Tibet's Brave Souls

 

                                                   Tibet's Brave Souls

I believe all the Tibetan political prisoners current, and past had courageously raised their fist and voiced their disaffection at the Chinese policy, that too under an intimidating and oppressive environment at various time and circumstance. Risking their limbs and life these political prisoners are by and large the actual conscience and true aspiration of the Tibetan people.

Under the pretext of separatism and sedation, these brave men and women of their rank have endured hellish torture and mistreatment in the Chinese jail. They are those who were unable to withstand the onslaught of the violence, and harsh condition of imprisonment led them to total breakdown. Then they are those who perished in jail and never see the light of the day. Then they are those who survived the emotional and physical ordeal and finally released after the end of their prison term.

The question now is how many of those Tibetan political prisoners have continued their works in exile, that they have voluntarily and courageously started under the yoke of communist controlled Tibet. There is a gulf between the life in occupied Tibet and a free world. Political prisoners could continuously carry forward their legacies in exile with complete freedom and lots of resources and assistance at their disposal. But the reality has been after an initial momentous moment of their arrival in exile, the majority of the Tibetan political prisoners slowly fade out their luster in the exile Tibetan political spectrum.

I am often bothered by the question, how can those brave souls of Tibet, who have ones shook the foundation of the communist foothold in Tibet and put the Tibet issue in the international spotlight, have in due time majority of them diminished their voices in a democratic exile society?

After watching a recent presentation on the Chinese policy to control Tibetan post-2008 uprising, by a former Tibetan political prisoner turned analyst and researcher, Mr. Gaden Tashi, I am convinced by the breadth and depth of their knowledge and potential for greater contribution for new insights in understanding Chinese strategies in controlling Tibetans. I was relieved to see that here is one brave soul, who after all those years of exile, remained true to himself through relentless research endeavors in exposing the truth of Chinese policy in an objective way.

Gaden Tashi is one of a kind which has survived the torment of the Chinese prisoner officials and later escaped to exile. He was sentenced after the 1989s massive protest in Lhasa by the monks of Gaden monasteries, calling for "Tibet Independence and long life His Holiness the Dalai Lama."

He seems to be one of rarest of those hundred of brave souls, who even after rehabilitating in exile, continue to carry on the legacy of Tibetan struggle through his chosen field of analysis and research.  The Tibet Policy Institute of CTA has done an excellent service by providing him the platform to share his perspectives and understanding of Chinese tactics.

As anyone who is interested in an independent research of the China's policy on Tibet, Gaden Tashi's presentation is a must watch. His animated delivery style and well-documented evidence of Chinese's maneuver in winning the heart and soul of ordinary Tibetan through the way of carrot is an eye-opening and refreshing, to say the least. His great sense of humor, wit, and comparison of exile Tibetan set up, and those of communist mentality is thought to provoke. The presentation is focused specifically on the topic through the use of Chinese media coverage, which for some will raises doubt as what is the reality, albeit the first of impression of the picture. It can not be ruled out that whatever is depicted in image necessarily reflect the truth.  Reading beyond the text can only widen the scope of viewer's understanding of the issue and also an essential tool for critical thinking.  However the presentation has its own merits and not jumping on the bandwagon of what the exile CTA believes or the majority says so.

  As an observer of Tibet issues, the presenter minced no words in pointing out how much the Chinese tactics on handling the Tibetan affairs have fundamentally shifted. He believed that the carrot policy is likely to succeed in the long run given the human nature of loving those who provide them the basic needs.

The presenter's perspectives on the subject are not necessarily reflecting the whole picture of the Chinese subjugation and but at least,  he has successfully laid out the naked truth of China's pacified tactics, by single-pointedly nailing down on Chinese employment of material means to maintain long-term stability in Tibet.  So the question is as one audience member raised if it is working? Which I think is entirely another area of research to answer that question.Or we have to wait and see for few more years or another decade.

