Tibetan Freedom
Novanita Sharma
The Tibetan plateau lies between the Himalayan range to the south and the Taklamakan desert to the north; it is the highest and largest plateau of world above sea level which includes entire Tibet and other parts of the Himalayan region.
The average elevation of Tibetan plateau exceeds 14,800ft. Surrounded by imposing Himalayan ranges which include world’s two highest summits, Mt. Everest and K2, the Tibetan plateau is known as the roof of the world. The great Himalayan range stretching over about 2,500 km in Asia forms a geographic barrier between the Tibetan plateau to the north and the alluvial plains of Indian subcontinent to the south.
The Tibetan plateau along with the Himalayas play a major role in maintaining the South Asian and the East Asian monsoons which regulate climatic conditions, agriculture, flora, fauna and ecology of South Asian countries. Southern Asia hosts several biodiversity hotspots; this includes Indo -Burma (spanning the Himalaya and Hengduan mountains, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and southwestern China), the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, and South-Central China hotspots.
This rich biodiversity of South Asian countries is attributed to the biogeographic and climatic factors governed by the Tibetan plateau. This combination of complex topography and varying climate turns areas such as South Asia into biodiversity factories, a unique contribution to the natural world of this planet. Mountainous regions like the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau are characterized with close – proximity niche diversity, arising from geology, slope and climatic variations resulting in a patchwork of soil types.
Apart from this, the high mountains act as ‘sky islands’ where isolating mechanisms operate with timescale to support speciation. These factors along with the glacial cover of the Tibetan plateau, the rivers and aquifers originating in these glaciers constitute the lifeline of biodiversity in Asia. The Tibetan plateau, called the roof of the world sitting on top of the Asian landmass is thus significant for ecological balance in entire Asia.
The Tibetan plateau is covered from time immemorial under the Hindu – Kush Himalayan ice sheets, the plateau holds more than 45, 000 glaciers covering an area of 105,000sqkm. This is the largest ice mass outside the two poles of Earth. The Tibetan plateau is aptly called ‘the third pole’. These glaciers flow down to feed the largest rivers of Asia – this includes YarlungTsangpo which is known as Brahmaputra in India, Yangtze, Mekong, Yellow, Ganges, Indus and more.
Asian civilizations are indebted to the Tibetan plateau for these Himalayan rivers, which constitute the backbone of their cultural, economic and ecological frameworks. Himalayan rivers originating in the Tibetan plateau flow into India, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam. Tibetan plateau is one of the rarest places on Earth which supports millions of human beings apart from other life forms through this glacier fed rivers which originates in this Himalayan high lands.
These rivers decided the course of ancient civilizations found in history, the survival of many people is indirectly connected with these rivers through their forests, wetlands, agriculture and livelihood. These rivers will continue to reign its supremacy in our planet in future without fail. Threats to these rivers and the ecology of Tibetan plateau thus have a significant implication for Asia as well as for the entire planet.
The Tibetan plateau is facing serious environmental degradation because of various reasons, one of the most important being the unprecedented exploitation of the natural resources of Tibet under the repressive rule of communist China for more than 60 years now. The melting of glaciers, non – sequential thawing of permafrost, drying up of wetlands and desertification of grasslands has deeper – irreversible impacts on Tibetan natural environment.
All these contributes to release of more greenhouse gases into earth’s atmosphere due to failure in assimilation of atmospheric carbon leading to an unwanted acceleration of global warming and climate crisis situation. The unique geology and ecology of the Tibetan plateau constitute a very fragile environment; disturbances in its delicate balance may bring dangerous consequences, which will be faced by not only Tibet but entire world.
The alpine grasslands and meadows of Tibetan plateau have long served as carbon sinks but recent degradation of these grasslands due to irrational human interferences under the Chinese regime along with climate warming has incurred irreparable damage to the fragile grassland ecosystem in the plateau. The drastic overhaul of nomadic pastoral lifestyle of the locals and change in land use pattern has contributed to the fast degradation of these grasslands.
