Tibet, China and India

THE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY OF HIS HOLINESS THE XIV DALAI LAMA - Selected speeches and writings: A. A. Shiromany - Editor; Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre, C-1/1267, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070. Price not mentioned.

THE DALAI LAMA - Tibetan leader-in-exile - has been travelling all over the world canvassing support to his cause, even though it is no more considered a live issue by the global community. The reader is struck by his tenacity of purpose and tireless advocacy. What is more, all this is marked by total absence of rancour.

The Dalai Lama recalls that the Communist invasion of Tibet started in 1949 and the 1951 agreement was signed under duress. For centuries before, the relationship between Tibet and China was one of priest and patron. The uprising on March 10, 1959 was brutally suppressed. He is deeply upset by the mass population transfer, resulting in the Chinese outnumbering Tibetans by more than 20 times. Human rights are generally not guaranteed even though there has been progress in communication, education and healthcare. The growing militarisation of Tibet and dumping of nuclear waste there disturb the Dalai Lama deeply.

It is seen from his talks in various world forums and his press conferences that he has transformed himself from an angry ascetic, demanding total independence for Tibet, to a mellowed statesman who is willing to negotiate, being part of China with maximum autonomy. Sweeping political changes in the world, China's emergence as a mighty military and economic power in Asia and the growing colonisation of Tibet by the Chinese must have weighed with him. Also, that there is a lack of international public opinion and concern, should also have compelled a rethinking on the subject. Following Deng Xiaoping's statement in 1979 that, apart from the total independence of Tibet, all other issues could be discussed and resolved, the Dalai Lama hoped for a solution and made proposals on these lines. According to him, the Chinese Government showed no positive response for 18 years and Deng Xiaoping passed away. It is not clear why the issue was not discussed during Deng's lifetime. Was Deng not serious or did the Chinese Government ignore his belief?

The reader can see through all the euphemisms and discern the strong peeve that there was more vocal protest and international support when human rights were violated elsewhere. The Dalai Lama has friendly relations with Taiwan and he is very sore that the Chinese call him a ``splittist'' on this ground.

It is in the press conferences that the Dalai Lama has had to elaborate some of his views adumbrated earlier elsewhere. He describes India's attitude to China as ``overcautious'', acknowledges India's sympathetic support and also is aware that India cannot do anything more as China is involved. He hastens to sound hopeful and recalls that India did not recognise the Bangladesh government-in-exile first; but later sent her army to help its liberation. He does not want a successor and prefers total democratisation of rule; but he also believes firmly in reincarnation.

Though he dismisses criticism of India by some Tibetan scholars as their personal view, he himself has indicated in quite a few places that a bolder initiative from India would have helped him better. He painfully recalls that even as early as in 1954, India referred to Tibet as ``part of China'' in the bilateral trade agreement. India also did not favour a reference to the United Nations. He is willing for Tibet to be part of China, enjoying maximum autonomy and leaving defence and external affairs to be handled by that country. He would very much like India to promote and monitor the dialogue with China. His long term ideal, of course, is a peace-zone of Tibet which will act as a buffer between India and China.

For all his pride in the glorious Tibetan culture and heritage, the Dalai Lama is wise and practical and acknowledges that ``We Tibetans, due to reincarnations and Lamas, have been spoiled a bit with our own rules and systems.'' That explains his zeal for democratic restructuring of the system.

The Chinese, the Dalai Lama alleges, are changing the face of Tibet with cultural colonialism, demographic aggression through mass population transfer, growing militarisation and denial of human rights to the locals. For all his determined pursuit, the Tibetan case does not appear to be engaging or agitating the minds of the world nations. Meanwhile, the pontiff soldiers on.

A. S. PADMANABHAN

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