HH Dalai Lama's Tawang visit!

[Rage]

India limits journalists on contentious Dalai Lama trip

Updated Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:09 am


TAWANG, India -- Indian officials clamped down Monday on journalists covering the Dalai Lama's trip to a disputed border area in an apparent effort to minimize tensions with neighboring China.

China has protested the Tibetan spiritual leader's weeklong visit to the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh that began Sunday after months of rising friction between India and China.

The Dalai Lama was holding prayer meetings and teaching sessions with adherents in the Himalayan town of Tawang, near the frontier with Chinese-controlled Tibet.

India refused to allow foreign journalists to travel to Tawang to cover the trip and tried to keep local reporters away from the Dalai Lama on Sunday.

As the Dalai Lama inaugurated a hospital wing in Tawang on Monday, Leki Phuntso, a media official with the state government, told waiting reporters they were “requested” not to ask any questions.

China had demanded India call off the trip, but India said the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile here since 1959, was an honored guest and free to visit any part of the country.


India limits journalists on contentious Dalai Lama trip - The China Post

 

[Sridhar]

Centre asks scribes to leave Tawang: Report

Updated on Thursday, November 12, 2009, 10:01 IST ​

Zeenews Bureau

Tawang/Bomdi La: Apparently, uncomfortable with the media focus on Dalai Lama’s Arunachal visit, the Centre has reportedly asked all media personnel covering the event to leave Tawang.

The government has also asked the Tibetan leader to amend his programme, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

This comes after the government’s earlier order, in which, it refused to allow foreign scribes from covering Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

“On the eve of the Dalai Lama's departure for Dirang and Bomdi La in West Kameng, state officials asked him to convert a public address, which was scheduled to take place in Tawang, into a religious discourse,” the news paper stated.

Government has also dismissed requests from scribes for inner-line permits, which are necessary for non-state residents who want to visit Arunachal.

Meanwhile, China yesterday expressed its firm opposition to foreign leaders' contact with the Dalai Lama, days after a key aide to Barack Obama said the US President would be ready to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader "at an appropriate time."

On its objection to Dalai Lama’s visit to Tawang, China said, yesterday, that it was "strongly dissatisfied" with the Dalai Lama being allowed to visit "disputed" Arunachal Pradesh but India refused to join issue with it and hoped the "rhetoric" will end with the culmination of the Tibetan leader's trip.

Centre asks scribes to leave Tawang: Report

 

[prahladh]

Well, well, well, well well. I guess the ba$tards finally got their way.

The spineless govt. was simulatin' after all.

We can all say: brouhahahaha

I think its mostly because the media trying to rake up sensitive issues like Tibet, China, A.P while he is on a spiritual visit. These are curbs on media not on H.H Dalai Lama

 

[Rage]

What the f&©k is going on?


China effect? Centre asks Dalai Lama to amend schedule

Published on: Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 09:28


New Delhi: Has India finally bowed to China's objections to the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh? The Tibetan spiritual leader has reportedly been asked to amend his programme by the state government.

The Dalai Lama was asked to convert his public address to a religious discourse on the eve of his departure for Dirang and Bomdi La. The government had earlier cancelled the Dalai Lama's visit to a monastery in the heart of Tawang for security reasons.

Arunachal officials have also denied extension requests of inner line permits to journalists, as they fear the Dalai Lama is being asked too many questions about China.

Organisers of the Dalai Lama's visit have also withdrawn volunteers of the India-Tibet Friendship Society. On Sunday, the first day of the visit, these volunteers had miniature Indian and Tibetan flags on their T-shirts.

But External Affairs Ministry sources have told CNN-IBN that the restrictions were imposed at a local level and that the Centre has nothing to do with it.

Meanwhile, the state government on its part is also denying imposing any restrictions.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary has said, "All media reports are baseless. We have not suggested anything to the Dalai Lama. He is free to move anywhere in the state. The state government is not doing any rescheduling. His itinerary remains the same."

The restrictions though did not prevent thousands of his followers from gathering at Tawang. For the fourth consecutive day, the town remained closed for about six hours as almost all its residents went to attend the Tibetan leader's discourse.


China effect? Centre asks Dalai Lama to amend schedule


x-x-x-x

 

[Rage]

I think its mostly because the media trying to rake up sensitive issues like Tibet, China, A.P while he is on a spiritual visit. These are curbs on media not on H.H Dalai Lama

Maybe so. But that is not warranted, not least in a supposedly 'democratic' country.

The latest news is that both state and central officials absoloutely deny any restrictions even exist! The journalists are lying they say, and even news of changes in itinerary are fabricated. Well, I guess there is one way to find out : wait and watch.

Interestingly, a few days ago I was reading an article by Sanjoy Majumdar on how India is "not averse to playing mind games with China" [I quote ad-verbatim]. If this is a news plant devised to simulatedly placate the chinese government, then I'd be surprised. I certainly wouldn't put it past the Congress government. They play mind games like no one else. One indication is that the news seems to have been picked up unusually fast by all the online news agencies: unusually fast infact for an incident that has just been posted online after it occurred at about 11 am daylight India time and was uploaded onto the ToI website, even as they make obscure references to " a news agency that was denied inline permits by the Arunachal Pradesh officials". The other indication seems to be an archetypal discrepancy ciphered from a quick analysis on the lines of VNR's, that reveals that all the news sources follow the same format, cover no more or less than precisely the same content, reveal no names, make the huge blunder of imputing blame to central officials in the title, atleast in the lead, even while attributing it to state officials in the body and text, and make the same pitch geared toward arousing instantaneous credibility, while simultaneously establishing why this piece is newsworthy. Psych!

 

[mattster]

Long Live the Dalai Lama !!!.........Indians should be proud that the Dalai Lama was able to address his many subjects and followers in Arunchal Pradesh, Bhutan, etc.

The Dalai Lama is the sole brightest shining light for Buddhist spiritualism and values in the world. I think that many in the West also acknowledge that he is a very special divine soul and compassionate holy man.

I am sure that all of India and whole world, except for the "spiritually retarded Chinese" wish him a long healthy life.

 

[prahladh]

The coincidence might also would be because there were restrictions for certain.

 

[Eleventh Comet]

the Dalai Lama is the most respected figure in the tawang region.
ironically, AAPSU had a very anti-tibetan stand earlier but now they have said that his holiness is a respected guest of the state. this is a welcome change in their policies.

 

[Koji]

Looks like China is mighty pissed-off but who cares, definitely not India.China should stop showing-off as a super power when it is not.

Hate to say it, but I told you so. Syndicated news or not, Western news outlets like the NY Times or AP are reputable. It seems like India cares a lot about what China thinks.

 

[Eleventh Comet]

India does cares a lot bout what China says. We should grow out of this paranoia

 

[Daredevil]

Hate to say it, but I told you so. Syndicated news or not, Western news outlets like the NY Times or AP are reputable. It seems like India cares a lot about what China thinks.

Apparently you have quoted my post totally out of context. Go back and look where I posted that sentence.

That apart you also overlooked what rage has posted few posts above.

