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Published: November 4th 2008
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We are now in Mcleod Ganj which has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth, it is home to the Dalai Lama and the exiled Tibetan government and as a result feels very un-Indian. The Tibetan government have been using Mcleod Ganj as their base of operations since China's annexation of Tibet. When the Dalai Lama left Tibet in 1959 after it was undoubtedly clear that he was no longer safe from the Chinese the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru offered to permit him and his followers to establish a "government-in-exile" in Mcleod Ganj. Pretty good of the Indian government I think and even better that nearly 50 years on they still continue to support the Tibetan people.
These days Mcleod Ganj attracts many tourists and students of Buddhism, throughout the whole town there are courses on meditation, Yoga, tai chi and Buddhism as well as discussion groups and volunteer organisations. There is also tons of information about the plight of the Tibetan people and human rights issues with additional information on what individuals can do to raise awareness from simply displaying a Tibetan flag sticker or badge to joining free Tibet groups and charities. One of
the simplest ways is to talk about it and so I hope that in writing this blog I will have done something to help their cause. I have to confess to not really being the type of person that rallies to causes but having been here and learning about the thousands of Tibetan refugees living in India I could not stand by and say nothing.
As far as China is concerned Tibet has officially been part of the Chinese nation since the mid-13th Century, so should continue to be ruled by Beijing, whereas many Tibetans disagree, pointing out that the Himalayan region was an independent kingdom for many centuries, and that Chinese rule over Tibet has not been constant. Whatever the accurate history is of Tibet it is clear that Tibetans are not getting a fair deal with many claiming that their culture and belief systems are constantly suppressed under Chinese rule and that many Han Chinese are often favored over native Tibetans in jobs. The central government in China argues that under their rule the Tibetans have benefitted from unprecedented economic success and although this is generally agreed to be true the Tibetan peoples basic freedoms of speach,
politics, education and religion are still widely supressed or heavily controlled.
What is known and partially confirmed by the Chinese is that thousands of Tibetans alongside many other Chinese died during China's great famine of 1959-61 as a direct result of Chairman Mao's poor handling of China's economic drive, some estimates report up to 40 million deaths in the period. It is also widely documented that during China's annexation of Tibet, Buddhism was suppressed and over 2500 monasteries and temples were destroyed or defaced. In today's Tibet, as is the case throughout China political protest is not allowed with arrests being made even during peaceful protest. It is also reported that anyone found carrying an image of the Dali lama or a Tibetan flag are often arrested and imprisoned. For many this is a blatant disregard for the Tibetans basic human rights. For most Tibetans the Dali Lama is their spiritual leader and they are being forced to denounce him by the Chinese government - in anyone's book this is wrong. It is a sad fact that no country openly disputes China's claim to sovereignty and most attempts by the UN to mediate or offer resolutions are blocked by
China.
Even today Tibetans are still fleeing their home land through treacherous mountain paths into Nepal and Bhutan with many losing their lives, every year hundreds of children are smuggled into India leaving their families behind to join Tibetan schools as the education they receive in China is regarded as inferior or suppressive of Tibetan culture. There are many first hand accounts from refugees at the Tibetan museum in Mcleod Ganj, one tells the story of a survivor who with three others braved the Himalaya's and arrived in Sikkim, North India. From there they were sent to Gangtok hospital treatment for frostbite which eventually resulted in the amputation of both legs and several fingers of the survivor Migmar Tsering. She writes:
''Two of us were finally allowed to go to Dharamsala, India, but the other two, whose physical condition was better, were sent back to Tibet.''
''When we reached Dharamsala we were taken for an audience with his Holiness. I cannot remember anything that happened there, I just cried''.
This account was from 1993.
Throughout Mcleod Ganj there are many Tibetan beggars with missing limbs, hands, feet and fingers, I can only assume they
have suffered the same fate as Migmar Tsing. Myself and Helen visited a Tibetan school to talk with some of the students to improve their conversational English. All of the students were in their late 20's and early 30's and were all political refugees, whilst we tried to talk about a broad range of things the hour and half spent with them consisted mostly of discussion about the Tibetan peoples problem. It was a humbling experience and one which spurred me to write this blog.
Mcleod Ganj is an incredible place, beautiful and peaceful, given the option we would gladly spend several months here, it is just such a shame that we have to come here to experience such a fantastic culture. Throughout the town are the words of the Dali Lama on postcards, posters and T-shirts. There are many and all have fantastic messages of peace. For the end of this blog I have chosen to quote one, I think you can agree it is a universal message.
A Precious Human Life
Every day, think as you wake up,
today I am fortunate to have woken up,
I am alive,
I have a precious human life,
I am not going to waste it,
I am going to use all my energies to develop myself,
to expand my heart out to others,
to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings,
I am going to have kind thoughts towards others,
I am not going to get angry or think badly about others,
I am going to benefit others as much as I can.
H.H. the XIV Dalai Lama
For more information about Tibet visit :
www.tibetonline.com
www.dalailama.com
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anonymous
non-member comment
Don't listen to one side.