: “Whether it is suffering there be peaceful coexistence mentality. or not is not the question. It was unless it is an idea that applies to Yet our efforts to escape this a nation which wanted to live its more nations than one? You cannot will only result in this outcome. own life and it sought to have been have peaceful coexistence alone. They will not give us credit for our good intentions. They will only give us credit for cowardice. It will Even if we go on emphasizing our friendship with China never appear to a bully that you are and saying “Chini-Hindi, Bhai-Bhai” (India and China are acting out of your goodness; it will Brothers), I tell you that this nation will never be friendly only appear to him that you are to us. Why? Because a friendly nation does not go and being frightened. howl at another nation in the open. If they have to say that Kalimpong was—what do they call it—the command Courtesy: Vijay Kranti (ed.), Thank you India: Bharat aur centre, then they could have conveyed this through Tibet, Bharat-Tibet Samanvay diplomatic channels Kendra, New Delhi, Page 139-141
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India, Tibet and China: Views of Indian Leaders Chinese Occupancy on Tibet: A symbol of World's Incivility Acharya Rajnish (Osho)
Acharya Rajnish expressed these thoughts in a discourse, which is compiled in a book 'Om Mani Padme Hum'
nfortunately, Tibet has family that at least one of them fallen into a darkness. Its was wholeheartedly, twenty-four Umonasteries have been hours a day, working on the inner closed, its seekers of truth have been being. They were also working forced to work in labour camps. The but they could not give all their only country in the world which was time; they had to create food and working – a one-pointed genius, all clothes and shelter, and in Tibet it its intelligence in the search for one’s is a difficult matter. The climate is own interiority and its treasures – not very helpful; to live in Tibet is a has been stopped by the communist tremendous struggle. But still every invasion of Tibet. family used to give their first-born And it is such an ugly world that child to the monastery. nobody has objected to it. On the There were hundreds of contrary, because China is big and powerful, even monasteries... and these monasteries should not countries which are more powerful than China be compared with any Catholic monasteries. can ever be, like America, have accepted that These monasteries had no comparison in the Tibet belongs to China. That is sheer nonsense whole world. These monasteries were concerned – just because China is powerful and everybody with only one thing: to make you aware of wants China to be on their side. Neither the yourself. Soviets nor America have challenged the claim Thousands of devices have been created down of China. Leave America and the Soviets aside the centuries so that your lotus can blossom – even India has not objected. It was such a and you can find your ultimate treasure, the beautiful experiment, and Tibet had no weapons diamond. These are just symbolic words, but the to fight with, they had no army to fight; they had destruction of Tibet should be known in history, never thought about it. Their whole thing was an particularly when man becomes a little more introverted pilgrimage. aware and humanity a little more humane.... Nowhere has such concentrated effort been This is the greatest calamity of the twentieth made to discover man’s being. Every family century that Tibet has fallen into the hands of in Tibet used to give their eldest son to some materialists who don’t believe that you have monastery where he was to meditate and grow anything inside you. They believe that you are closer to awakening. It was a joy to every only matter and your consciousness is only a by-
74 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 product of matter. And all this is their soldiers can be more calm sannyasins! So I am immensely simply without any experience and quiet while killing people. happy that their idea is different, of the inner – just logical, But I want to warn America: and they don’t know anything rational philosophising. you are playing with fire. You about meditation. They have Not a single communist in don’t understand exactly what only heard that it makes people the world has meditated, but meditation will do. Your soldiers calm and cool so they can it is strange – they all deny will become so calm and quiet fight without any fear, without the inner. Nobody thinks that they will throw away their looking back. Meditation gives about how the outer can exist weapons and they will simply them a feeling of immortality; if there is no inner. They exist refuse to kill. A meditator hence their fear will disappear. together, they are inseparable. cannot kill; a meditator cannot But meditation not only The outer is only a protection be destructive. So they are gives them the experience of for the inner, because the inner going to be surprised one day their own immortality – it also is very delicate and soft. But that their soldiers are no longer gives them the experience that the outer is accepted and the interested in fighting. War, everybody is immortal. Death inner is denied. And even if violence, murder, massacre is a fiction. Why unnecessarily sometimes it is accepted, the of millions of people – this is harass people? They will be world is dominated by such not possible if a man knows living, you cannot kill them. dirty politicians that they use something of meditation. Then Not even your nuclear weapons even the inner experiences for he also knows not only himself, are going to kill them. ugly ends. he knows the other whom he is Krishna, in the Gita, has a Just the other day, I came killing. He is his brother. They beautiful statement: Nainam to know that America is all belong to the same oceanic chhindanti shastrani; naham now training its soldiers in existence. dahati pavakahr. ”Neither can meditation so that they can In the Soviet Union, also, any weapon destroy me nor can fight without any nervous they are interested in meditation. any fire burn me.” Yes