But External Affairs Ministry sources have told CNN-IBN that the restrictions were imposed at a local level and that the Centre has nothing to do with it.

Meanwhile, the state government on its part is also denying imposing any restrictions.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary has said, "All media reports are baseless. We have not suggested anything to the Dalai Lama. He is free to move anywhere in the state. The state government is not doing any rescheduling. His itinerary remains the same."

There you go.

 

[Koji]

India does cares a lot bout what China says. We should grow out of this paranoia

That's exactly my point. Many DFI members were simply bewildered by the idea that India would attempt to mitigate the damage of the Dalai Lama's visit that they declared reports made by the Western media to be an outright lie! Even the thread title was changed to say that.

Time and time again, India has generally been in favor of Chinese rule over Tibet.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Dalai Lama 's visit and Chinese rule in Tibet are two separate issues, yes -Dalia lama is free in India no- India does not accept Chinese occupation of Tibet.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

ABC Radio Australia:Connect Asia:Stories:China angered by Dalai Lama's India visit

China angered by Dalai Lama's India visit

China has long tried to rally support for its policy in Tibet, by discouraging countries from hosting the Dalai Lama.

Tibet's spiritual leader is in northeast India to visit a remote, high-altitude Tibetan monastery on a trip that has infuriated China. The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India for fifty years, and thousands of Buddhists gave him a rousing welcome, as he landed by helicopter near the Tawang monastery, in Arunachal Pradesh. Sandwiched between Burma, Bhutan and Tibet, the lush, forested state of Arunachal is governed by India but claimed by China. Beijing says the visit was a provocation and will harm relations between China and India.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India and next Dalai Lama,India and next Dalai Lama


India and next Dalai Lama



Jayadeva RanadeFirst Published : 11 Nov 2009 11:38:00 PM ISTLast Updated : 11 Nov 2009 02:51:59 AM IST

As the winter mist begins to gather around Dharamsala and the lower reaches of the Himalayas in the coming months, speculation has begun to mount, especially within the Tibetan community, regarding the next Dalai Lama. Where he will be ‘discovered’ and what his nationality will be are the key questions. These will not only impact on the future of the Tibetan movement, started by the present Dalai Lama, but may also impinge on relations between India and China.


The present Dalai Lama, now 74 years old, has played a weak hand very deftly over the last half century from the time he completed his risky trek into India across the high Himalayas with virtually no possessions. During this time, he has worked assiduously to garner domestic and international support and created an international platform to effectively mount pressure on the communist Chinese leadership and engage them in protracted negotiations. This has helped keep Tibetan Buddhism alive, as well as sustained the aspirations of the Tibetan people both inside China and among the larger Tibetan diaspora. At the same time, the Dalai Lama has acquired an international stature which ensures him a pre-eminent position within the Tibetan Buddhist religious orders and as the leader of the Tibetan people. The award of the Nobel Prize further enhanced his prestige.

Naturally, the Dalai Lama would want to facilitate his successor’s efforts to maintain the pressure he has gradually built up on China’s leadership. He would also want his successor to be acknowledged as the leader of the Tibetan people and the head of all Tibetan Buddhist sects, and not just of the Gelugpa sect. Where the XIV Dalai Lama’s next reincarnation is ‘discovered’ will be integral to this endeavour.

From the strategic geopolitical perspective of the Tibetans, the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation should ideally be of Tibetan stock and easily accessible to the Tibetan people inside China. The manner in which the Chinese dealt with the Panchen Lama’s reincarnation — who has not been heard of or even glimpsed after being selected in 1995 — is an ever-present reminder of how the Chinese would act to a similar situation. From the Tibetan perspective this should preclude a future Dalai Lama being born inside China.

The Tibetans would prefer that the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation is born outside China. Arunachal Pradesh, which has been described by the Chinese as ‘southern Tibet’ and has also over the centuries periodically been under the suzerainty of an independent Tibet, including at times sovereignty, could from the Tibetan point of view, be an ideal place for the reincarnation to be born. Moreover, if the reincarnation is of Tibetan stock it would afford the reincarnate Dalai Lama both ‘ethnic’ and ‘geographic’ legitimacy in the eyes of the Tibetan people.

The young reincarnation could conveniently locate himself in the monastery at Tawang which was built by an emissary sent by the Fifth Dalai Lama. The symbolism would be immense for the Tibetan people. They would recall that the Sixth Dalai Lama, who opted out of monkhood early, was also born in Tawang. Incidentally, the Chinese claim Tawang on the plea that it has an emotional appeal for the Tibetans. However, this was earlier implicitly countered by the Dalai Lama when he asserted that Tawang is an integral part of India. He has reiterated this in Tawang, barely 40 kilometres from the Chinese border, during his ongoing visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

A reincarnate Dalai Lama born anywhere in India, though he would be handicapped for many years in his efforts to acquire international acceptance and support because of his youth, would nevertheless be easily accessible to Tibetans inside China. He would be able to convey his message to them and be in a position to keep alive their aspirations and faith while, at the same time, staying outside China’s clutches. This interregnum, till the reincarnate comes into his own, is a vulnerable period that will impose severe strain on the efficacy and durability of the mechanism that the present Dalai Lama puts in place to assist his successor. It will simultaneously test the loyalty of the individuals entrusted by the Dalai Lama to teach and train his young reincarnation. Their ability to hold together the existing international coalition of support for the Tibetan cause would also be put to the test.

The Chinese leadership is acutely aware of this possibility and will be carefully assessing the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. They have already initiated fresh efforts to discredit the Dalai Lama by calling him a ‘liar’ and publicising that a niece of his is a member of the Chinese Communist Party. China will probably further increase pressure on India on a range of issues, including the border, if it senses that the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation could be ‘discovered’ in India and especially in Arunachal Pradesh. It would also try to exploit the latent discontent and factional disputes within the various Tibetan Buddhist religious sects. This would make the over 4,000 kilometre-long Himalayan belt, along the length of India’s northern border with Tibet, a vulnerable region.

Many of the region’s inhabitants are followers of Tibetan Buddhism. The belt has over 180 monasteries belonging to different Tibetan Buddhist sects, which exercise considerable influence within their traditional jurisdictions. Adherents of all the different sects inhabit this belt. For example, in the eastern stretch around and including Sikkim, the Karma Kagyu sect, led by the Gyalwa Karmapa, is predominant. The position of the currently vacant XVII Gyalwa Karmapa is presently mired in controversy and contested by three prominent claimants. There are lingering suspicions about the leading contender, Ugyen Thinley Dorje, who managed to ‘escape’ from Tsurphu Monastery near Lhasa and clandestinely arrive in India. He has been staying at Dharamsala and because of his visible physical proximity to the Dalai Lama is viewed by many as a potential successor. This is understood to be a cause for discomfiture among some Tibetan religious personages.

The other potential problem and one that the Chinese have been attempting to stir up is that of the Shugden Deity worshippers. This group favours worship of the Shugden Deity, which the Dalai Lama has banned since 1996. Internecine factional squabbles could also erupt within the various sects as well as rivalries between senior Tibetan leaders.

