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Tibet’s tryst with India’s Democracy: Tibetan advocacy in India at the Parliament

Tenzing Dhamdul — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:30:42 +0000

Prologue:

The recent film ‘Evolution of Tibetan Democracy in Exile’ showed how deep the ties between Tibet and India run across these two great civilizations. In the film, His Holiness the Dalai Lama recalls how he experienced his tryst with democracy when he visited India in 1956. He saw the Indian Parliament in New Delhi and observed the democratic system including the freedom of speech in person. Reflecting on this, during the latest winter session of the parliament, on 16th December 2024, Shri Tapir Gao, a member of parliament from the state of Arunachal Pradesh laid before the parliament, the need to recognise the Institution of the Dalai Lama and how Beijing already has plans in place for his succession/reincarnation of the 15th Dalai Lama. The fact that Tibet and the Dalai Lama which is a sensitive subject for New Delhi, are being highlighted on such a significant political platform underscores the goodwill, understanding and continued significance of Tibet to India.

It is interesting to note the Indian Parliament was among the first legislative bodies to deliberate and raise the issue of Tibet in their halls when China under the Communist regime began illegally occupying it since its establishment as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from 1949 onwards. Recently from 25th November onwards, I had the privilege of engaging on Tibet with several members of the Indian Parliament through the Tibet Advocacy Alliance – India. This engagement culminated in the seminar on China’s Colonial Boarding Schools in Tibet: Reshaping Social and Cultural Landscape by Dr. Gyal Lo on 29th November, who has first-hand experience on this subject as he studied and taught in Tibet.

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Border Guardians: Tibet’s County and Prefecture Party Secretaries Overseeing Xiaokang Villages Along the Indian Border

Rinzin Namgyal — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 05:30:00 +0000

In this report, I have endeavoured to analyse and to ascertain the backgrounds of the CCP Party secretaries, including those at both prefecture and county levels stationed along the Indian border. Understanding the profiles of CCP officials in top decision-making positions within prefectures and counties along the India border is crucial to discerning Chinese motivations in the region, along with the progression of physical infrastructure development. In addition, this report also examines the well-off “Xiaokang” villages located in each county along the Indian border.

In Chinese literature, Xiaokang villages are seen as part of national boundary reinforcement and poverty alleviation, whereas in Western literature, they are viewed as a potential threat to neighbouring countries border security due to the ambiguous military-civilian dual-use structure of these villages.

In July 2017, the government of Tibet Autonomous Region announced plans to construct hundreds of border villages and accompanying infrastructure as part of a significant effort to develop Tibet’s remote border regions. These Xiaokang villages are being built under the theme: “If the border is prosperous, the frontier will be prosperous, and if the border people are wealthy, the border defence will be solid. 边境兴则边疆兴，边⺠富则边防固” and “Guardians of the sacred land, builders of happy homes.” However, numerous reports claim that between 2018 and 2022, 624 villages were built in the region, with construction continuing on additional villages. Many of these villages are clustered along the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto border separating China (Tibet) and India, with this sector bordering Arunachal Pradesh.

Moreover, a 2021 article in the official newspaper, PLA Daily, emphasises the “need to strengthen the construction of border infrastructure and encourage people of all ethnic groups to root themselves in the border areas, guard the homeland, and build their hometowns” in this region. Due to strict censorship, it is difficult to determine the precise number of “Xiaokang Villages.” Nevertheless, this report strives to provide the most information as much as possible. The analysis encompasses four prefectures adjacent to India—Ngari, Shigatse, Shannan, and Nyingchi—concentrating on their respective Party secretaries. The report also includes the Party secretaries of the 13 counties and the “Xiaokang villages” within those counties along the Indian border.

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Tibetan Caravans: Journeys from Leh to Lhasa

Tenzing Dhamdul — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 12:40:20 +0000

Reviewed by Tenzing Dhamdul, FNVA Research Associate

The reading of this book was initially inspired and suggested by the trustees at FNVA, when I had to study and learn more about Tibetan Muslims in preparation of my FNVA’s Unsilenced: Voices of Young Tibetans podcast. Eventually what was intended as a reading material turned out into an inspiration and budding reverence of my own Tibetan heritage. I cannot recommend this book enough to readers, which was in its initial edition read and translated in English under the title ‘Islam in Tibet: Tibetan Caravans’, in understanding Tibet and its age-old relationship with the Himalayas. As a Tibetan whose family, like thousands of other Tibetans had been forced to flee Tibet due to unrestricted violence and mass killing of Tibetans by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), my tryst with Tibet began from their stories. ‘Click enter on the dialog box below for the entire book review.’

