An Appraisal of the Present Situation in Tibet
Swarajya continues its anthology of the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The following piece was authored by His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama for Swarajya Annual Issue 1966.
I am thankful to Mr. T. Sadasivam for having given me this opportunity of saying something about Tibet by inviting me to contribute a statement to the SWARAJYA Annual Number concerning the present political situation in Tibet and what must be done by India and the outside world to right and wrong done to the people of Tibet.
To attempt to write a statement on the present political situation in Tibet is no mean task. The Chinese have perpetrated heinous crimes in Tibet that know no parallel in the history of the world. One cannot say where it begins and where it ends. However, I will briefly attempt to give a nutshell account of the true state of things prevailing in Tibet under the Communist regime, and state in a word or two my own observation on the subject.
DESTRUCTION OF THE HUMAN SOUL
Freedom is the life-blood of human existence. But the Chinese Communist conception of freedom is the enslavement and destruction of the human soul. In Tibet, the Chinese communists are vigorously translating this theory of freedom into action. Freedom of speech, movement, expression, press, profession, etc, does not exist at all. In implementing their theory of freedom to its farthest limit, the Chinese have strangulated the individual freedom of the Tibetan people. For instance, one cannot converse freely to one’s family or friends or have food of one’s choice at one’s own home. If there is any visitor in the house, the particulars of the visitor and the purpose of his visit have to be reported to the Chinese officer of the area. Permits are required to move in neighbouring areas lying even within a radius of one to two miles.
It is a sad thing that some people show incredulity at this kind of news of events actually taking place in Tibet. But when we think of those Tibetans who, in spite of their close associations with the Chinese Communists, could not read or assess the Communist designs, it seems only natural that these people should become incredulous of the happenings in Tibet.
Tibetans who worked hand in glove with the Chinese Communists never dreamt that one that the same smiling associates- the Chinese Communists never dreamt that one that the same smiling associates- the Chinese Communists- would stab them on the back, and let loose a reign of terror.
They never thought that China would, when the time was ripe, embark on a course of persecution and enslavement of the Tibetan people, and that they would be treated as third class citizens or as aliens in their own country. Dumbstruck, these Tibetan people are now actually experiencing the sufferings and torments of hell, which they never dreamt would be their lot.
TIBET IN THE GRIP OF FAMINE
The whole machinery of Tibet’s agricultural, pastoral and industrial economy are managed and controlled by the Chinese. Because of this, Tibet is in the grip of famine- a fact unprecedented in the history of Tibet. Rations issued to the Tibetan labourers by the Chinese authorities are insufficient and of poor quality. So they have to subsist literally on green vegetables and boiled leather. Too much eating of greens and other obnoxious materials has resulted in diseases like swelling of the body. Death from such causes is a common event. Added to the difficulties of insufficient diets, the Tibetan people are cruelly compelled to work far beyond the normal working hours. As a result, deaths from exhaustion are rampant.
Frequently at night the people are rudely awakened out of their sleep by the shrill whistle calling the people to attend midnight meetings. Attendance at the meetings is compulsory. The people are egged on by the Chinese Communists to accuse and point out each other’s failings. At other times, they are subjected to endless questioning, humiliation, abuse and mob-beatings. Life is very uncertain. If there is a slightest slip in renarrating one’s life story, he or she will find himself or herself behind bars. Punishment is heavy. He will experience nightmares day and night. In all the world, I do not think that there are so many people who are suffering so intensely as the people of Tibet.
LESSONS IN COMMUNISM
Lessons in Communism and the teachings of Mao Tse-tung are being vigorously imparted to Tibetans from all walks of life, whether they be young or old. The teaching of Mao Tse-tung is omnipotent. It seems to embrace every phase of the individual and the State. What is this teaching which the Tibetan people are being forced to make part and parcel of their lives? The grain of Mao Tse-tung’s teaching is that it is not enough to make one’s own country alone Communist. Communists should rule the whole world. The means to achieve this goal are infiltration, subversion and making of rebellion by the exploitation of the poorer and working-class people. C
Co-existence is not possible. War is inevitable if Communism is to come out triumphant in its aim of subjugating the whole world. In furtherance of this aim, ultimate resort has to be made to violent methods so as to destroy the capitalist and the imperialist, and to build up a world society of Communists. For this, great sacrifices are needed. Such are the teachings of Mao Tse-tung. Currently, a widespread campaign is afoot calling Tibetans to implement Mao’s teachings in real practices. But in spite of all this, I am delighted to discover that my people are not willing to take to Mao’s sinister teachings.
Tibetan politics and economy are executed and controlled by the Chinese Communist aggressors. As such there have never occurred any improvements or reforms in the administration and functioning of Tibetan politics and economy. The only innovations that have been brought about in Tibet are the construction of a network of military roads, houses for Chinese civilians and schools for teaching the Chinese language and Mao’s teachings. Among the transformations that have taken place are the conversion of monasteries into military barracks, replacement of the warm Tibetan garments by the Chinese cotton dress of uniform blue, invasion of a great part of Tibetan word expression by Chinese vocabulary, and the re-writing of Tibetan history according to Chinese whims.
