Hillman's Column : An eye to a new Tibetan perspection


December 16,2009

Since the visit of the USA President Barrack Obama to the Peoples Republic of China and that program preceded by the non acceptance of his Highness the Dalai Lama seeking an appointment with the new President of the USA is an eye opener to the new ground realities of the economic related political readjustment of the latter with the former, this is indicated as the writ on the wall, as accepting China’s image as the future numero uno displacing the throne occupied by the USA. With this perspection in mind the Tibetans, as a govt. in exile need address the Tibetan issue with a re-look on the unfolding political exigencies of the times. Based on which the Tibetan policy requires to be readjusted on the basis of the acceptance of the controversial Chinese region of Tibet being recognized as an integral part of China by the Barack Obama Govt. of USA.

In continuing the vein, since Sikkim is an adjoining region of Darjeeling District (West Bengal in India) and in consideration of the two year old agitation demanding a state of Gorkhaland, ostensively within the Indian Union, has much significance in reference to the opening of the border trade between Sikkim (India) and Tibet(TARC) some years back is required to be measured in portions as the concerned people of Kalimpong subdivision have thereby appealed for resumption of foreign trade with Tibet (TARC) extending out from the subdivision town Kalimpong which was once upon a time considered the last trade outpost from India. In Kalimpong was situated the last Chinese Agent office and residence at Tirpai Hill in the premises belonging to an influential trading family known as the Pandasangs which family once held the post of Regent in Tibet. It is rumoured that this family’s export turnover of wool shipped out of Kalimpong since many years time, all deposited in banks in the USA is said to amount to a sizable big fortune. It would be interesting to investigate and find out what remains of the double storied concrete structure that once was occupied by the Chinese Agent.

The point attempted to elaborate vis a vis the opening of the Nathu la trade and then following the same route the appeal of Kalimpong citizens for the reopening of the Jelep la to convenience trade from West Bengal is a issue which is well presented and recorded in the bureaucratic files in the Ministry of Commerce in the State and at the Centre. The effect of the representation by the concerned from Kalimpong was so focused that it was reflected in the utterances of the Urban and Development Minister of West Bengal Shri Asok Bhattachajee exclaiming adamantly that he would hold strikes in order to express his solidarity in reopening the Jelep la Border trade through Kalimpong in West Bengal.

The matter is a backburner for reasons best known to the Central Govt., but the reason is conspicuous in the findings of the operations of the border trade at Nathu la which undoubtedly is just a border mart and cannot be considered, under any stretch of imagination, as trade under the conditionalities of export-import rules and regulations.

While looking into the operation of the trade it is discovered the rules of operations is more akin to an administrative contiguous regions of Sikkim and Tibet only, and not between two sovereign nation states. This is quizzical to the lay public who are unable to understand the intricacy of political gimmicks, seen as such at one point of conversions.

The pertinent question to ask, without being verbose is about the acceptance of the erstwhile kingdom of Sikkim as the 28th State in the Union of India, seems too fuzzy to attempt any confirmation. Whenever this question is asked the quick response by the bureaucrats and those concerned in formalizing the opening of the Nathu la border trade, one is advised to confirm it in the internet. This being done so, the map discovered in it is a childish hand drawing map of the two regions demarcated by a line bordering Tibet and India with no clear cut indication of the borders at all, without mentioning names with the assumption the Chinese scripts indicating the bordering countries assumed as Nepal and Bhutan. It is improbable Sikkim is at all mentioned in the map.

In following the literature accompanying the map by P.S.Suryanarayana (in Singapore) under the heading ‘China acknowledges India’s sovereignty over Sikkim by issuing a revised map of the relevant region’ one is more baffled, and this requires to be further elaborated when, ‘at one level, the memorandum which identified Changgu of Sikkim State as a new venue for border trade market’. Can the concerned authorities and persons involved in the opening of the border trade clarify territorial position of ‘Changgu of Sikkim State’ in perspection to the two countries in question? This is a very serious matter which requires reconfirmation of the position accepted in terms of the border trade. Sweeping the dust under the carpet is the habit of most politicians and bureaucrats considering the temporary nature of their status, and leaving the floor to be clean swept by future undertakings. This is a very dangerous practice. In absence of any formal declaration by authorities of the Peoples Republic of China the idea of accepting an interrelated map cited in the internet as evidence of acceptance is unacceptable under any given circumstances. As a result one can anticipate, anytime in the future a condition similar to the claim of China to the State of Arunachal Pradesh countering this threat by allowing His Highness The Dalai Lama a religious leader to visit the State was an issue which burnt the finger when China rhetorically expressed the threat and the lesson of 1962 war, which was seen to have been won by the aggressor.