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India, Tibet and the US: Scoring a Diplomatic Six

Tenzing Dhamdul — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 02:21:33 +0000

Recent diplomatic activities involving India, Tibet, and the US have created significant international repercussions, sending a clear message to China. Key events included India’s inauguration of Nalanda University, highlighting Tibetan ties, and a high-profile US delegation’s visit to Dharamshala, where they met with Tibetan leaders, including the Dalai Lama. These actions were met with strong reactions from Beijing, including Chinese President Xi Jinping’s strategic visit to Amdo and official objections to US interactions with Tibetan officials and legislation. Amidst escalating tensions, the international spotlight on Tibet has intensified, presenting a critical moment for geopolitical manoeuvres and potential advancements for India on the global stage.

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Modi Mentions Dalai Lama: Anticipation Builds for Possible Meeting

Tenzing Dhamdul — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:22:08 +0000

On 1st June 2024, a total of eight states, including the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, will go to the polls as part of the final phase (phase 7) in India’s General Elections. Amidst this, on 24th May, the incumbent Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign in Himachal Pradesh, taking part in a mega rally at Mandi.

In this rally, Narendra Modi stated, “I frequently talk with the Dalai Lama; the Dalai Lama is the being who guides our entire universe,” which, according to some, is an indication that Narendra Modi, may have some positive plans to Tibet with a meeting with His Holiness Dalai Lama seemingly in line. With several exit polls indicating that the BJP and its NDA alliance will once again form the government, some even go as far as mentioning that the incumbent Prime Minister would invite the Dalai Lama for his oath to office ceremony. Tibetans in the past have been invited, with the then Sikyong (President) and Kalon (Minister) of the Tibetan Government in Exile Lobsang Sangay la and Gyari Dolma la both attending the oath to office ceremony of 2014.

Narendra Modi has already met the Dalai Lama when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat; however, he has yet to meet him since assuming the role of Prime Minister.

Since the BJP’s formation as a separate political party in the 1980s, it has had two Prime Ministers: Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi. The former frequently met with the Dalai Lama even during his tenure as Prime Minister of India. The Dalai Lama stated, “His eloquent support of the Tibetan people began in the late 1950s. Since then, he regularly took Indian governments to task in parliament, prompting them to take a stronger stand on Tibet,” highlighting the firm support that Atal Bihari Vajpayee had towards Tibet and the Tibetan people.
There are various movements and instances indicating that a possible meeting between Narendra Modi and the Dalai Lama is on the cards:

Narendra Modi and the Dalai Lama attended the same event last year; the Global Buddhist Summit organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), with the former being the Chief Guest on the 1st Day and the latter being the Chief Guest on the 2nd Day. They were so close yet did not meet, most likely due to pressure from Beijing in my opinion. However, with India advancing and taking great strides forward, including positioning itself towards achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047, there will come a time when Beijing will not be able to pressure New Delhi anymore.
Furthermore, Narendra Modi has frequently been publicly wishing the Dalai Lama on his birthday through his social media handles in the last few years.
In December 2021, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), with its Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and National Executive Indresh Kumar (founder of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch), met the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamshala. Considering the strong and firm linkages between RSS and BJP, there is a high possibility of the BJP leadership including Narendra Modi also meeting the Dalai Lama.

The Indian National Congress (INC) the other national political party of India that has formed the government several time, has had its leaders including its Prime Ministers, meeting with the Dalai Lama. One can refer to FNVA’s recent policy brief ‘2024 Election: Tibet in INC’s Election Manifesto’ for more detail on this.
With the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh going to the polls several notable Indian political leaders have arrived to Dharamshala and met the Dalai Lama recently. Many of them also had events with the Tibetan publics, where both the BJP and INC (from the NDA and India Alliance respectively) engaged with the Tibetans in Dharmshala in the lead up to the election.

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Tibet Digest: 15th – 30th Sep’2023

Tenzin Lhatso — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 08:09:03 +0000

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