The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and Assam: A bond of Freedom

Dalai Lama

Novanita Sharma

Jetsun Jamphel NgawangLobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, known as Gyalwa Rinpoche to the Tibetan people is the present 14^th Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader and former head of state of Tibet.

Born in a remote village of the traditional Tibetan region of Amdo in 1935, he was selected as the tulku of 13^th Dalai Lama in 1937 and was formally declared as the 14^th Dalai Lama in 1939. He was enthroned in Lhasa on 22^nd February, 1940.

He is also the leader and an ordained monk of Gelug school, the newest school of Tibetan Buddhism. He assumed full temporal duties on 17^th November, 1950 at age of 15. The violent annexation of Tibet by communist People’s Republic of China and the consequent Tibetan uprising in 1959 forced him to leave Tibet and seek asylum in India. He continues to live in exile in Dharmsala, India. He constituted the Tibetan government in exile in April, 1959 giving birth to the Tibetan freedom movement in Indian soil. He earned love and respect from the entire world for his exemplary leadership and commitment to the values of non-violence and peace throughout his life.

Dalai Lama’s miraculous escape from Potala palace, Lhasa to India in 1959 is one of the most well documented journeys of any political exile ever witnessed in human history. Numerous Books, documentaries, movies have covered different aspects of this iconic journey of the 14^th Dalai Lama in the wake of forceful Chinese occupation of Tibet, this journey not only brought the 14^th Dalai Lama to a life in exile but entire Tibetan consciousness to an alternate existence in exile outside Tibet.

The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and Assam:A bond of Freedom — Potala Palace

The 23 years old Dalai Lama travelled for three weeks through the treacherous Himalayas which included crossing 500-yard-wide Brahmaputra River, before he arrived at Indian borders on 31^st March, 1959. From there, his entourage was escorted to Bomdila in present day Arunachal Pradesh. Dalai Lama rested in Tawang monastery before moving to Mussoorie enroute Tezpur, Assam. Dalai Lama was escorted from the Indian borders to Bumla by a small troop of Assam Rifles soldiers.

One of the 7 jawans of this troop who escorted Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh was Late Narendra Chandra Das, a young soldier hailing from Tezpur- Assam. Recalling his escape to India in 1959, the Dalai Lama said “every time I visit these areas, the Tawang area, it is very emotional for me. I see a place where I had enjoyed freedom for the first time.” His Holiness had an emotional reunion with Late N C Das for the first time after 58 years in 2017 in Guwahati during his 12 days tour of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Late Narendra Chandra Das and his family was invited next year to Dharmshala for a special meeting with His Holiness, “I went with my family and he hugged me there. He had also given me a memento. I shall never forget my meeting,” said Das.

He was the last surviving member of the Assam Rifles team who escorted Dalai Lama to the safety of Indian soil. Narendra Chandra Das breathed his last in January 2022 at his residence in Udmari village, Tezpur. A special homage was paid to him from the Central Tibetan Administration on behalf of Syikong Penpa Tsering, the democratically elected President of CTA on 9^th February, 2022 in a function at his residence attended by his family, villagers, prominent citizens and media representatives of the area.

Free Tibet – a voice from Assam also paid tribute to Late N C Das for his rich contribution to the Tibetan freedom movement. Free Tibet – a voice from Assam, under the leadership of Sri. Soumyadeep Datta, renowned environment activist and Regional Convener – Core Group for Tibetan cause, envisage to build a memorial stupa in this remote village in Tezpur, Assam marking the deep bonding of the 14^th Dalai Lama with Assam. This stupa will be dedicated to the memory of kinship between the 14^th Dalai Lama and Late N C Das, which epitomizes the deep-rooted India – Tibet friendship from time immemorial.

In 1959, the name of Tezpur, in Assam trended across the world as the place where India received the Dalai Lama after his flight from Tibet. The 23-year-old Dalai Lama made his first public appearance in Tezpur since his escape from the communist Chinese annexation of Tibet. After his two weeks stay in inaccessible Arunachal Pradesh which in those days was out of reach even for media, the Dalai Lama greeted the world media while throng amongst his friends, supporters and followers in Tezpur, Assam. From Dalai Lama’s unruffled appearance in the public gathering, it was indiscernible that he was under grave danger from communist China till he reached India.