Along with the Tibetan herders, many people in the downstream countries will be affected by the drying and desertification of these grasslands which works as water sponges apart from acting as carbon sinks, these high grasslands absorb the excess water during summers and gradually releases it during the winter months. The Tibetan plateau is long known for its rich mineral deposits, which remained unexplored till 1950.
The annexation of Tibet by communist China in 1959 led to growth in the mining industry in Tibetan plateau. With no concern for health and environment, the mining areas operating under the communist Chinese rule in Tibet are some of the most blatant examples of violations of human rights and environment laws not to be found anywhere else in the world. These devastating mining activities, many of them located in the upper reaches of major rivers like Yarlung Tsangpo, Mekong, Yangtse pose health and environmental threats to the downstream countries like India, Bangladesh, Vietnam.
The Tibetan plateau contains the largest area of alpine permafrost in the world and its preservation vital to mitigate the climate crisis situation faced by our planet. The Third Pole region is subjected to drastic permafrost degradation due to climate warming over the past decades. The permafrost thawing will lead to release of carbon into the atmosphere in the form of Carbon dioxide and methane in course of time, risking The Third Pole region to turn into a net carbon source in future in contrast to being the primordial carbon sink of this region.
This is an alarming climate disaster. It is a vicious cycle of damage and residual damage; this climate warming is hasting a faster run off of the Himalayan glaciers and drying of high-altitude aquifers. It is predicted that precipitation in three of the seven major rivers will drop by more than 30percent in the second half of the century. Studies indicate that the recent trend on melting glaciers suggests that the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and other rivers across Northern Indian plains could most likely become seasonal rivers in the near future.
The situation is further worsened with the dam-building frenzy of the communist People’s Republic of China over the rivers originating in the Tibetan plateau. The communist regime’s ambitious water transfer project promises catastrophe for the Tibetan plateau and the millions of people in the downstream nations. After years of denial, the Chinese side finally accepted in building a 510 megawatts hydel power plant on the upper reaches of YarlungTsangpo at dZam, at Lhoka prefecture in Tibet. Apart from this, 6 more dams are on the board along the YarlungTsangpo and no clear indication is available as to how and when these projects will be implemented.
The YarlungTsangpo originates near the Mount Kailash and runs east for about 1700kms, draining a northern section of Himalayas before it enters the YarlungTsangpo Grand Canyon, also known as the Brahmaputra Canyon or Tsangpo Gorge, near the settlement of Zhibe in Tibet. This is world’s largest canyon; it is larger than the Grand Canyon of USA. YarlungTsangpo traverses through this enormous gorge, also known as the ‘Everest of rivers’ because of the extreme conditions and continues through this canyon to the Indian border at an average elevation of the Lower Gorge at 660 mts.
The river then enters Arunachal Pradesh and eventually becomes the Brahmaputra. This trans Himalayan River flows through Tibet, India and Bangladesh. It is known as Siang/Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh and Brahmaputra in Assam. It merges with Ganges in the Ganges delta forming Padma in Bangladesh and becomes Meghna before its final plunge into the Bay of Bengal.
Brahmaputra is the ecological, economic and cultural lifeline of Assam. From agriculture, transport to forests, wetlands, biodiversity and water security, the river Brahmaputra is the single most important natural factor which decides the future economic and ecological safety of Assam and the neighboring regions. Any untoward change in the course, flow and quality of this river will trigger multi-dimensional devastation in Assam.
The human index of any region is decided by its economy, ecology and its cultural heritage; the mighty Brahmaputra, as it is referred to in Assam thus dictate the human index of Assam. This snow fed Himalayan River has enriched the fertile alluvial valleys of Assam from time immemorial, this river traversing through its treacherous trails from the steepest slopes of Tibetan plateau not only provides water but the rich minerals which comes along its course. The lush green valleys, forests and hills of Assam are thriving upon this continuous flow of this life-giving glacier fed Himalayan River.