the body breakdown, without going But the purpose is the same – will be burned, but I am not the mad, without feeling any fear not realisation of your self, but body.... – so they can lie down in their making you stronger so that Meditation gives you the ditches silently, calm and cool you can kill and bomb and use feel, for the first time, of your and collected. No meditator nuclear weapons and missiles authentic reality. may have ever thought that to kill whole nations. If humanity were a little meditation can also be used for But they are both going on a more aware, Tibet should be fighting wars, but in the hands of dangerous path, unknowingly. made free because it is the only politicians everything becomes It is good, they should be country which has devoted ugly – even meditation. Now helped. Once meditation almost two thousand years the army camps in America spreads among their soldiers, to doing nothing but going are teaching meditation so that those soldiers will become deeper into meditation. And it can teach the whole world something which is immensely Not a single communist in the world has meditated, but needed. But Communist China is it is strange – they all deny the inner. Nobody thinks trying to destroy everything that about how the outer can exist if there is no inner. They has been created in two thousand exist together, they are inseparable. The outer is only a years. All their devices, all protection for the inner, because the inner is very delicate their methods of meditation, and soft. But the outer is accepted and the inner is their whole spiritual climate is being polluted, poisoned. And denied. And even if sometimes it is accepted, the they are simple people; they world is dominated by such dirty politicians that they use cannot defend themselves. They even the inner experiences for ugly ends don’t have anything to defend
75 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 themselves with – no tanks, no Tibet should be left as an experimental lab for man’s bombs, no airplanes, no army. inner search. But not a single nation in the world has An innocent race which has raised its voice against this ugly attack on Tibet. And lived without any war for two China has not only attacked it, they have amalgamated thousand years... It disturbs nobody; it is so far away from it into their map. Now, on the modern Chinese map, everybody – even to reach there Tibet is their territory is a difficult task. They live on the very roof of the world. The highest mountains, eternal And with them, something of for any blissful space; there snows, are their home. Leave great importance to all humanity exists none. And when great them alone! China will not is also destroyed. If there were philosophers like these agree lose anything, but the whole something civilized in man, on such points, the ordinary world will be benefited by their every nation would have stood masses simply follow them. experience. against the invasion of Tibet Whatever they are saying is And the world will need their by China. It is the invasion of absolutely wrong, because none experience. The world is getting matter against consciousness; of them has ever meditated, fed up with money, power, it is the invasion of materialism none of them has entered into prestige, all that scientific against spiritual heights. his own subjectivity. They are technology has created – Unless a tree blossoms, just in their heads. They have not people are getting fed up. They it knows no blissfulness. It even moved to their hearts, what are finished with it. People in goes on feeling something is to say about their beings? What the advanced countries are no missing. You may have all the to say about their disappearing longer interested in sex, are pleasures and comforts and into the universal? no longer interested in drugs. luxuries of the world, but unless Unless you disappear into Things are falling away, and a you know yourself, unless your the universal ocean just like strange despair like a dark cloud inner lotus opens, you will go a dewdrop, you will not find is descending on the advanced on missing something. You significance. You will not countries – of deep frustration, may not be certain what you find your real dignity. You meaninglessness, and anguish. are missing but a feeling... that will not find that existence They will all need a different something is being missed, showers so much joy and so climate of meditation to dispel that “I am not complete,” that much celebration on you that all these clouds and bring again “I am not whole,” that “I am you cannot contain it; you a new day into their lives, a not what existence wanted me have to share it. You become new dawn, a new experience of to be.” This “missing” feeling a raincloud which is so much themselves, a discovery of their goes on nagging everybody. burdened with rain that it has original being. Only the expansion of your to shower. A man of deep Tibet should be left as an consciousness will help you to insight, a man of intuition, a experimental lab for man’s get rid of this feeling, of this man who has reached to his inner search. But not a single nagging, of this anguish, this being becomes a raincloud. He nation in the world has raised angst. is not just a blessing to himself, its voice against this ugly Even people like Jaspers, he becomes a blessing to the attack on Tibet. And China has Kierkegaard, Heidegger, whole world. not only attacked it, they have Marcel, Jean-Paul Sartre, the This Tibetan mantra amalgamated it into their map. highest geniuses of the West, om mani padme hum is a Now, on the modern Chinese are agreed on a few things: that condensed form of the whole map, Tibet is their territory. life is nothing but boredom, inner pilgrimage. It says how And we think the world is that life is nothing but anxiety, to start, what will happen when civilized, where innocent people anguish, that life is accidental, the flower opens, what will be who are not doing any harm to it has no significance... that it your ultimate experience of anybody are simply destroyed. is absolutely futile to search your inner treasures.
