"Majnu ka Tila mei kaha jana hai, madam?"
"Refugee Colony"…
This was a mere beginning to my journey. The journey which showed another shade of life to me. It all began with reading an article online about children coming from Tibet to India without their parents and families. It sounded like I've heard about the place. I was reminded of the world map where our teachers taught us to write Tibet in brackets on the map of China. I never knew reading further about Tibet would make the Tibetan Issue such a strong part of my life. That's what it is popularly known as, the Tibetan Issue.
Tibet was a beautiful independent country. Surrounded by huge mountain ranges the place had one of the richest religious and cultural heritage preserved within the hearts of every Tibetan. It was a serene plateau with echoing sounds of prayers. Under the blessings of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, every Tibetan believed in living a happy and peaceful life. Tibet was, in its true sense The Roof of The World. However today what we know of Tibet is an entirely different story. In fact, do we even know about it? Today, it no more listens to the echoing prayers in monasteries. It no more feels the tranquility of air. It no more experiences the serenity. It now only witnesses the mourns and the cries of the people. The merry making lot are now seen sacrificing their lives by setting themselves ablaze! Yes, people of Tibet are dying! They are self immolating!
You must be by now wondering, what exactly it is that I'm so anxious about. It was in 1949 when the Communist Party of China came into power and stood up to reunite their 'motherland', Tibet. They said they wanted to liberalize Tibetans from the serfdom practices. They infiltrated and stealthily occupied Tibet killing thousands of people. Within a span of only a decade China forced the Tibetan religious and political leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to escape and take refuge in India. Since then, whom Tibetans believe to be the reincarnation of the Buddha of Compassion is living in exile as a refugee! Since then thousands of Tibetans have crossed the borders to come and live in exile. What China terms as development are a bunch of cultural re-education and assimilation policies which forces Tibetans to abandon their language and culture and accept the communist regime. Tibetans are forced to defame and denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Voices with differences arose several times but were crushed by the draconian rule of the communist party. The protestors are suppressed, brutally beaten and detained in the prisons for several years. If that didn't sound enough, they are barbarically tortured by electrical prods being inserted into their mouths. They say it is a fate worse than death.
With its increasing powers China has curtailed media's entry into Tibet. Even the Chinese media cannot cover issues related to Tibet. Today, the only way left for these people to make their voice audible is through setting themselves on fire. Since 2008 107 people have self immolated themselves inside and outside Tibet. They cry out for freedom and call for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama back in Tibet. These people have died for their true identity. Identity of being a Tibetan. The only wish they have is for once to see His Holiness coming back to live in a free Tibet. They want to experience the and feel the presence of their 'god' closer than ever to them. What the world have named these acts as is desperate. I feel they are the most courageous and selfless acts by any human being. Of course, you don’t think setting oneself on fire is easy?
Who is it that these people want to reach to? It is the International Media and International Organizations. The United Nations, The United States Of America, Russia, Germany, France, The United Kingdom, Japan all these. They are not just names, they are the power source of the world. If together these nations can definitely bring a difference in the fate of these Tibetans, if not change. However, the questions that keep on lingering in my mind are why aren't these communities acting? Why aren't they initiating a firm dialogue with China? Is it because of their own economic interests? Will China ever be moved by the sacrificing acts of Tibetans to get their nation and freedom back? I haven't found the answers to these one's yet. But I'm sure, one day the sun will rise from behind the clouds and give these people their bit of the sunlight.
Meanwhile, Tibetans living in exile are persistent with their struggle. They all are doing their bit. Either by participating into the peaceful candle vigils or protest marches. While the martyrs are giving their lives, these people far away from their homeland carry the struggle forward and demand for solidarity. As a child when I first visited Dharamshala, what they call as little Lhasa, I saw these people as a part of the crowd. But today, for me they shine as the highest example of perseverance and selflessness.