Against such a backdrop the initial post-Dalai Lama phase can be one of some uncertainty for India. In addition to facing up to enhanced Chinese pressure, it will have to tackle the problems of the almost one and a half lakh Tibetan refugees settled in India who will be adjusting to a new leadership. Such a scenario would also throw up fresh opportunities for India.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India quietly bolsters disputed China border | Reuters

India quietly bolsters disputed China border

TAWANG, India, Nov 13 (Reuters) - The rutted mountain road to Tawang in India's remote northeast, quiet and empty for years, is abuzz these days with heavy construction activity. Bulldozers are slowly turning the rickety road to the Chinese border into a double-lane highway.

The construction is part of India's quiet military buildup in an eastern Himalayan region that is at the centre of a long festering border dispute with China. [ID:nPEK367216]

Military bases dot the countryside. At one camp, soldiers clean rows of field guns behind concertina wire fences. Army convoys hurtle along intermittently.

With ties between the two Asian giants strained by a flare-up over their disputed boundary, India is fortifying parts of its northeast, building new roads and bridges, deploying tens of thousands more soldiers and boosting air defences.

"We are well prepared for any kind of threat," said Rajesh Kalia, an army colonel stationed close to Tawang which China overran during a brief but bloody war in 1962 before withdrawing.

But a 20-hour, 500-km (300-mile) rattling drive up to Tawang from the region's biggest city Guwahati provides proof of India's neglect of one of its most strategic border states. It still has no airport, power supply is erratic and telecommunications unreliable.

The vital road, spiralling past folds of craggy mountains and streams, often crumbles into a dirt track, in sharp contrast to the modern infrastructure on the other side of the border.

Many say China's five highways running to the border, backed by railway and modern telecommunications networks, have reinforced China's claim to the region.

"There is no comparison when it comes to border infrastructure. We are way behind," said Mira Sinha Bhattacharjea, former head of the Institute of Chinese Studies.

New Delhi's sense of insecurity appears rooted in an increasingly assertive China, accentuated by recent Indian media reports of repeated Chinese border incursions.

China lays claim to 90,000 sq km (35,000 sq miles) of land in India's northeast and cites the region's cultural affinity with Tibet as evidence the area forms part of what it calls "southern" Tibet. India says China occupies 38,000 sq km (15,000 sq miles) of territory in Aksai Chin plateau in the western Himalayas. [ID:nDEL429206]

The neighbours which compete for global resources and influence, have also exchanged diplomatic barbs at multilateral forums and sparred over visa policies for their citizens in an escalating row that many fear could spiral out of control.

Beijing has also stepped up its opposition to the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan leader, who has lived in India since fleeing Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.

TAKING NO CHANCES

In the decades after the 1962 war, relations thawed and trade grew exponentially to reach more than $50 billion last year.

But New Delhi sees China as backing rival Pakistan. Beijing, on its part, is suspicious of New Delhi's growing ties with the United States, the Dalai Lama's activities in India and sees the Tawang monastery as a rallying point for the Tibetan struggle. [ID:nPEK300376] [ID:nDEL138742]

"In Tibet the Buddhist monasteries are the closest thing to an alternative organising force to the Communist party," writes Bill Emmott in his book "Rivals: How the Power Struggle Between China, India and Japan Will Shape Our Next Decade".

Most agree there is little danger of a conventional war breaking out, but chances of border skirmishes are a real risk that could make an early solution of border disputes difficult.

At the border, mountains rise to almost 16,000 feet before stretching out into a small flatland. On it stand two pagoda-like outposts for meetings of military commanders.

Close by, Indian soldiers huddle on a huge rock, watching over a shiny stretch of empty road on the other side of the border running past a lone blue-roofed Chinese outpost.

Kalia says there is "absolute peace" on the border.

 

[Rage]

That's exactly my point. Many DFI members were simply bewildered by the idea that India would attempt to mitigate the damage of the Dalai Lama's visit that they declared reports made by the Western media to be an outright lie! Even the thread title was changed to say that.

Time and time again, India has generally been in favor of Chinese rule over Tibet.

The very fact that the Dalai Lama's visit was allowed to proceed despite China's fear-mongering is indicative, without a doubt, that those 'mitigative' measures were perfunctory.

The thread title was changed because your title was insinuative of a surmise before the fact.

Even now, there is very real possibility that the thread story in the Indian newspaper was a news plant, as the chinese members on this forum have so often insinuated.

We have discussed to death India's "favor" of Chinese rule over Tibet. That 2003 "recognition" was an act of realpolitik in return for Chinese "recognition" of our suzerainty over Sikkim and other border, settled regions of Tawang and Arun'aachal Pradesh. Clearly, since the Chinese do not honor their accords, we are under no 'didactic' obligation to do so.

 

[ppgj]

Paper no. 3548 14-Dec-2009

China’s Ruckus on the Visit of the Dalai Lama and the Identity of Tawang and Tibet

Dr. Sheo Nandan Pandey

Introduction

Chinese electronic and print media first fervorously questioned the just concluded Tawang visit of the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso to Tawang Galden Namgey Lhatse monastery (Celestial Paradise in a Clear Night). The Chinese Foreign Ministry subsequently joined adding sharpness to the tirade.

Assiduously planted stories in the Chinese media accused the Dalai Lama to have rather connived with India and taken to ‘traitorous road’. It quoted statements and sought to suggest that he was but comfortable as an Indian citizen. One of such stories called him ‘ignorant of history of Tibet’.[ii] In this and several other stories, there is a common refrain to link identity of Tawang with Tibet, and for a variety of tenuous reasons, in particular, some sort of interactions and say of one of the two foreign rulers of China, the Qing dynasty, linking the identity of the two with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). There are then manipulations with the connotations, Tibetan Buddhism as being some thing different and apart from the tenets, propounded by Buddha and practised around the world with difference in certain rituals from each other, calling the Tawang area as part of South Tibet and the like. . An array of rhetoric, some of which are age old while others seemingly first time, did not touch the ground realities beyond using coercion as a tool of diplomatic maneuvers.

China launches quite often starts a furious campaign wherever the Dalai Lama intends to visit and meet people. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) condemned a planned visit to Taiwan in Aug 2009. The Chinese media and government apparatus stopped short of attacking President Ma Ying-Jeou, who has been squarely instrumental in improving the cross straits relations. The Dalai Lama was to lead a prayer service for the eternal peace of 483 victims to Typhoon Morakot.[iii] In its obsession, the PRC called it a “plot to sabotage the hard earned good situation in cross-Straits relations”.[iv] There are innumerable instances. This is again not some thing peculiar about the Dalai Lama. China constantly opposed foreign visit of Taiwanese leader Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bien and others with the sole exception of Ma Ying-Jeou in May 2009.[v] It made an issue of Tokyo’s Yasukuni shrine visit of Japanese Prime Minister.[vi]

For various reasons, countries choose to bargain, make promises or use threats, to extract concessions. It has been seen that the countries employ distraught communication as an instrument to add to their bargain space. The Chinese tirade is thus not innocuous. In an open society, there is often role for pressure groups, in the society and its segments as much as much as the state and its organs. Similarities and differences are often expressed in terms of historical memories, political preferences, economic priorities, strategic vulnerability, perceived absolute and relative gains and studied fear of losses at the end of the day delimit the horizon of wrangles. In the case of China, the state and its organs held the key until the invisible forces of globalization came to the fore.