Surrounded by nearly 7000 people who gathered in Tezpur to welcome him, Dalai Lama had clearly arrived amongst his friends in this part of Assam. Tezpur drew reporters, representing the press of all the free world. From Tezpur, the news of India’s safe refuge to Dalai Lama, the God King of Buddhism from communist China travelled across the world for the first time. The Dalai Lama addressed the crowd in Tezpur on 14^th March, 1959.

After a few words of benediction for his followers and supporters, Dalai Lama issued a statement condemning Red China for breaking all promises to respect Tibet’s rights. The spiritual head of the 500 million Buddhists confirmed that he had been forced to leave his capital due to threat from communist China. Along with his Buddhists followers, the entire world was astounded with the brutality of communist China in affronting the Dalai Lama and 6 million Tibetans under its grip of forceful repression.

The Dalai Lama tasted freedom for the first time in Indian soil after living under Chinese intimidation for a long period of time in Tibet, China invaded Tibet in 1940s and finally occupied it forcefully in 1959. From Tezpur, Dalai Lama and his family along with other Tibetan refugees departed to Mussoorie, where he began his exile. Tezpur, a small town in Assam thus has a historic connection with His Holiness.

Assam not only hosted Dalai Lama at Tezpur but connected him and the Tibetan cause with rest of India and the entire world in a very critical period of history. Tezpur, historically and culturally an important city in Assam located on the northern bank of river Brahmaputra remains forever etched in the narrative of Tibetan freedom movement and the 14^th Dalai Lama’s exceptional journey to exile.

His Holiness reached Mussoorie on 20^th April, 1959. His Holiness immediately sought the rehabilitation of Tibetan refugees in India. The Indian government extended all possible support in providing home to Tibetan people and culture in India. His Holiness formally repudiated the 17 -Point Agreement in April, 1959. This marked a new beginning for Tibet, a more resolute Tibet emerged in the world scene with its non-violent resistance movement from the Indian soil. The Tibetan freedom movement grew in India under the leadership of HH the 14^th Dalai Lama, his foresight and excellent statesmanship connected people from across different nations with the peaceful independence movement of Tibet.

The Tibetan freedom movement led by His Holiness united the 6 million Tibetans against one of the darkest periods of Tibetan history. Tibet resurfaced as a nation with empowered nationalism against the violent crackdown of Tibetan identity and sovereignty by the communist Chinese government. Tibetan freedom movement evolved over these years, several new dimensions emerged -it is a political, humanitarian as well as an ecological movement significant not only for the freedom and a safe future of Tibet its people but to ensure a safe future for the world.

Tibetans and their supporters saw more than 60 years since 1959, struggling to get justice for Tibet. These constitute 6 unforgiving decades of violence and oppressive rule by communist China in Tibet. The communist People’s Republic of China refutes all doctrines of human rights, Tibetans have faced worst human rights violations in their own motherland under Chinese occupation. With no consideration for ecological and human safety in their policies, communist China holds no hope for freedom and respect to the ethnic Tibetan population in Tibet.

The Tibetans are outnumbered by the Han Chinese infiltration in Tibetan plateau. The rich Tibetan culture and heritage which is the nucleus of Tibetan identity is threatened with systemic cultural cleansing, forcefully implemented by the draconian communist regime in Tibet. Hundreds of self-immolation sacrifices have poured out of Tibet, while the world shakes with each of these heart wrenching sacrifices; the communist Chinese government continues unfazed with their oppressive rule with no room for dialogue and reconciliation.

Despite such atrocities, the Tibetan culture and Tibetan identity continue to inspire hope in everyone with its unspoiled splendor, the unbridled spirit of Free Tibet is evident in smile on every Tibetan face. The vision of His Holiness to work for preservation of Tibetan language, culture and religion is the reason behind this resilience of Tibet. His Holiness made a statement on the first anniversary of the Tibetan People’s Uprising. “On this first occasion, I stressed the need for my people to take a long-term view of the situation in Tibet. For those of us in exile, I said that our priority must be resettlement and the continuity of our cultural traditions. As to the future, I stated my belief that, with truth, justice and courage as our weapons, we Tibetans would eventually prevail in regaining freedom for Tibet”.