Hence, threats to this river are threat to the entire Brahmaputra civilization, which includes millions of human beings and countless other life forms. This is an ensuing cross border catastrophe; where people and other life forms of the Tibetan plateau, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Bangladesh will be severely affected. Like the river which flows beyond the political borders across Tibet, India and Bangladesh the devastating effects of damming and diversion of river water of the river Brahmaputra in its upstream in the Tibetan plateau by the communist Chinese government will massively impact the ecology, economy, livelihood and water safety of millions in the downstream Nations.
The aftermath of rampant industrialization and damming on the upstream is been already witnessed in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, in 2017 the crystal water of Siang (the upstream of Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh) turned muddy due to flushing of huge amount of silt and mud produced during dam building in the upper reaches of YarlungTsangpo by the Chinese government.
The People’s Republic of China is working on its draft policy of regional expansion since 1949, when the communist regime took reign in China. They have used all possible tacit ways to deceive, subjugate and invade countries to fulfill their policy. Their ways are no surprise to the world anymore. India has faced its intimidation since 1959, when the communist China forcefully invaded Tibet and continue to occupy it till date with tyrannical ruthlessness. India lost its peaceful neighbor, to be replaced by militarily intimidating People’s Republic of China at its Himalayan frontiers.
This changed the geo-political scene of India forever. The peaceful Himalayan frontiers of India became a permanent fortified military base, guzzling a major portion of countries GDP every year. The past actions which led to this predicament are incorrigible but India has all means to act now to ensure future political, ecological and economic safety of the nation. India must assert its stance against the humanitarian and ecological crisis in Tibet and act decisively to abolish the repressive rule of communist China over Tibet for the past 60 years.
Freedom of Tibet is of utmost importance for the survival of the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and its rivers which decides the fate of millions of people in India and other countries. Ensuring safety of the threatened Tibetan environment is an essential climate action, Tibetan plateau plays a crucial role in the course of global warming and climate crisis of our planet. The cause of Tibetan freedom movement is a global environment campaign, one of the biggest humanitarian crises in the world. This crisis is not only for the Tibetans under the repressive rule of communist China, but millions of other human beings and speechless other species whose lives depend on the shared resources of river, air and biodiversity governed largely by the Tibetan plateau.
Assam, a Northeastern state of India has a crucial role to play in this global ecological campaign. Assam constitute a unique continuum of Tibet; river Brahmaputra, the lifeline of Assam flowing down from Tibet (where it originates) in a timeless continuity binds the two lands in a rare bond of shared river, culture and ethnicity. While the river bond is evident, this continuum of Assam and Tibet exists across deeper ethnic, cultural, anthropogenic and social aspects.
The mighty Brahmaputra with its huge drainage across the length of Assam epitomizes this continuum in its best form. Assam’s floodplains ecology entirely depends on this river and the series of wetlands created by this river across its drainage area. The rich alluvial valleys of Assam rely upon the annual replenishment of minerals which flows down from the Tibetan plateau along with the river water every year. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are part of the Eastern Himalayan global biodiversity hotspot. This rich biodiversity constitutes life-support to the entire population of Assam.
The forests, wildlife and rich biodiversity of Assam are intricately connected with this floodplain’s ecology controlled by the Brahmaputra River. Hence, river Brahmaputra is vital for the ecological and economic security in Assam. Any drastic change in the upstream of Brahmaputra (known as YarlungTsangpo in Tibet) affects the entire downstream including Assam. The ongoing irresponsible damming of YarlungTsangpo along with other environmental violations like rampant mining near its drainage area, industrial and toxic pollution of this river are serious threats shared by the people of Assam and other riparian downstream people of the Brahmaputra basin. This amounts to violation of equitable sharing of a river basin by riparian nations as per international water law (UN Convention, 1997) which is not just a mandate but one of the greatest humanitarians causes of the contemporary world.
Assam, the land of Brahmaputra thus plays a significant role in consolidating this ecological campaign as one of the strongest stakeholders from this region. The biodiversity conservation movement of Assam depends on the preservation of Brahmaputra basin, the future water security of Assam and NE India is decisive for the survival of the forests, wildlife and rich biodiversity of Assam and NE India.