Had it been the China of yesteryears, in particular those of Mao epoch, it should have surprised none. But not now when it is taking place at a time where the Chinese leadership swears every now and then to be a ‘responsible power’, striving for a harmonious world.[vii] In the bargain, a refrain of the kind on the part of Chinese media mongers and government apparatus stand the prospect of setting a nation of 1.3 billion people on a retrograde course that could deny positive gains of liberalism, neoliberalism and globalism around.

The paper is aimed at setting straight the identity of Tawang and Tibet in a comprehensive socio-cultural perspective, independent of the political factors. In its perspective, it would look into the core of the sound and fury aroused by China’s media and the government apparatus. By implication, the paper would dwell on maintainability of the Chinese ‘Para-diplomatic’ measures of the kind in a civilized world. Schematically, the study focusses on: the Identity of Tawang; the Identity of Tibet; and of the Chinese Coercive Postures.

The assumptions include: The bond of Buddhist shrine in Tawang with Tibet transcends political confine of suzerainty and/ or sovereignty; the spiritual space just as ideological space, communism for that matter included, transcends political space as much as geographic space; and, the sacred Buddhist shrine in Tawang in Northeast India as elsewhere, the PRC included, hold on and draw sustenance from Buddhist thoughts and practices as it stemmed in India and as such, India can not be treated as a client state for the expansion of Buddhist institutions and its following.

Identity of Tawang

In his outpouring to the journalists, covering the inaugural of the museum on November 08, 2009, the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso recalled his hapless escapade to India in March 1959. He described his moment of life while in Tawang then as being “reunion and safe”.[viii] He had trekked incognito for 17 days to cross Indian border at Khenzimane pass on March 31, 1959 to get to the promised destination, 50 kilometers deep inside the Indian border (Figure 1 Locational Identity).[ix]

Figure 1 Locational Identity

The outpouring of the Dalai Lama has to be understood in its proper context beyond what Chinese media mongers tend to interpret. For an ordinary mortal, fleeing his/ her home and hearth to escape bid on life, living and liberty, it could mean and stand for a sigh of relief. It speaks volumes in the case of the Dalai Lama and his yearning for the place. “Reunion” for a saint of his order is but communion with the ultimate metaphysical reality. It does simultaneously explain at length how the Tawang Galden Namgey Lhatse monastery came into existence at the specific location as such and why did the Dalai Lama and his Mahayana Buddhism hold so much yearning for the shrine.[x] It calls off China’s bluff on its claims of sovereignty over the land, too.

Located between latitudes 27:45:0 N and longitudes 91:15:0 E, Tawang is one of the 16 districts of Arunachal.[xi] It has been carved out of the West Kameng district. It is bounded by Tibet and Bhutan in Northeast and Southwest. As per 2001 Census, it has a population of 38,924 persons-21846 male and 17078 female.[xii] Monpa tribe dominates the demographic scene with its presence in 162 out of total of 181 villages, distributed and spread over three subdivisions, three community development blocks and nine circles on 2172 km of territorial expanse of the district. Takpa tribe inhabit in small numbers in the West and North. Shyo village has 90 families of Tibetan origin.[xiii]

In socio-cultural perspectives, both in pre-historical and historical past, Tawang populace hold a clear identity of Bharat Varsha, that is, India in Jambu Dweep (the Island featuring abundance of Jambu fruit).[xiv] They are multilingual and multiethnic as rest of the country. In typical Indian evolutionary tradition, they carry one or the other faith at a point of time while accommodating the other one.

In the latest pre-historical epoch, under the reign of Kirata King Bhismaka, the one who, in oral tradition, is said to have belonged to Idu (Mishmi) tribe, the heroic Tawang soldier fought against Kouravas from the side of Pandavas in the Great Indian War, called Mahabharata.[xv] Later, the Monpa Kingdom of Monyul, flourishing between 500 BC and 600 AD had complete integration with then Indian national life system. There has been little change in the identity of the region and its people when Ahom and Assamese came to exercise some sort of political control. Nothing changed when Bhutan or for that matter even Tibet did as well exercised indirect and/ or direct control over the lives of the people in one way or the other at a certain stretch of time.

In their daily life and living practices, the inhabitants of Tawang as elsewhere in Arunachal Pradesh carry tell tale evidence of unique “Puroik” culture of distant past.[xvi] Impacts of Brahmanical tradition, Shrimanta Sankaradeva's Neo-Vaishnavite Movement, Theravada Buddhism, Bon cult and the like are all discernible.

The story of the incarnation of the Sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gytso at Urgelling Monastery, and the legend behind the construction of Tawang Galden Namgey Lhatse Monastery deep inside India earlier in deference to the wishes of the Fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, speak of and conform to the accommodative cultural heritage of the populace at large.[xvii] The Bodic language such as Monpa and Memba that they speak besides English and Hindi have intimate linguistic connections with the people in Arunachala Pradesh and adjoining Assam and other states.

Identity of Tibet

Tibet of today under the Chinese rule, known as Tibet Autonomous Region (Xizang Zizhiqu), bears a truncated geo-political identity, where part of it has been incorporated with the Chinese provinces of Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan. It is now composed of U-Tsang and part of Kham region.[xviii] Amdo and part of Kham region have been ceded to those adjoining administrative areas of the PRC.[xix] Nevertheless, the socio-cultural identity of Tibet encompasses all over, and the politico-administrative boundary thus far created does not have much on the Tibetan nature. Its distinctiveness stems from far beyond the political machination of the kind that has been imposed by the Chinese administration.

It is the home of some of the World’s tallest mountains, and the sources of perennial river systems.[xx] It is a product of ‘plate tectonic forces’, and closing of Tethys Sea that earlier gave Indian nation the form and shape of an Island, mentioned in the paper as ‘Jambu Dweep’. It conjoins eternal existential identity of Tibet as a land mass with India.

Amidst differing legends and scholarship, the Tibetans stand as a distinct race.[xxi] They have absolutely little in common with the Chinese.[xxii] Some Tibetans could resemble the Sinitic racial type, in particular with an epicanthal fold of fold of their eyes and roundness of their head. There are then others who resemble Indic type. There are still others who resemble Burmese, Dardic, Mongol or even Caucasian types. The racial distinctiveness thus constitutes an immovable core of Tibetan identity from the rest including the Chinese.