His Holiness’ vision recreated a parallel Tibetan existence outside Tibet which thwarts the oppressor with 60 years of resolute commitment to keep Tibet alive beyond the limits of shattered sovereignty. The Tibetan diaspora, wherever in this world have earned respect for this cultural integrity. The construction of the four major Buddhist monastic seats of Tibet (most of them demolished or devastated by communist China in Tibet) in India under the guidance of His Holiness, upholding a strict high standard of monastic proceedings amongst the monks in these monasteries saved Tibetan culture and religious heritage even in the darkest of times.

Along with it, the decision to give special attention on education of the Tibetan children played an important role in rehabilitation and cultural restoration among the young Tibetans. The support from Indian government to provide education suitable for the future Tibetans, in separate schools meant for their education created a young generation of Tibetans rooted in their culture yet ready to brace up in the contemporary world with modern education.

His Holiness paved the way towards a future of dignity for Tibet; while freedom of Tibet remained uncertain, the soul of Tibet continued to pulsate with full vigour in Indian soil, the Arya Bhumi for Tibetans. The 14^th Dalai Lama’s 60 years of exile in India brought the light of Buddha back to India. The Tibetans monasteries in India, reinstated the forgotten Nalanda tradition once again in India. Tibet found refuge in India and India rediscovered its past glory which remained preserved in the culture and religious traditions of this Himalayan nation.

As the supporters, followers and well-wishers of the Great 14^th Dalai Lama comes together to celebrate his 87^th Birthday on 6^th July, 2022, possibly in every corner of this planet, let us do remember his teachings to the human world, his commitments to the cause of Tibetan people and their heritage. Let this celebration be meaningful, let this day give us a new purpose to connect more people, more support for the Tibetan freedom movement.

The 21^st century is the age of freedom; hence people in this era of freedom find it difficult to connect with the struggle and anguish of Tibetans who are reeling under the oppression of an unbelievable tyrant regime of communist China. In Assam, a people’s movement is growing under the leadership of a forum known as the Free Tibet – a voice from Assam. A long-life prayer offering was held in Dibrugarh, a city on the southern bank of Brahmaputra in Assam on 3^rd July, 2022 to celebrate the 87^th birthday of His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama.

This prayer assembly was organized by Buddha Chetana, a platform for progressive growth of Buddha Dharma and Buddhist philosophy in NE India, in collaboration with Free Tibet – a voice from Assam & International Brotherhood Mission, Dibrugarh. The prayer offering was attended by members, supporters of Buddha Chetana, Free Tibet – a voice from Assam and a large group of Tibetans residing in Dibrugarh, Assam.

The devout gathering comprising of Buddhist monks from both Theravada and Mahayana sects of Buddha dharma offered their prayers to His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama for his long life, good health and benediction for all living beings. It is noteworthy that this the first such prayer for the long life of His Holiness in Assam and NE India. This is a clear reflection of the growing people’s participation with the cause of Tibetan freedom movement in Assam and NE India. Assam looks forward to contribute meaningfully towards the Tibetan freedom movement in the near future, making it a people’s movement in NE India and an ecological campaign for entire world.

While the 14^th Dalai Lama affirms to live a longer life, giving hope to 7 billion human beings including the Tibetans with his blessings, knowledge and wisdom; we ought to do our bit to honor him with our undivided support and purpose, to build a better future where violence, suppression and bigotry are replaced by the merits of our actions led by peace and compassion.

Assam remains firmly committed to give victory to Tibet; Assam pave its way ahead with the growing people’s movement towards complete independence of Tibet from Chinese rule. The 14^th Dalai Lama of Tibet will return to his seat in Potala Palace, Lhasa in this lifetime and perhaps Assam will build this passage for His Holiness back to his country; it is just a matter time.

Assam is where His Holiness found freedom for the first time and Assam will be a significant reason for freedom of his country and his people.

Victory to the mountains, victory to His Holiness, victory to Tibet.

06-07-2022

(The author is an environment activist based in Guwahati. She is actively involved with Nature’s Beckon, a leading environment activists’ group of NE India and Free Tibet – a voice from Assam, a people’s forum supporting the cause of Tibetan freedom movement in NE India.)

Mahabahu.com is an Online Magazine with collection of premium Assamese and English articles and posts with cultural base and modern thinking. You can send your articles to editor@mahabahu.com / editor@mahabahoo.com ( For Assamese article, Unicode font is necessary)