Sunday, May 8, 2011

Tibetan warriors

When hundreds of Kirti monks are now  languishing in jail and their whereabout remains unknown, it is a shame to remain indifferent by Tibetans in foreign soil. That's way the peace march from NY to Washington D.C is a way to express solidarity and amplify their voices for the world to hear.

My curiosity picked me to ask how the idea of march was born to one of the core marchers. Like the 2008 sponteneous  uprising in Tibet, when news of dire situations in Amdo Ngaba  reached outside the world, Tibetans from all over the world  were saddened and angered. It spurred a chain of emotional outburst followed with a determination to stand up and to work to alleviate their sufferings and sorrows.

  Unsatisfied with the occassional shouting in front of the Chinese embassy in NY, few Tibetan from Amdo put forth the idea of taking a long March to Washington D.C. It was a courageous call to walk for the Kirti monks in Amdo Ngaba without any supervision or intervention from Tibetan NGO. In that way the ideas of walk spread to ten people, who are very motivated and strong willed to make the sacrifice and do something.

Most of the walkers are from Amdo, they are very patriotic people, and they are moved by the actions of kirti monks from Amdo. These ten warriors, three women and seven men walked two hundred fifty miles to reach their destination.

They were welcomed with open arms by Tibetans in the Capital area. Regional Tibetan Youth Congress hosted them lunch box in D.C and they provided snacks and tea at the welcome reception held at Vinna Community Centre.  It is an interesting scene to see the appreciation shown to these ten brave warriors. The Tibetan organizations have done commendable job in organizing such a warm reception. As one of the walkers, a monk who said that they are uneducated people, so walking to lend their support for Tibetan inside is the only way.  I would say, that it takes courage, sacrifce and gut to endure such a long journey.  These warriors spirit are high and their action speaks the importance of determination and will to struggle.

Their march might not have brought any tangile result in term of relieving the suffering of Kirti monks, but they reminded all Tibetans that kirti monks are in their darkest moment and they need us.

Their talk to the Tibetan children is inspiring and very beneficial. Tibetan sunday school have thought out an interesting program, where the children played the roles of hosting and welcoming the walkers. Hearing from the walkers would have impressed the youngsters.  This is an event that they can not forget, the kids are introduced to the importance of Tibetan language and keeping their Tibetan identity.  It helps.

It is indeed an inspiration to the Tibetan inside Tibet, what ever happens to the Tibetan brethern inside matters deeply to the Tibetan in exile. The voice of freedom rings and it echoes and it reverberates and amplified multiple times by Tibetan warriers like those ten I have seen today.

It is alway about unity,coupled with  solidarity brings strength and sustenenous to  a struggle. No matter how bleak is the situation in Tibetan, we should be reminded that a night will always be followed by a day. 

it reminds Rober Frost
"  The woods are dark, deep and lovely,
 but I have a miles to go before i sleep and miles to go before i sleep..."