Socio-cultural identity of Tibet is woven largely around the native Bon and Indian Buddhist precepts, practices and traditions. Scholarship in the field attributes conceptualization and development of Bon religion to Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche, who was born in the vicinity of Mount Yung-drung Gu-tzeq, possibly Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva, in western Tibet. For the followers of Bon, called Bonpo, the Swastika is as auspicious as it is for the Hindus. There are some who consider Bon as the shamanistic and animistic religion of the Himalayas prior to the onset of Buddhism. Christopher Beckwith calls Bon as one of the two types of Tibetan Buddhism.[xxiii]

The 14th Dalai Lama recognizes Bon tradition as the fifth principal spiritual school of Tibet, along with the Nyinqma, Sakya, Kagyu amd Gelug schools of Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism in Tibet is again extensively different from China- in particular it relates to the tradition of Tantra. Confucius and Daoism, which are native to China, did not find a foothold in Tibet. The “priest-patron relationship that then existed between Sakyapa Lamas and the ruling Mongol Emperors in the 13th Century and Gelukpa Dalai Lamas and the Manchu Emperors in the 17th Century do as well go to establish Tibet’s identity independent of China but comprehensibly quite close to India.

Tibetan language and its dialects remain a vibrant people’s language even as the fears about its extinction continue in the face of several endogenous and exogenous factors. [xxiv] It is written in a distinct alphabet and is polysyllabic. It is inflected with case, declension and gender structures adapted from Sanskrit, and is not semantically tonal. Tibetan borrows some words from Chinese, but it also borrows Indian, Nepali and Mongolian words. Tibetan, at the end of the day, holds its identity, squarely independent of Chinese.[xxv]

Tibetan epic, historical literature, folk lore and other forms of creative works of antiquity hold account of the life system, the ideals and the image of people around confined to Buddha Dharma. The bulk of translated works in Tibetan do as well relate to Buddhist spiritual texts and scholarly Indian literature in Sanskrit. The same holds good about the folk lore. They carry detailed and clear accounts of distinctiveness of Tibetan race and their socio-cultural system. Chinese classics and literary master pieces did not find a place in their translated works. Spiritual relations with various kingdoms in India right since the Yarlung dynasty instead find both direct and indirect reflections.

China figures only as an ancestral enemy. Tibet in Chinese literary works finds reference just as “barbarians”. There is a definite reference of Tibetan armed forces conquering Changan, the Chinese capital during Tang dynasty. In the same vein, the Tibetan creative works do contain details of China’s foreign rulers, in particular Mongol emperor Kublai Khan and Manchu emperors Kangxi and Qianlong courting Tibetan rulers with respect and keeping Tibetans in good humour. This sets right the identity of Tibet independent of Chinese influence and socio-culturally close to India with spiritual bonds.[xxvi]

continued...

 

[ppgj]

continued from above.

Chinese Coercive Postures

While in Tawang, the Dalai Lama hit out at China for opposing his visit to Arunachal Pradesh and expressed surprise over the claim of the PRC over Tawang. It puts the facts straight conclusively as far as the position of the real master of Tibet and its people prior to Chinese adventure to occupy Tibet in different ways including the 17 point agreement is concerned.[xxvii]

The highest pitch of Chinese media rhetoric contained the blame that the Dalai Lama decided to visit Tawang under the pressure of the Indian government and reminder of the 1962 Chinese invasion, which led to 1460 Chinese and 3128 Indian soldiers laying down their lives besides umpteen other adverse consequences in the region.[xxviii]

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang had first said: “We oppose the Dalai Lama’s visit……….and, are very unsatisfied”. This Chinese coercive posture ended up with a much deserved silence. The cost was a meeting at the highest level, the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and the Indian Premier Dr Manmohan Singh in Hua Hin city in Thailand.[xxix] China’s coercive posture was decidedly meant to test the waters on India’s steadfastness.

Sources and References

In modern democracy, the electronic and print media normally plays the role of social watchdog. Government policy, personal integrity of office bearers and the foreign policy stand scrutiny of common people through the media outfits. However, in China, the government exercises tight control over public opinion. Notwithstanding, there are many off-limits of public discussions. While Chinese journalists live peacefully on the surface, they stand to risk of their career and life once they come to exercise their social responsibilities and professional proprieties. According to New York based Committee to Protect Journalist’s Rights, China framed up 38 journalists in five years between 1998 and 2002.

[ii] “Dalai Lama goes further down traitors road”, China Tibet Online, Oct 22, 2009. http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/679227.html

[iii] Democratic Progressive Party invited the Dalai Lama to lead a prayer service at the request of local populace. Ma Ying-Jeou approved the visit in his wisdom. In response to the decision, the PRC said it was “resolutely opposed to the visit”, adding that the Dalai Lama was “purely religious figure, but uses the banner of religion to engage in activities to split the country.

[iv] http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/31/content_11974197.html

[v] Taiwan President Ma Ying-Jeou wanted stop over in US en route to Central America. China is opposed even to transit visa getting granted to those whom China is opposed. In this case of Ma Ying-Jeou, China reacted coolly for the reasons not unthinkable.

[vi] Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine houses tablets for 2.5 wars dead. The tradition of paying homage is central to Confucian cultural heritage. China observes Qingming just for this. China and South Korea normally oppose Yasukuni Shrine visit of Japanese leaders. They consider the shrine as symbol of Japan’s military adventure. Scholars attribute it to China’s complex, following Japan’s economic success while it held the status of father to Korea and Japan in Confucian order.

[vii] China is literally on prowls to sell the concept. First, it was Chinese President Hu Jintao to talk of it at the UN summit in 2005. He was then speaking about Chinese foreign policy. Now it is PLA Navy and PLA AF which speaks of harmonious maritime and harmonious air space. It is in tune with how the Chinese state and party outfits arouse the polemics and try to sustain them.

[viii] Dalai Lama surprised over Chinese claims on Tawang

[ix] 40,000 strong PLA troops attacked 8500 Tibetan armed forces. They first entered Chamdo on Oct 7, 1950. As they outnumbered the Tibetan troops, they forced surrender just 12 days later on Oct 19, 1950. The PLA troops killed around 5000 Tibetan troops. The PLA occupation marched to the Central Tibet short of 200km east of Lhasa, at what China claimed de jure boundary of Tibet. It declared peaceful liberation of Tibet (heping jiefang Xizang). Fighting was stopped in a strategic move to avoid foreign intervention, in particular the American.

[x] Mahayana sect of Buddhism has followers across Tibet, China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. The main spiritual goal of Buddhism is “Nirvana” (liberation). Hinayana, the older version of Buddhism advocated monastic life of austerity, abandoning all worldly pleasures. The orthodoxy of Hinayana led to the emergence of Mahayana. It introduced the idea of deity both on a speculative level, which belongs more to philosophy, and in a popular way that was more like polytheism of the masses.

[xi] Arunachala means the ‘land of dawn lit mountains’.

[xii] Statistical Abstract of Arunachal Pradesh, 2006.

[xiii] There are altogether 20 major tribes and a number of sub-tribes inhabiting in Arunachal Pradesh as a whole. Most of these communities are ethnically similar, holding common lineage. Geographical isolation has made them distinctive in language, dress and customs.

