Witoubou Newmai
As almost all the stories emanating from the issue of Tibet are also about the binary of the oppressed and the oppressor, struggling peoples around the world continue to keenly observe the issue.
After a brief hiatus, serious reports are doing the round in the past two days about the issue even as the 14th Dalai Lama “contemplates Chinese gambit after his death.”
The Dalai Lama’s comment that “there could be two reincarnations of the Dalai Lama” after his death has kicked up immense ruckuses. The Dalai Lama said that his “reincarnated being” to be discovered in India this time around. This comment had prompted China to say that “the reincarnation must comply with Chinese laws and regulations.”
Amid these reports, the United States has urged China to “resume formal dialogue” with the Dalai Lama or his representatives. The United States also said it “will continue to support the Dalai Lama's 'middle-way' approach.”
As in any conflict issue in the nature of this, power centres around the world will continue to try to make the most out of it, and this column will avoid the political aspects of the issue which are found in most media platforms. Rather, as a way of lending endorsement to the cause of the Tibetans, this column will try to dwell a bit on the emotional side of the Dalai Lama, as he leads his people.
In his 1990 book, ‘Freedom in Exile,’ we see so many elements in the Dalai Lama to say that he is too ordinary a human being. He also indulges in the feelings of nostalgia in the autobiography.
“When I look back to the time when Tibet was still a free country, I realize that those were the best years of my life,” the Dalai Lama expressed. The Tibetan leader also said that the old Tibet was not perfect. “Yet at the same time, it is true to say that our way of life was something quite remarkable…and, certainly there was much that was worth preserving that is now lost forever”.
The Dalai Lama then expressed his concern over the growing population of Chinese people who have outnumbered the Tibetans in Tibet. According to his estimation some 30 years ago, in the whole of Tibet, “there are already 7.5 million Chinese, outnumbering the Tibetan population of around 6 million.”
Inspite of these grim aspects presented by him, the Dalai Lama does not lose hope of “freedom.” In the concluding part of his autobiography, the Dalai Lama expressed hope that a “future free Tibet will seek to help all those in need, to protect nature and to promote peace.”
Such an attitude is an inspiration for all the struggling peoples.
