Tibet, the Roof of the World
Tibet,
the Roof of the World, is a vast, fertile plain rich in minerals and in variety
of its flora and fauna. Covering an area of 2.8 million sq.kms. (roughly the
size of Western Europe), surrounded by high snow mountain barriers and arid
plains, Tibet is said to command the highest strategic position in Asia. The
Tibetan people are a distinct race with their own religion, culture, language
and habits and number around 6 million.
Originally
they were a fierce, warlike people, feared and respected by their Chinese and
Mongol neighbours. Then during the reign of King Srongtsen Gampo (born 620 AD)
the Buddhist religion of India was introduced. Tibetan scholars were sent to
India to study under Indian gurus and Buddhism became the state religion.
Over
the centuries the establishment of the new religion underwent many difficulties
as various kings tried to reinstate the old animist religion of Bon. The kingdom
was divided by warring lords and princes and for 400 years a dark period fell
over Tibet. Buddhism emerged again in a variety of forms and orders (Nyingma,
Kagyu, sakya and Geluk were the main sects). First the Sakya sect was all-powerful
with the backing of the Mongol leader Kublai Khan. Then the first great Gelukpa
monastery of Ganden was founded in 1400 and that heralded the beginning of the
Dalai Lama Lineage.
Ngawang
Gyatso, the "Great Fifth" Dalai Lama (1617-82), became the first spiritual
and temporal leader of Tibet. He founded a system of government that lasted
until 1959, and was received and accepted by the Chinese Ming Emperor as an
independent sovereign. Buddhism was finally established and the entire Tibetan
nation became dedicated to its practice. It became, and continues to be, Tibet's
greatest source of strength.
During
the next 300 years Tibet suffered many invasions by the Chinese, Mongols, Ghurkas
and British. China had for many centuries been trying to meddle in the internal
politics of Tibet and had sought to influence the selection of new Dalai Lamas
in order to gain a hold on the running of the country. In 1876 the 13th Dalai
Lama came to power at a time when Tibet was being helplessly drawn into the
crosscurrents of international politics. The great powers surrounding Tibet
- Russia, China and British India were becoming increasingly more interested
in its trade potential. several treaties were signed amongst these powers concerning
their "rights" to Tibet without even consulting the Tibetans themselves.
In
1909 the Chinese again invaded, this time taking the capital city of Lhasa during
the annual Great Prayer Festival of Monlam, where they committed atrocities
and wanton destruction. The Dalai Lama left for India where he appealed, in
vain, to the British government for help. In the meantime the Chinese Revolution
took place and Chinese troops all over Tibet rose up against their own officers.
The Tibetans took advantage of the confusion and the Chinese were forced to
evacuate the country. On his return the Dalai Lama expelled all Chinese residents
and issued a formal declaration of the complete independence of Tibet before
embarking on an ambitious program to modernise the country. The system of law
was completely overhauled, electricity came to Lhasa, a postal and telegraph
service was introduced and the educational system was revised. Within a few
short years Tibet would be ready to make its entry into the modern world.
In
September 1949, communist China, without any provocation, invaded Eastern Tibet.
The Tibetan government protested to the U.N. but the matter fell on deaf ears
and the issue was postponed. On November 17, 1950 His Holiness the 14th Dalai
Lama assumed full powers of Head of State at the age of 16 years. A Tibetan
delegation was sent to Pekingto hold talks on the invasion and there they were
forced under duress to sign a 17 point Agreement on measures for the peaceful
liberation of Tibet without prior knowledge of the Dalai Lama or his government.
The treaty guaranteed internal autonomy of the Tibetan government, freedom to
practise religion and the preservation of the Dalai Lama's status as spiritual
and temporal leader of Tibet. The Chinese used this document to carry out steps
to colonize Tibet forcibly and, in the face of strong resistance, slowly but
surely violated every article of the treaty.
On September 9,1951, thousands of Chinese troops marched into Lhasa. The forcible occupation of Tibet was accomplished by racial, cultural and religious atrocities and the ruthless Sinicisation of Tibetan people. The nationwide resistance movement culminated in the "Lhasa Uprising" of March 10, 1959. Thousands of men, women and children were slaughtered in an attempt to save the Dalai Lama and their holy city. The Dalai Lama made a dramatic escape over the Himalayas to seek political asylum in India and this year alone saw the unprecedented and tragic exodus of 60,000 Tibetan refugees into exile.