[xiv] ‘Varsha’ stands for geographical units of Jambu Dweep (Island characterized to have Jambu bearing trees) and Bharat Varsha constituted one of the ninth parts of this Jambu Dweep (the Island of Jambu fruits). The time reference goes down to around 10 million years ago when continental collision went into the making of Himalayas over Tethys Ocean. Among Indian historical classics (puran), the Bhisma Parva of Mahabharta, the Markandeya Puran and Brahmand Puran carry vivid descriptions. The Jain and Buddhist seminal works also carry description. As per Mahabharata, the kingdoms that then flourishing in Bharat Varsha included Kirata, the ruler of tribes with yellow genre such as Monpa, Takpa, Bhutia, Adi and the like living in Tawang and other districts of Arunachala Pradesh. There were then others who ruled the rest parts.

[xv] Kirata, in Sanskrit, is a generic term for people who lived in mountains, and mentioned as “gold like” or “yellow” unlike Nishadas or Dasas, who were dark. They have inhabited in North East from time immemorial. They find reference in Yajurveda (Shukla XXX 16; Krishna III 4, 12, 1) and Atharvaveda (X4, 14). In Yoga Vasistha 1.15.5, Lord Ram speaks of a trap laid by Kirata (KirAteneva vAgurA). In Mahabharta, there is reference of Bhima meeting a Kirata to the east of Videha, where his son Ghatotkacha was born from Hidimbaa. There is again reference of Kirata King Suraghu being a friend of Persian King Parigha.

[xvi] Puroik in Tawang, also known as Sulung, trace their origin as descendants of Khrongkhia, who, according to mythology, landed from heaven to an area called Polo Jaria, a plain area, now in Sarli Circle of Kurong Kurmey district of Arunachal Pradesh. From Polo Jaria, they migrated to other parts of the state, in particular northwest. Just like the north Indian social system, tracing lineage to Surya (Sun) and Chandra (Moon), the Puroik follow Hami (Sun) and Habo (Moon). It holds centre stage in determining the customs and tradition in marriage and other social practices.

[xvii] The legend says that the site of the Tawang Galden Namgey Lhatse Monastery was chosen by the horse of Marag Lama. As he was unable to decide the location, he prayed fro divine guidance. When he came out, he found his horse standing quietly on a hill top. The word “ta” means horse and “wang” chosen.

[xviii] The modern standard Tibetan endonym for Tibet is Bod. It is transcribed as Bho or Pho. The modern standard Chinese exonym for Tibet is Tubo or Tufan. The Chinese now call it Xizang. This was coined during the reign of Jiaqing Emperor. Historical linguists hold that the name Tibet in English is a loan word from Arabic Tibat or Tobatt. There are others who suggest Turkic Tobbad. There are just few who agree with Chinese Tubo or Tufan.

[xix] The size of Tibet proper covering Amdo, U-Tsang and Kham regions is 2.5 million Square Km or 965000 Square miles. Tibet Autonomous Region now while constitutes of nearly 1.2 million Square Km, the rest 1.3 million Square Km area has been ceded to adjoining Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan provinces. They cover: Six prefectures in Qinghai province (Haibei (Tsochang), Hainan (Tslho), Huangan (Malho), Guoluo (Golog), Yushu (Jyekundo) and Haixi (Tsonub) Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures); Two prefectures in Gansu province (Tainzu (Pari) and Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures); Three Prefectures in Sichuan province (Aba (Ngaba), Ganzi (Kardze) and Mili Tibetan Prefectures); and, One prefecture in Yunnan province (Diqing (Dechen) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture)

[xx] The Himalayan mountain system consists of over 100 mountains exceeding 7200 meters. The enormity of it can be understood from the fact that Aconcagua, in Andes, at 6962 meters, is the highest peak outside the Himalayan mountain system outside Asia. Mount Everest (8848 meters) is the tallest. There is then Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. The Tibetan name Khang Rinpoche for the mountain stands to carry the same attribute. High altitude lakes and the source of dozen of perennial rivers, stemming out and flowing to India besides others do as well link up Tibet’s identity with India.

[xxi] Ethnologists put Tibetans to two main racial types: (a) People, who are tall with long limbs and heads, often distinct aqualine features; and, (b) People, who are short with high cheekbones and round heads. The former constitute largely among the northern and eastern nomads of Kham and Amdo regions while the latter is found in the central and western Tibet. According to the legend, the ancestry of the Tibetan race belongs to the union of an intelligent monkey and a demonic ogress. Baring remote border areas where approximately 7 percent of the total population constitute of minority nationalities of Monpa, Lhopa, Qiang, Jang, and others inhabit, the two major racial types as such within their groups are: the Topa, who are found in highland region; the Tsangpa in the Western Tibet; the Upa in the Central Tibet; the Horpa in the Northern Tibet; the Khampa in the Eastern Tibet; the Amdowa in the Northeastern Tibet; and the Gyarongwa in the Fareast Tibet.

[xxii] There is inconclusive debate among the scholars about the racial entity of the Chinese race. While the school text books in China speak of Chinese race as descendants of Peking Man (Bejing Ren), who lived in Northern China some 0.4 million years ago, Prof Jin Li of Fudan University, who led a team of anthropologists trace the origin and growth of the Chinese race to early humans in East Africa. The Han Chinese who dominate the scene are but subset of the Chinese nationalities ( Zhonghua Minzhu). Most Chinese scholars call themselves as the “Descendants of the Dragon” (long de zhuan ren). They even refer themselves as “Descendants of Yan Emperor or Yellow Emperor.

[xxiii] Christopher I Beckwith, The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia: A History of the Struggle for Great Power among Tibetans, Turks, ArabS, and Chinese During the Early Middle Ages, Princeton University Press, new ed. 1993.

[xxiv] Standard Tibetan is based on the speech of Lhasa. There are then Kham and Amdo dialects. Kham Tibetan dialect do as well have sub-divisions: Central Kham spoken in Derge and Chamdo areas; Southern Kham spoken in Dechen area; and Northeastern Kham spoken in Nagchen and Yushu areas. Amdo Tibetan dialect has as many as four sub-dialects: Hbrogpa, Rongba, Rongmahabrogpa and Rtahua. These two Kham and Amdo share the classical Tibetan orthography, and hence, not accorded the status of separate language.

[xxv] Chinese does not have alphabets. It is pictographic and monosyllabic. It is non-inflected and tonal.

[xxvi] Chinese warlords, in particular Mongol and Manchu troops did invade Tibet in the 13th and 18th century and make Tibet to yield to their invader power. There have been two sides exchange of diplomats. Quite a few merchants and monks did as well visit two sides. However, there has never been a China town and noticeable Chinese settlement at any point of time before the PRC occupied it with brute force.

[xxvii] Chinese refer to 17 point agreement, reached with the emissary of the 14th Dalai Lama, Ngabo Ngwang Jigme on May 23, 1951, as the legal base for taking over the political and administrative control over Tibet. The Dalai Lama had publicly repudiated the Chinese contention in his press conference on June 20, 1959. He had said in no uncertain words: “The consent of the Tibetan government was secured under duress and at the point of bayonet. My representatives were compelled to sign the agreement under threat of further military operations against Tibet by the invading armies of China leading to utter ravage and ruin of the country”. The emissary, who visited China after 40000 PLA troops invaded Tibet, were not allowed to contact Kashag, the Cabinet and the Dalai Lama. The agreement does not bear the authentic seal of the Tibetan government under the Dalai Lama. Chinese General Zhang Jingwu, who met the Dalai Lama in Dromo gave false assurance that the Chinese government will look into the objection of the Dalai Lama and his Kashag and rectify at later date. Chinese announced so called “peaceful liberation of Tibet on April 27, 1951 in a radio broadcast of the Central Broadcasting Station, Beijing.