Hence, the biodiversity conservation movement of Assam is of global significance, it makes an assertive role on the future safety of Brahmaputra River, right from its origin in the Tibetan plateau. A name worth mentioning here is of ‘Nature’s Beckon’, an environment activists’ group of NE India which has been working zealously for the preservation of the native forests of Assam for past 4 decades. Their steadfast effort has led to the protection of several rich forests in Assam, the list includes many representative native forests of the region like the verdant patch of the last remaining low lying tropical rainforest of Assam – the DihingPatkai National Park.
Nature’s Beckon’s progressive environment activism and advocacy made the world aware regarding the rich biodiversity of the Brahmaputra basin, Nature’s Beckon leads one of the biggest people’s movements for biodiversity conservation in India and this people’s energy could very well leadIndia and South Asia in this global ecological campaign for preservation of the fragile environment of the Tibetan plateau and the Himalayan rivers originating in Tibet.
Along with Nature’s Beckon, Free Tibet – a voice from Assam, a people’s forum from Assam supporting the cause of Tibetan freedom movement voiced these environmental concerns to preserve the ecological balance of Tibetan plateau and protect the Himalayan rivers originating in Tibet to avert future ecological disaster for millions in the downstream Asian nations. This people’s forum raised the ecological aspect of Tibet for the first time in India, making it an integral part of the Tibetan freedom movement in India.
Free Tibet – a voice from Assam launched a newsletter titled, ‘Tsangpo – Siang -Brahmaputra’ highlighting the significance of the trans Himalayan River known by different names across its course as YarlungTsangpo in Tibet, Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and Brahmaputra in Assam. Apart from its other significant factors, the river Brahmaputra is deeply entwined in the cultural psyche of Assam. Hence an awareness about the significance of the environment movement for the future safety of this river is vital amongst the people of Assam and NE India.
Free Tibet – a voice from Assam is building up a people’s movement in Assam and NE India supporting complete freedom of Tibet from the repressive rule of communist China, the forum is creating awareness amongst the masses regarding the significant ecological perspective of the Tibetan freedom movement. This active participation of Assam and support from leading environment organizations like Nature’s Beckon is hope for the global environment campaign to save the Third pole and secure the ecological future of Asia and the entire planet.
Rest of the India, other Asian countries and the world community must awake to the urgency of this environment movement deeply connected with the political freedom of Tibet from the exploitative Chinese regime. The Tibetan freedom movement grew and thrived in India, the support and participation of Indians in Tibetan freedom movement is crucial for a decisive outcome in future. Similarly, the ecological campaign for protection of the Tibetan plateau must take stronger roots in India. This global ecological campaign must be led by India and the rest of world must take the plunge.Hence, every nation, every single individual from across the world ought to
support this environment campaign taking root in Assam and NE India to save the Tibetan glaciers, rivers and its natural environment; the ecological safety of Tibetan plateau, the roof of the world decides the future of our planet. While People’s Republic China follows its delusional script of devastation and mayhem, the rest of the world must unite to save the Third Pole. Our present actions will draft the future of our coming generations, it decides the collective future of our planet and millions of other living beings sharing this space with us.
We have the ability to think, act and bring the change hence, we are accountable for our actions as well as our inactions. Freedom of Tibet is not just the political freedom of Tibet from the Chinese oppression but freedom for the vast Himalayan ecosystem which includes the glacier fed Himalayan rivers, grasslands, forests of Tibet and the entire South Asia from exploitation and ecological devastation.
Freedom of Tibet is a humanitarian cause, for it governs the water and food security of millions of human beings in Asia. Freedom of Tibet implies hope to save the Third pole and restore measures to possibly contribute to global climate solution which effects the entire planet. Let this rising be from the East, let Assam – India take the lead and pave the way ahead for freedom of Tibet and rescue the Third Pole for posterity.
(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.)
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