Dalai Lama is an apostle of peace; the all world accepts he is no less important than Mahatma Gandhi but China says he is a wolf in monk’s robes. His philosophy resolutely focuses on humanitarianism and anti-violent activities but in China’s eyes he is the mastermind of biggest ever protects, chaos among Tibetan monks in China, Lhasa and elsewhere. The world knows his vision of politics has been significantly shaped by an admiration for Gandhi but China dislikes his vision. If we look back, in the year of 1989 when Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel for Peace, the chairman of the committee had said that the prize was ‘in part a tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi’
But it is a stark irony despite being a world leader, Mahatma Gandhi doesn’t matter to China, so, the Dalai Lama despite being his recognition as Nobel laureate for Peace mission. None in the world like the haughty, brutal, capitalist authoritarian China who is readying to showcase its economic might by hosting the Olympics 2008, should accuse the leader of such esteem and glory, who had been awarded the world’s biggest accolade for his peace mission, for masterminding the agitation to sabotage the Olympic Games at Beijing.
For Chinese government and its people, Dalai Lama might be a ‘wolf in monk’s robes’ but his strategy is neither anti China government nor its people. Nor he asks for Independent Tibet and it’s worsening that he is compelled to attract the ire of Tibetan people due to shifting his base from Independence to autonomy. Tibetans are not agreeing to accept a bit less than Tibet independence
Asking for autonomy within the framework of China should not be treated as an invalid demand of one of the greatest spiritual leaders if the Tibetan Buddhists are wishing to protect its culture, heritage and artifacts. But the crisis is, now, with the lighting of the Olympic flame, despite Dalai Lama’s assurance to China government that the Tibetans are not against the Beijing Olympics- the world's biggest sporting spectacle ever, Pro-Tibet protesters disrupted the Olympic flame-lighting ceremony at Athens and their intentions are no hidden agenda to the world. And China recently has asked India also regarding the protection of mashaal when it passes through India after sighting Tibetan opposition both in Paris and London.
China is quite aware that Tibetan clique would show off their plight to the world to embarrass China and protect China’s human rights record. The French President Nicolas Sarkozy too has showed his concern regarding the boycott of pro-Tibet protesters in the coming opening ceremony of Olympics games on August 8, 2008.
Days back, on the anniversary of Tibetans’ national uprising against Chinese which culminated in the running away of Dalai Lama to India through Tawang, Dalai Lama, feeling the bubbling outburst of Tibetans, had said that he is unable to control Tibetan explosion of anger, he then understood well the commonsensical rhythm of Tibetan exiles who had been frustrated with their failure achieving ‘middle way’ solution of their problem.
Dalai Lama knows understandably if he forces his disciples, he might slack his genuine authority over them because they are going berserk day after day over the unsolved question of their long-aspired independence of Tibet, not accepting the autonomy. Dalai Lama says that he is ready to quit if both the monks and Chinese authority fail to stop the violence.
Pragmatically, like Mahatma Gandhi, Dalai Lama not only talks of moral conscience but he is much anxious about violence unleashed by his own Tibetan people. Reports say that the present protects by Buddhist monks in Tibet and elsewhere in China are the largest in nearly two decades.
Traditionally, India is liberal in providing political asylum to those who wishes to come to the country. Fifty years back, when Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal head of Tibetans had fled to India with scores of Buddhist monks, it was the China which sharply reacted over providing refuge to the fugitive. Then our first Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru had asked over Dalai Lama to act restraint. The government of India has then no objection providing shelter to them if they promise their government in exile would not indulge in political activities in India. The Dalai Lama and other Tibetans living in India honoured the commitment except for some passionate Tibetans.
Despite criticism from China many times, India did not renege on its stand of offering refuge and shortly thereafter, following a collapse of negotiations between two countries over the disputed border, China attacked China on October 1962 and defeated India.
The memory of that mountain war-fare for which India was not all prepared that time, still haunts our leaders and military officers. Now, India is silent over the situation as though it is worsening day by day. Some political analysts are of the opinion that maintaining silence is in our interest keep on friendly relations with our mighty neighbour.
After the China- India war in 1962, India did neither advocate nor support any movement for an Independent Tibet but it’s not against Tibetans’ concept of peaceful solution of Tibet dispute. India sees similarities in Mahatma Gandhi and Dalai Lama. In the year of 1922, on the eruption of violence at Chauri Chaura, Mahatma Gandhi insisted on the end of non-cooperation movement. Recently, Dalai Lama’s anxieties about violence and insistence not to hate Chinese people but to their atrocities bring back us to the memories of Gandhian dogmas.
But in the present scenario, India’s response to the harsh Chinese crackdown on legitimate Tibetan protests in Lhasa and elsewhere has been disappointing only because of the panic of spoiling relationship between two countries. In Parliament the veteran politician and foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee could only express anguish at the plight of the ill fated Tibetans, not promise to give moral support. Moreover, Indian security forces swooped down on peaceful Tibetan protestors at Dharamsala just to convince China which had sternly rebuked India to see Tibetans’ political activities. India is by all means stuck to its stand not to allowing Tibetans to run political activities in India.
The current crisis with India now is, one way; it wishes to be considered a great power, the other way it kowtows to Beijing. Its policy of appeasement to make China happy has failed.
In the year of 1962, India had been a week country with not much better economic growth. Now the scenario is absolutely changed. Now India has grown strong economically along with substantial military establishment, it should not now behave in a submissive fashion. India’s position, sure enough would be sturdier if it stands up defending undeniable rights of the Tibetan minority. India should never cow down if it claims to great power status in Asia.
It is too disappointing that some important policy decisions are ignored only because of the fear of China. For example, on the issue of China’s quest for military based in Burma, India remained silent. Second, it has also exercised caution in pursuing commercial ties with Taiwan only to save from China’s wrath. If India takes action against law-abiding Tibetans and harasses them, it is fundamentally contrary to the principles of a liberal democracy as in India.
It is no doubt that China’s hands are heavy and it is able to crush the demonstrations that have swept across the Tibet despite knowing the world powers will issue some predictable communiqués demanding to end the repression and pressurized China for negotiations. Maybe the world powers menace China for the boycott of Chinese goods or impose of sanctions due to its repression on Tibetans.
It is a crucial time that India should live up to the world’s aspirations of showing off self-confidence condemning China’s oppression on Tibetan minority. If Tibetans wishes to march peacefully, the government of India at a minimum should grants them their democratic right. Either India genuflect China by not allowing Tibetans to show off protects or obey to the global leaders’ aspirations, Dalai Lama’s moral leadership will always be immaculate.
This article was published in Greater Kashmir on 15 April, 2008
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