[xxviii] The People’s Daily carried a story where it quoted Hu Shisheng, a researcher at China Institute of Contemporary International Relations and said:” The Dali Lama went to Southern Tibet t this critical moment probably because of pressure from India. By doing so he can please the country that has hosted for years”. The report published in the Global Times quoted Hu Shisheng say: “India may have forgotten the lesson of 1962, when its repeated provocations resulted in military clashes. India is on this wrong track again. ….When the conflict gets sharper and sharper, the Chinese government will have to face it and solve it in a way India has designed."

[xxix] In his meeting with the Chinese counterpart, the Indian Prime Minister said that the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama was honoured guest of India and was free to travel anywhere he wished to. The message was clear and firm.

China’s Ruckus on the Visit of the Dalai Lama and the Identity of Tawang and Tibet 

 

[ppgj]

continued from above.

Chinese Coercive Postures

While in Tawang, the Dalai Lama hit out at China for opposing his visit to Arunachal Pradesh and expressed surprise over the claim of the PRC over Tawang. It puts the facts straight conclusively as far as the position of the real master of Tibet and its people prior to Chinese adventure to occupy Tibet in different ways including the 17 point agreement is concerned.[xxvii]

The highest pitch of Chinese media rhetoric contained the blame that the Dalai Lama decided to visit Tawang under the pressure of the Indian government and reminder of the 1962 Chinese invasion, which led to 1460 Chinese and 3128 Indian soldiers laying down their lives besides umpteen other adverse consequences in the region.[xxviii]

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang had first said: “We oppose the Dalai Lama’s visit……….and, are very unsatisfied”. This Chinese coercive posture ended up with a much deserved silence. The cost was a meeting at the highest level, the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and the Indian Premier Dr Manmohan Singh in Hua Hin city in Thailand.[xxix] China’s coercive posture was decidedly meant to test the waters on India’s steadfastness.

Sources and References

In modern democracy, the electronic and print media normally plays the role of social watchdog. Government policy, personal integrity of office bearers and the foreign policy stand scrutiny of common people through the media outfits. However, in China, the government exercises tight control over public opinion. Notwithstanding, there are many off-limits of public discussions. While Chinese journalists live peacefully on the surface, they stand to risk of their career and life once they come to exercise their social responsibilities and professional proprieties. According to New York based Committee to Protect Journalist’s Rights, China framed up 38 journalists in five years between 1998 and 2002.

[ii] “Dalai Lama goes further down traitors road”, China Tibet Online, Oct 22, 2009. http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/679227.html

[iii] Democratic Progressive Party invited the Dalai Lama to lead a prayer service at the request of local populace. Ma Ying-Jeou approved the visit in his wisdom. In response to the decision, the PRC said it was “resolutely opposed to the visit”, adding that the Dalai Lama was “purely religious figure, but uses the banner of religion to engage in activities to split the country.

[iv] http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/31/content_11974197.html

[v] Taiwan President Ma Ying-Jeou wanted stop over in US en route to Central America. China is opposed even to transit visa getting granted to those whom China is opposed. In this case of Ma Ying-Jeou, China reacted coolly for the reasons not unthinkable.

[vi] Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine houses tablets for 2.5 wars dead. The tradition of paying homage is central to Confucian cultural heritage. China observes Qingming just for this. China and South Korea normally oppose Yasukuni Shrine visit of Japanese leaders. They consider the shrine as symbol of Japan’s military adventure. Scholars attribute it to China’s complex, following Japan’s economic success while it held the status of father to Korea and Japan in Confucian order.

[vii] China is literally on prowls to sell the concept. First, it was Chinese President Hu Jintao to talk of it at the UN summit in 2005. He was then speaking about Chinese foreign policy. Now it is PLA Navy and PLA AF which speaks of harmonious maritime and harmonious air space. It is in tune with how the Chinese state and party outfits arouse the polemics and try to sustain them.

[viii] Dalai Lama surprised over Chinese claims on Tawang

[ix] 40,000 strong PLA troops attacked 8500 Tibetan armed forces. They first entered Chamdo on Oct 7, 1950. As they outnumbered the Tibetan troops, they forced surrender just 12 days later on Oct 19, 1950. The PLA troops killed around 5000 Tibetan troops. The PLA occupation marched to the Central Tibet short of 200km east of Lhasa, at what China claimed de jure boundary of Tibet. It declared peaceful liberation of Tibet (heping jiefang Xizang). Fighting was stopped in a strategic move to avoid foreign intervention, in particular the American.

[x] Mahayana sect of Buddhism has followers across Tibet, China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. The main spiritual goal of Buddhism is “Nirvana” (liberation). Hinayana, the older version of Buddhism advocated monastic life of austerity, abandoning all worldly pleasures. The orthodoxy of Hinayana led to the emergence of Mahayana. It introduced the idea of deity both on a speculative level, which belongs more to philosophy, and in a popular way that was more like polytheism of the masses.

[xi] Arunachala means the ‘land of dawn lit mountains’.

[xii] Statistical Abstract of Arunachal Pradesh, 2006.

[xiii] There are altogether 20 major tribes and a number of sub-tribes inhabiting in Arunachal Pradesh as a whole. Most of these communities are ethnically similar, holding common lineage. Geographical isolation has made them distinctive in language, dress and customs.

[xiv] ‘Varsha’ stands for geographical units of Jambu Dweep (Island characterized to have Jambu bearing trees) and Bharat Varsha constituted one of the ninth parts of this Jambu Dweep (the Island of Jambu fruits). The time reference goes down to around 10 million years ago when continental collision went into the making of Himalayas over Tethys Ocean. Among Indian historical classics (puran), the Bhisma Parva of Mahabharta, the Markandeya Puran and Brahmand Puran carry vivid descriptions. The Jain and Buddhist seminal works also carry description. As per Mahabharata, the kingdoms that then flourishing in Bharat Varsha included Kirata, the ruler of tribes with yellow genre such as Monpa, Takpa, Bhutia, Adi and the like living in Tawang and other districts of Arunachala Pradesh. There were then others who ruled the rest parts.

[xv] Kirata, in Sanskrit, is a generic term for people who lived in mountains, and mentioned as “gold like” or “yellow” unlike Nishadas or Dasas, who were dark. They have inhabited in North East from time immemorial. They find reference in Yajurveda (Shukla XXX 16; Krishna III 4, 12, 1) and Atharvaveda (X4, 14). In Yoga Vasistha 1.15.5, Lord Ram speaks of a trap laid by Kirata (KirAteneva vAgurA). In Mahabharta, there is reference of Bhima meeting a Kirata to the east of Videha, where his son Ghatotkacha was born from Hidimbaa. There is again reference of Kirata King Suraghu being a friend of Persian King Parigha.