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India, Tibet and China: Views of Indian Leaders Accepting China’s Suzerainty over Tibet was India’s Blunder Atal Bihari Vajpayee After China’s unlawful possession over Tibet, Atalji gave this statement in Loksabha during a debate on 8th of May 1959
ver since the Communist going to liberate; today when they are regime came to power in China, oppressing, they say they are going to Edespite having a very friendly reform. If there is to be any reform, relationship with Chiang Kai Shek, then the readiness to reform should India welcomed the new China and arise in those who are to be reformed. strived more than China to accord it Reform cannot be imposed from a respectful place among the nations above. of the world. Looking at our efforts, But whatever is happening in at times it seemed that the defendant Tibet is not any reform. Under the himself was lethargic about his own 1950 agreement, Tibet’s sovereignty case whereas it was the witness who should have been respected by China, was more active. We have advocated but China intervened in the internal China’s case because we thought that affairs of Tibet, bringing millions despite our differences with communism, if the of Chinese from Tibet to China, so that Tibetans people of China follow that path, then it is their might become a minority in their own country and concern, and in spite of different ways of life, India in future Tibet would become an inseparable part and China can live in friendship. of China. Thousands of young men were sent from But the first blow to the friendship came on Tibet to China, to imbibe a new political ideology. the day when Tibet was 'liberated' by the Chinese But when they returned home, the Chinese leaders forces. Our Prime Minister had then asked whom saw that they were not influenced and their Tibetan was Tibet being liberated from. Tibet was not a hue could not be erased, their distinctness remained slave of any country. India is the closest neighbour intact as well as their zeal to protect their way of of Tibet. During past history, we could have tried life remained indelible, the Chinese grew wary of to unite Tibet with us had we wanted to, but today this and tried to erase the Tibetans’ way of life. The when China’s leaders accuse India of being an current conflict has arisen due to the desire on the expansionist, they forget that we have never tried to part of a large nation to swallow a small nation. reunite Tibet with us. Tibetan is a small country. But I submit that we committed a huge blunder we respected its separate existence. We honoured when we accepted China's suzerainty over Tibet. Tibet’s independence and hoped that China would That was a day of great misfortune. But the blunder do the same, but the ways of communists are was committed and we probably thought that the different. Their words have different meanings. matter would be resolved, new conflict would not When they want to enslave, they say that they are arise, and we did not want to give others a chance to
77 Trivishtap Special-2 April-June 2020 take advantage of any differences Mao had also said that they wanted to see such flowers between us and China. But what bloom that would have thousands of petals. But leave has been the outcome? China has alone thousands, even a soft bud like Tibet is being not only violated its agreement with Tibet, but also breached the crushed. When we had pleaded that China be given a agreement reached with India place in the United Nations, we could have advocated against the backdrop of that Tibet being given a place as well accord. Where has the Panchsheel Declaration gone? Those who swear by the internal affairs of China? My that they had drafted a constitution Panchsheel say that democracy friend Mr. Khadilkar has just said such that if any constituent wanted and totalitarianism can co-exist that no such party in the country to secede from China, it could under Panchsheel. But if the supports Tibet’s independence. do so. The Tibetans did not even religious and peace-loving people I wish to express my difference mention leaving. They wanted to of Tibet cannot safeguard their of opinion with him. I represent maintain their distinct existence, particular way of life under the a small party, but our party is but they have not been allowed to Communist empire, then to claim an advocate of Tibet. Those do even this. that communism and democracy raising the cause of Tibetan Mao had also said that they can co-exist in such a large world independence cannot be judged wanted to see such flowers bloom makes no sense. We do not want right or wrong based only on that would have thousands of to interfere in China’s internal the number of voices supporting petals. But leave alone thousands, affairs, but Tibet is not an internal it. Today, Chinese imperialists even a soft bud like Tibet is being matter of China. China is bound might today suppress the voice crushed. When we had pleaded to respect Tibet’s autonomy and of Tibetan freedom through that China be given a place in the not to interfere in Tibet's internal brute power, but the yearning of United Nations, we could have affairs. But this agreement broke Tibetans for freedom cannot be advocated Tibet being given a down and I understand that now erased. Repression will only add place as well. Ukraine is a part India too—and the Government fuel to the fire of this movement, of the Soviet Union, but occupies of India—should also reconsider and today or tomorrow, the people a separate position in the United its position. Agreements operate