In further reading the text portrayed by Chinese officials as a trade-related aspect of a ‘win win solution’ is a ‘persher’ (Hebrew for meaning just opposite) to be read as such by India. For further elaboration the border trade agreement in so far as Sikkim was concerned, ‘the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan emphasizes last June that Sikkim, an enduring question left over from history,…cannot be solved overnight, it would require to be solved in a gradual manner’, is a clear sign of an impending issue requiring resolution at some point in time.

Getting back to the track with an eye to a new Tibetan perspection herewith is submitted an article which was drafted on behalf of a particular NGO addressing to all concerned parties long before the visit of President Barack Obama was scheduled, which is as follows.
The Right Approach to the Tibetan Cause

In the present economic crisis confronting the globalization as a perception of capital and human resources, one must be prepared to understand the dire consequences facing humans at large, worldwide, rich or poor, beyond sovereign boundaries, stressed to be saved from the adverse effects of the international economic downslide. Under such existing pressure on the world faced with these crisis scenes, affecting every citizen of the globe, to render solutions or resolutions on other consideration aspects than the present crisis would be inconsiderate as without taking the ground realities in focus, can only be expressed as originating from a subjective view point.

The cause of Tibet, no doubt, however is explicit and inclusively is a genuine concern, requiring to be presented to the attention of the public at large but simply in terms of human understanding, goodwill and concern. Simply expressed, the Tibetan issue as a matter of policy should be regarded superfluous to the purview of political review. It maybe comfortably addressed in public forum as a matter of basic fundamental human rights concern within a larger space earlier provided inclusively and exclusively for the same Mongoloid race of peoples bordering the Hans. Living as human species is a human right protected by all civil societies and guaranteed by the world bodies. Hence it would only be suitable and proper to chant the universal mantra of Chenrizi (the all powerful and all seeing Tibetan version of Lord Vishnu) ‘Om mani padma hum’. One must exist in this world of salient beings accepting all vicissitudes of life in a philosophical manner, in the transcendental wisdom of Pragyaparamitra, the philosophy of middle path propounded by none other than Nagarjuna, the great Indian philosopher, expounding and enlarging the path chosen by the Indian prince Gautama, the Buddha, the ‘enlightened’.

The few millions of souls in Tibet, as well as the hundred thousand and more of them in self exile as imposed refugees in diaspora in alien and foreign lands is a regrettable sight, is a problem to be addressed and resolved by the world community at possibly the earliest time frame. However, this is not to be as previous experience has depicted, and probably, not to be on the immediate future, but as all sad things come to an end, but considering it is only human to err should be the criteria in hoping that better days are yet to come for all Tibetans, and those outside, once the Republic of China realizes, the question of Tibet should be considered in wider aspects of Tibet in China processing reforms and development, social, economic and political requiring bipartisan associated treatment to all matters to further guaranteed the mutuality of interest amongst the two peoples. This should be the method of approach to bring about a permanent solution than otherwise other stances applied past six decades seen proactive and divisive by the counterpart. This should not be the program nor the stance towards the goal. The Tibetans need to redefine the Chinese ethnicity more as brother of the same soil and country to live together in allotted space since millenniums, when the history of the two peoples are invariably conjoined with each other in love and war, as a family of nations repletely displayed by historical events. The written history of Tibet is related to both China and India since the time of the King Tsongsa Gomphu whose two queens originating ethnically from China and Nepal (conceived as India) who are now deified to sainthoods is recognition of the fact.
Once this common bond and history is understood in its proper perspection the path ahead will be smoother away from the jagged terrain, as made out by those perpetrated to be friends, but otherwise in various skins except their own. The emphasis of true friends is to bring about peace and friendship, and not encourage the spread of uneven forces working in tangent, creating more instability and tension to satisfy individualistic goals as a form of national policies. The western countries, those in Europe, no doubt are aware of the cause of Tibet but are ineffective as friends to ameliorate the problem and are merely seen as soft speaking diplomatic friends than a true blood relative. In this aspect the role of the USA is considered even more superfluous, in that, as a super power, in order to adjust the balance of world powers, the role performed are not beyond suspicion of doubt to the sincerity of purpose. It is hoped under the Presidentship of Mr. Barack Obama, the first African American to hold such important post in the USA, a new philosophy is evolved to face the challenges of destabilization democratically with a resolution of a human eye and not world domination as focused by the earlier history of USA. The youth in him is to be emulated by the Tibetan stock within and outside Tibet.