[xvi] Puroik in Tawang, also known as Sulung, trace their origin as descendants of Khrongkhia, who, according to mythology, landed from heaven to an area called Polo Jaria, a plain area, now in Sarli Circle of Kurong Kurmey district of Arunachal Pradesh. From Polo Jaria, they migrated to other parts of the state, in particular northwest. Just like the north Indian social system, tracing lineage to Surya (Sun) and Chandra (Moon), the Puroik follow Hami (Sun) and Habo (Moon). It holds centre stage in determining the customs and tradition in marriage and other social practices.

[xvii] The legend says that the site of the Tawang Galden Namgey Lhatse Monastery was chosen by the horse of Marag Lama. As he was unable to decide the location, he prayed fro divine guidance. When he came out, he found his horse standing quietly on a hill top. The word “ta” means horse and “wang” chosen.

[xviii] The modern standard Tibetan endonym for Tibet is Bod. It is transcribed as Bho or Pho. The modern standard Chinese exonym for Tibet is Tubo or Tufan. The Chinese now call it Xizang. This was coined during the reign of Jiaqing Emperor. Historical linguists hold that the name Tibet in English is a loan word from Arabic Tibat or Tobatt. There are others who suggest Turkic Tobbad. There are just few who agree with Chinese Tubo or Tufan.

[xix] The size of Tibet proper covering Amdo, U-Tsang and Kham regions is 2.5 million Square Km or 965000 Square miles. Tibet Autonomous Region now while constitutes of nearly 1.2 million Square Km, the rest 1.3 million Square Km area has been ceded to adjoining Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan provinces. They cover: Six prefectures in Qinghai province (Haibei (Tsochang), Hainan (Tslho), Huangan (Malho), Guoluo (Golog), Yushu (Jyekundo) and Haixi (Tsonub) Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures); Two prefectures in Gansu province (Tainzu (Pari) and Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures); Three Prefectures in Sichuan province (Aba (Ngaba), Ganzi (Kardze) and Mili Tibetan Prefectures); and, One prefecture in Yunnan province (Diqing (Dechen) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture)

[xx] The Himalayan mountain system consists of over 100 mountains exceeding 7200 meters. The enormity of it can be understood from the fact that Aconcagua, in Andes, at 6962 meters, is the highest peak outside the Himalayan mountain system outside Asia. Mount Everest (8848 meters) is the tallest. There is then Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. The Tibetan name Khang Rinpoche for the mountain stands to carry the same attribute. High altitude lakes and the source of dozen of perennial rivers, stemming out and flowing to India besides others do as well link up Tibet’s identity with India.

[xxi] Ethnologists put Tibetans to two main racial types: (a) People, who are tall with long limbs and heads, often distinct aqualine features; and, (b) People, who are short with high cheekbones and round heads. The former constitute largely among the northern and eastern nomads of Kham and Amdo regions while the latter is found in the central and western Tibet. According to the legend, the ancestry of the Tibetan race belongs to the union of an intelligent monkey and a demonic ogress. Baring remote border areas where approximately 7 percent of the total population constitute of minority nationalities of Monpa, Lhopa, Qiang, Jang, and others inhabit, the two major racial types as such within their groups are: the Topa, who are found in highland region; the Tsangpa in the Western Tibet; the Upa in the Central Tibet; the Horpa in the Northern Tibet; the Khampa in the Eastern Tibet; the Amdowa in the Northeastern Tibet; and the Gyarongwa in the Fareast Tibet.

[xxii] There is inconclusive debate among the scholars about the racial entity of the Chinese race. While the school text books in China speak of Chinese race as descendants of Peking Man (Bejing Ren), who lived in Northern China some 0.4 million years ago, Prof Jin Li of Fudan University, who led a team of anthropologists trace the origin and growth of the Chinese race to early humans in East Africa. The Han Chinese who dominate the scene are but subset of the Chinese nationalities ( Zhonghua Minzhu). Most Chinese scholars call themselves as the “Descendants of the Dragon” (long de zhuan ren). They even refer themselves as “Descendants of Yan Emperor or Yellow Emperor.

[xxiii] Christopher I Beckwith, The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia: A History of the Struggle for Great Power among Tibetans, Turks, ArabS, and Chinese During the Early Middle Ages, Princeton University Press, new ed. 1993.

[xxiv] Standard Tibetan is based on the speech of Lhasa. There are then Kham and Amdo dialects. Kham Tibetan dialect do as well have sub-divisions: Central Kham spoken in Derge and Chamdo areas; Southern Kham spoken in Dechen area; and Northeastern Kham spoken in Nagchen and Yushu areas. Amdo Tibetan dialect has as many as four sub-dialects: Hbrogpa, Rongba, Rongmahabrogpa and Rtahua. These two Kham and Amdo share the classical Tibetan orthography, and hence, not accorded the status of separate language.

[xxv] Chinese does not have alphabets. It is pictographic and monosyllabic. It is non-inflected and tonal.

[xxvi] Chinese warlords, in particular Mongol and Manchu troops did invade Tibet in the 13th and 18th century and make Tibet to yield to their invader power. There have been two sides exchange of diplomats. Quite a few merchants and monks did as well visit two sides. However, there has never been a China town and noticeable Chinese settlement at any point of time before the PRC occupied it with brute force.

[xxvii] Chinese refer to 17 point agreement, reached with the emissary of the 14th Dalai Lama, Ngabo Ngwang Jigme on May 23, 1951, as the legal base for taking over the political and administrative control over Tibet. The Dalai Lama had publicly repudiated the Chinese contention in his press conference on June 20, 1959. He had said in no uncertain words: “The consent of the Tibetan government was secured under duress and at the point of bayonet. My representatives were compelled to sign the agreement under threat of further military operations against Tibet by the invading armies of China leading to utter ravage and ruin of the country”. The emissary, who visited China after 40000 PLA troops invaded Tibet, were not allowed to contact Kashag, the Cabinet and the Dalai Lama. The agreement does not bear the authentic seal of the Tibetan government under the Dalai Lama. Chinese General Zhang Jingwu, who met the Dalai Lama in Dromo gave false assurance that the Chinese government will look into the objection of the Dalai Lama and his Kashag and rectify at later date. Chinese announced so called “peaceful liberation of Tibet on April 27, 1951 in a radio broadcast of the Central Broadcasting Station, Beijing.

[xxviii] The People’s Daily carried a story where it quoted Hu Shisheng, a researcher at China Institute of Contemporary International Relations and said:” The Dali Lama went to Southern Tibet t this critical moment probably because of pressure from India. By doing so he can please the country that has hosted for years”. The report published in the Global Times quoted Hu Shisheng say: “India may have forgotten the lesson of 1962, when its repeated provocations resulted in military clashes. India is on this wrong track again. ….When the conflict gets sharper and sharper, the Chinese government will have to face it and solve it in a way India has designed."

[xxix] In his meeting with the Chinese counterpart, the Indian Prime Minister said that the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama was honoured guest of India and was free to travel anywhere he wished to. The message was clear and firm.

China’s Ruckus on the Visit of the Dalai Lama and the Identity of Tawang and Tibet