of Tibet will certainly attain their Nations. So could Tibet not fill from both sides, and are followed independence. a separate position in the United from both sides. If China breaks But the question is, what can we Nations despite being with China? the agreement, we have the right do for it? I have submitted that we But we did not do this for the sake to reconsider our situation. What committed a blunder in 1950. We of China’s friendship. What have is the reason that the people of are now facing its consequences. we got from that friendship? Tibet are being deprived of their But this is the time is to recognise We still desire friendship, but freedom? that blunder and atone for it. I the mansion of that friendship Why cannot Tibet remain expect that the Prime Minister to cannot be built on the corpse of independent? It is said that it properly represent crores of people Tibet’s freedom. We cannot close was not independent earlier. But of this country on this occasion. our eyes to injustice. This has does any country which was not Except for a handful of our friends, been India’s tradition and it is in independent before, not have the all of India is of the unanimous adherence to this tradition our right to be independent? Should opinion that what is happening in Prime Minister has conducted slavery still endure where it has Tibet should not happen. But is it the country’s foreign policy. been present before? If we can possible that Tibet can continue to Wherever any injustice occurs, support the voice of Algeria’s enjoy autonomy under the Chinese humanity is violated, violence independence, and that support state? I believe that the Communist and atrocities happen, we shall is not construed as interference in system and autonomy are mutually raise our voice, we will speak the the internal affairs of France, then contradictory. There can be no language of truth and fearlessly how can the support to Tibet’s autonomy in a communist state. preserve the rights of those who independence be interference in Mao Tse Tung had said in 1930 are being repressed and trod upon.
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Today, Tibet is the test of Nehru’s like gaze upon us. Our territory is effect on China, then there will be policies, of the tenacity of the described as their in China’s maps no alternative for India except to Indian government and of China’s The Chinese Communists have give approval to the Dalai Lama concern for Panchsheel. The spirit driven out Chianh Kai Shek, but to strive for the freedom of his of Panchsheel will not be revered have retained his maps. had they country. merely by making declarations wanted, they could have thrown The youth of India consider of Panchsheel. It is good conduct out his maps as well. And our the freedom of Tibet invaluable— that is the criterion of Panchsheel. Communist friends say have not not because they have close ties No matter how restrained our seen those maps. I do not believe with Tibet, but because we have Prime Minister is, if that does not them. But for India, this is an lived in slavery, and know the solve the problem of Tibet, then indirect invasion by China. The sorrow and pain of slavery. We we have to believe that there is a Chinese have occupied two places also know the value of freedom. need to bring some firmness and in Uttar Pradesh. These incidents They (the Tibetans in India) activism in that policy. point to the coming crisis. We do should be given freedom to act. Whether or not the Dalai not need to become panicky, but If the people of Tibet fight for Lama lives in Tibet is not a big should adopt a firm policy. freedom, the people of India will issue. That will be decided by If the Dalai Lama is successful stand with them. We will extend Tibetans among themselves. in reaching an agreement with our sympathy to them and we But Tibet is a test wherein a big China, and our Prime Minister should also expect China not to nation swallows a smaller one. If can mediate in this regard, then talk like imperialists. The days of small countries are swallowed up nothing would make the people imperialism are over. But this is in this way, the peace of the world of the country happier than this. a new imperialism. The danger is cannot be maintained. There But if the leaders of China cannot that it comes under the cover of are many countries in South- be brought on the straight track, revolution, and comes wearing East Asia in which Chinese live they cannot be convinced by its garb, with the slogan of a new in large numbers. A wave of political or diplomatic pressure system, but this imperialism of apprehension has arisen in all and by awakening, organizing, the Yellows is also appearing those countries because of Tibet. effectively expressing the public on the Roof of the World (i.e., As far as India is concerned, we opinion of Burma, Lanka and Tibet). We also have to combat it clearly perceive China’s vulture- Indonesia; if this fails to have any with firmness.
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Place of publication : New Delhi Periodicity of its publication : Quarterly Printer’s Name : Print Craft India Nationality : Indian Address : Shahdara, Delhi Publisher’s and owner’s Name : Dr. Mahesh Chandra Sharma and Research and Development Foundation For Integral Humanism Nationality : Indian Address Ekatm Bhawan, 37, Deendayal Upadhyaya Marg, NewDelhi-110002 Editor’s NameEditor : Dr. Mahesh Chandra Sharma Nationality : Indian Address : Ekatm Bhawan, 37, Deendayal Upadhyaya Marg, NewDelhi-110002
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