The Chinese have introduced changes even in the spelling and pronunciation of Tibetan words. The quiet, meditative and peaceful mountains and valleys of Tibet are now echoing with the hectic din and bustle of Chinese military establishments. The meek and peaceful people of Tibet, who had from time immemorial lived a life of freedom, have now been reduced to slaves of the slaves and to a state of utter misery. The people of Tibet who used to enjoy a life of plenty- bountiful food and clothing- are today compelled to live on a starvation diet and with rugged and patched clothing.
THE SUBTERFUGE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
The Chinese Communists are loudly proclaiming the principal of “freedom of religious belief”. But this is just a subterfuge. They only want to dupe the outside world with the facade of “freedom of religious belief”. Communism is a godless creed. Worship of and faith in religion is not tolerated. In the Communist conception, religion is considered to be a hindrance to progress. The true image of Tibet is not the kind the Chinese propaganda machinery makes out. Monasteries which used to house six to seven thousand monks now have only one or two hundred old and infirm monks left in them. They are not allowed to carry on religious studies and other routine monastic activities as before. Instead, daily they have to put in intense labour works.
Most of the monasteries are empty and deserted. One of two monasteries have been kept as show pieces to illustrate the Communist hoax of religious tolerance. Images and other religious articles of gold, silver, copper and brass are melted and cast into objects of daily use. Religious images of clay are used as manure. Sacred scriptures have been burnt or destroyed or used as wrappers. Sometimes the pages of religious texts are deliberately used as toilet paper to hurt the religious feelings of the Tibetan people. Thick paper meant for binding scriptural texts is used as inside covers of boot soles. Recent reports say that small images of Tibetan deities are being used for target practice. The grace of Lord Buddha is denied to the people of Tibet.
For if a Tibetan is seen offering payer, he is branded as a “reactionary conservative” of the decayed society. He will be publically humiliated, physically beaten and made to undergo a course of “reform educations”. Will a Hindu or a Christian bear the sight of someone shooting as target practice at the image of Sri Krishna or Jesus Christ, and the burning and destruction of all that his religious instinct holds dear? In our country such vile and sacrilegious acts have been actually staged.
In my book ‘My Land and My People’ there is a reference to Mao Tse-tung remarking to me that religion is poison. Mao Tse-tung has said that religion is a poison, and that means he will not raise a little finger for the protection of religion.
MY OBSERVATIONS
What is most bewildering is the Chinese announcement that Tibet is to be freed from the clutches of foreign imperialists. But no foreign imperialist ever existed in Tibet. There was not even a shadow of foreign influence in Tibet. There was no aggressor in Tibet. Nobody threatened the territorial integrity of Tibet. And yet the Chinese Communists declared that Tibet’s frontier must be defended. It may be asked here, against whom? The Tibetan people, all and sundry, led a free and peaceful life. Everybody was happy and prosperous. But still the Chinese Communists launched a naked invasion of Tibet in the name of revolution and liberation.
A horde of Chinese military personnel poured into Tibet driving out the Tibetans from their peaceful homes. It must be pointed out that the geo-political features, ethnology, language, literature, traditions, etc., of Tibet are absolutely different from those of China. Tibet has never been a part of China. Tibet’s history of freedom and self-governance dates back thousands of years. Now the Chinese are spreading baseless and fabricated rumour that Tibet has always been a part of China. How absurd of China to make this claim!
Ever since the Chinese dragon started belching fire of destruction in Tibet, distressing developments have taken place about which I cannot but express my deep disappointment. I will summarize them as follows:
Firstly, a large part of the free world easily believes in the concocted and fabricated information supplied by the propaganda machinery of the Communist regime. They do so even without exercising their judgement, restraint or the criterion of right and wrong. I do not know how far this face value appreciation will hold water when we know that the Chinese Communist propaganda invariably gives a distorted version of true facts. It never contains a grain of truth.
Secondly, there is a tendency among many people to present an upside-down view of the real situation in Tibet. They even go to length of supporting China merely because by doing so they hope to gain in the fulfilment of their selfish interests.
Thirdly, there are some who are reluctant to express themselves, on the right and wrong of China’s action because they are mortally afraid of the wrath of the Chinese Communists.
And lastly, the policy of apathy shown by the world to Chinese menace. The military force of China is something like a fireball that sets fire to everything. It is an unbridled, driving force wreaking wanton destruction. It does not discriminate where it should set fire and where not. Already this fire has set Tibet burning, in the very heart of Asia. If the world, and particularly the countries of Asia and more specially the neighbours of Tibet, do not take stock of the burning of Tibet, they will rue the day when the Chinese Communist fireball sets fire to their own home, too. If these things happen, it will be a sad and tragic day for all of us.
All the problems of the world, however difficult they may be, have to be settled on the basis of justice and truth. When one forsakes the path of justice and truth, the finding of a solution to any problem will become well-nigh impossible.
My people left in Tibet are suffering untold miseries and hardships under a ruthless domination of a foreign power. I offer my prayers for their speedy emancipation from their enslavement, hardships and sufferings. I fervently pray that the world may be spared such suffering as has become the lot of our unfortunate people of Tibet.