Cutting a long story short it is expected that the directly involved countries in regard to Tibet issue are required to play a more important role as a catalyst triggering historical events of fame and fortune thereby being effective mediators than only as guide, philosopher and friend. It is doubtful whether the many friends of Tibet projecting their genuineness are after all are to be asked whether they are truly playing the rightly directed parts, or only adding lip service without the words. This seems to be the agenda in the card as observed till date. It is now nearly seventy years past after the first uprising for self-determination in Tibet in 1950, that no perceived improvement in relations between the two countries are visible nor recorded. In fact the bridge is widening apart than decreasing the proximity. Addressing the chasm is nowhere in sight at least presently seen. What and who is to be blamed for this downturn of events is not a question to be asked, but, now ask what can be done to bring about a rapprochement between the lead players resolving a final solution. This is the question of the hour.

In this approach, it is felt, India also as the immediate afflicted neighbour in that space, being the largest democracy in the world and doubtlessly wielding enormous economic and political leverage in the world stage, no less than redoubtable China, is enhanced to play a more proactive role to consider the issue in a tripartite manner discussing all pending issues composite to the context of the three neighbouring countries holding their own stakes. India too has issues related to territorial problems which are directly or indirectly related to Tibetan sequence in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh the bordering areas claimed by China as the domain of erstwhile Tibet. The general issue of Tibet will unfurl many hidden agendas concerning all three parties, hence the vitality in originating a new agenda amongst the three to defuse the pending problems. These if at all, to be resolved, need their mutual will and the required perseverance mainly of India and China to thrash out the nut from the shell, which happens to be the Tibetan cause as of the moment. Regrettably it is to India’s interest that the Tibetan case is unresolved till its border issues are first attended to. This is the crux of the matter which Tibetans will have to accept.
Any resolution between Tibet and China will highlight the pending border issues to the advantage of Tibet and thereby to China at the cost of Indian stance. India needs to come out clean in regard to Tibet and not keep the cause as hostage to certify its own scheme of things and events.

India needs to break out from the shell it has created. If it is enabled to do so it will be the ultimate sacrifice as a contribution of India to solve the Tibetan imbroglio, if at all it endeavours an attempt. India is attributed with all the goodwill, ready references and the required background qualification to take up the issue in right earnest to derive a final solution. After all, India too has a chunk of stake in the entire deal. In fact, it will be to the interest of India to resolute an attempt at a peaceful and meaningful negotiation to bring about a settlement of the Tibetan issue. The issue being, to allow the preservation of Tibetan regional identity within the body frame of the Chinese Republic. Whether India can manage to approach the issue with these ideas is a thought provoking question. Will it or will it not undertake such a preemptive action? India unable to upfront its own problems related to Tibet, is burdened under the circumstances and excuses itself from the deal under presumptive assumptions to the disinterest of the Tibetan cause. The earliest confrontations with the problems is more advisable than delaying it for time to heal the wound is a fool’s’ dream, un-pragmatic, as if sweeping the dust under the carpet. This is a hard reality of fact which both Tibetans and Indians must chew, while at the same time the international bodies are inspiring India to take the lead by spearheading the Tibetan cause as the ultimate solution for all parties concerned. Till this ground reality is taken into consideration the Tibetan cause can only sail without the assistance of a tide so prerequisite to lift the ship from the beach to the water.

All friends for the Tibetan cause need to realize this transparency and petition proper approach to Indian leaders of all organisations at the helms of power in Delhi to move the subject ahead, bilaterally, if at all possible, with China to address and resolve Tibet’s right to life, liberty and freedom of expression as an autonomous state under the sovereignty of the greater nation. This will effect the Tibetans in diaspora the ability to reclaim their territorial ethnic motherland and create a living space for their political existence thereafter.

In consideration of the wide span of time interval between 1950, and the present time, a new generation of people has replaced the old structure of then. In this changed environment in space, the young generation, no doubt be called upon to express their views on the situation at hand originating from the past in a more practical manner with a mindset directed to perform and deliver, than chant old slogans and mantras only. The youth must come and with an open frame of mind realizing full well the ground realities of the present times. No doubt proactive examples as those performed during the last Olympic Games generated worldwide attention but ineffective results to highlight the Tibetan cause to a central table on the world stage. In final analysis the event show caused the opposite effect highlighting the picturous grandeur of the game which was deliberated without any whisper of complaint. The intended Tibetan cause was in fact disinherited in contrast to the Olympic Games as a world event intended destabilization by the activists of Tibet’s cause.
On the contrary, instead China walked away with the cake comprising an impressive tally of prize medals to impress the entire world, especially the west, that, the Chinese dragon is now awake.

These are ground situations one must account in the balance sheet to carry over the business forward to a conclusive end, destined by a peaceful approach, mutually benefiting, and above all without a feeling of rancor, repression or without any aggressive stance – only to speak the language of brotherhood that past differences and demand should not mar the ongoing process to a final solution recognizing the Tibetan national identity within the context of the larger nation, which can be seen as a proud occasion for the entire world. One is required to recollect and reminiscence, China and her own people were burdened, harassed and mitigated by its own historical turn of events dismalled in the past by the social, economic and political trauma from and since the advent of extreme Communism started in the early 19th century which lasted till recent times with immense damage to the country’s civilized evolution. It is only now China is opening up to realize its past history in order to recognize the present one. Hence, while raising the Tibetan issue at any level, the above realization is to be studied in contrast before any such personal issues, as the one of Tibet, is to be raised in a synchronized harmonistic pattern to create a level field based only on mutual understanding and goodwill between peoples and nations.

India too has a historical past having grown out of a condition based on foreign rule, and it was only emerging out of the shackles in 1950 (the forming of the Constitution) when the Tibetan issue had just fermented to a potent content of a revolution. India was in no position to estimate the political implications of the happenings in Tibet, being too immature neither to understand nor tackle the Tibetan issue politically. Hence the inexperience in handling the situation was otherwise thought as regardless and the consideration not true. Since these past times, China it seems to have undergone many changes with the incoming of the new generation within its fold injecting new blood and philosophy. This seems an advantageous condition to initiate a proactive dialogue in regard to the Tibetan issue, now. If at all Tibet is to derive political concessions from China, this is the time to press on but with a open frame of mind, with open ended petitions, inclusively as well as exclusively to arrive at a position of mutual benefit and corroboration between the Tibetan and the Hans people. There is a recognized possibility, within the near future more democratic posture will settle in China heralded by the sure signs of economic liberalization leading to globalization in which China features without any bounds and limitations, ‘no matter the colour of the cat as long as it gets the rat’ seems to be the adage of the new social, economic and political order. It is within this growing attitude of mainland China in which the Tibetans in exile can afford to take advantage, perspectively, for an early settlement of the issue. This stance will prove to be more accommodative, adapting to a future chain of events destined for China which has the potential and the capability to become a super power of immense importance. The western countries already have predicted this condition and accordingly have joined the long column of queue to obtain the balcony seat on the show in China and its advantageous position at the centre stage in every international forum.
It is now very important for the Tibetans in diaspora to realize this reality, and convey this bench mark approach, with India’s influence and support, to solve the pending issue of Tibet related to mainland China. This is the roadmap ahead to be taken democratically processed through dialogues and discussions, after all one has to become the cat to get the rat.

India’s existing border problems might be a stumbling block on raising the Tibetan issue, although its validity is already accepted internationally but without much vigour and zest. It be of interest to all three stakeholders to accept the commonality of the problem at hand and try giving it a push to achieve a permanent deal, inspite of the fact China may not accept a tripartite overture, considering discussions on Tibet as an integral part of the country. Despite this objection, India’s role to advance Tibet’s cause transparently and effectively is a healthy approach. Total rejection by China to this inspired deal is not reassured, and hence opening a completely new chapter in this direction may be uneventful, but if, at the same time if accepted, would not only be a progressive positive step, but in fact be the right first footstep leading to the one and only direction, that is the mutual acceptance of understanding among the three players on the field. The new breed of generations grown up away from their own country Tibet now have acquired a better understanding, having looked at the issue from an objective angle and therefore equipped to take up the cause with all the concerned in India, and energize initiating a dialogue, if at all only to deliberate and discuss the issue, and accord carry forward thereby, hopefully to achieve a permanent solution to the pending Tibetan problem within China.

In consonance with the submission of the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People to the concerned authorities dealing with the case of Tibetan Autonomous Region of China (TARC) within the Peoples Republic of China, this body wishes to express all good wishes, good luck and prosperity for the Peoples Republic of China and also those brothers inhabiting in TARC. This body prays that the human will and human concerns will project and prevail on all those who go about to bring about the proper fruitation from the tree of life, love and understanding, and thereby providing a final solution to the amalgamation of the ethnicity of Bod or The-bhet (TARC) to initiate and develop the cultural bond with the Hans family of nations, originating from one of the oldest and the greatest civilization known to mankind. It should be a cause of great honour for the Tibetan people to be accepted with the Hans-fold of people and accordingly contribute by no means and measure for the well-being and upliftment of TARC. This is in spirit deemed to play a definite and great role in the family of nations in the not too distant future.

With these thoughts in mind may all rest in peace and happiness as I do so now in humble thoughts, anticipating the fulfillment of the above eventful dreams.

Hillman-the Analyst