What otherwise turn out to be a perfect speech is slightly marred by few glitches, such as a little-hurried conclusion, limited interaction and one of the audience feeding words in the presenter's mouth by drawing his conclusion.

After all, it was a positive development that even in exile, those brave Tibetan souls can still engage and be a productive member of the society. That is not saying that those former political prisoners are only who should carry on the freedom struggle, but they have made their mark in a most tumultuous time , and they are more credible in having a greater say in peace and more relaxed time in the society.
 I will be remiss not mentioning the role of another political prisoner Lukam Jam in electrifying the political discourse during 2016 preliminary Sikyong election debate. But his contribution and controversy merit another write- up, which the reader can expect from my next piece.

As there is a tradition of honoring medals to those who have made an outstanding contribution in the battlefield.  In exile society, those brave souls of ours should accord appropriate recognition and appreciation. For a person like Gaden Tashi and Lukam Jam and many others has demonstrated that giving them a chance, former political prisoners are very resourceful and can be the beacon light of our movement.

Gyalo Dhondup's book

“The Noodle Maker of Kalimpong”, By Gyalo Thondup and Anne .F Thursday is an assuming title that mitigates the seriousness and the magnitude of his endeavors and critical role in Tibet’s struggle.

I am thankful to the authors for making his story public. The readers might have different views on the substance and worthiness of the book, but the fact that Gyalo Dhondup is  such a  stalwart political figure in the annals of modern Tibetan history, so I believe  any serious Tibetan of all rank and files cannot ignore  his thoughts, stand and endeavors on the Tibetan struggle.

Surviving the Dragon

Forwarded by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Arjia Rinpoche's Surviving the Dragon is an astounding account of a Tibetan Lama's tryst with the the Chinese communist apparatus. Arjia Rinpoche's memoir has great significance and credence as stated by His Holiness in the forward:

 " In order to understand what is really happening in a country where the press is neither  open nor free and people live in a state of constant fear and suspicion, we must rely on individual like Arjia Rinpoche, who can now write  without restraint about what he has seen, heard, and experienced in Tibet:

The Catcher in the Rye

At the casual reccomendation of a friend Pelkyi, I dived in to get "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D Salinger.
Stricken with a serious stomach abnormality, i was bed-ridden for a whole day, and that was when I cruised through the pages of the book. Wasnt that much sure, at the beginning, as why the book is so acclaimed, but I went on with greater intellecutal curiosity and reading it critically. What seemed to be ordinary story of a teenager's rebellious nature, alienation and angst for belonging has a surprising and profound lesson and revealation only when you get to the two third of the book. After you turned the last pages of 277 long pages , then I realize, the book is truly a gem, a master piece!!!.

The book is about a" madman stuff  that happened to him during last Christmas:"

Holden is depressed, because he sees everything so phony and pretentious to his eyes. He is flunked in many of the subjects including Oral Expression course and schools give him the ax (expulsion). As a teenagers, there is a conflict of raging hormone in him and the relationship issues with his peers.

The book has good sense of humour with  very sutble philosophical message.  The title of the book is derived from a song, and the author revealed the title of the book in a monologue in a response to what he is good at doing.  His family ridiculed him for good at nothing, for not interested or liking for any thing. and here comes his exposition: that also revealed the title of the book.

“Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.”

The book highlights the importance of reading; and I really feel like the author has that quality of what he himself has described it:

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.”

yes, it happens to me, I feel like the book is not only entertaining, it is  the gospel  for tons of teenagers, who have a run-down of the things.  Who feel at a loss, and directionless in life. This book in nonpreaching way helps them to realize the reality of life, and how to think thins through...

Here are the lines that he offered to those crumby loosy youngsters, some well meanted  advice is offered to him, and those who are flunking subjects  who keeping failing in schools:

 "once you have a fair idea of where you want to go, your first move will be to apply yourself in school. You will have to . You're a student---whethere the idea appeals to you or not. You're in love with knowledge.....
Once you get past all the Mr. Vinsons Oral compossion, you are going to start getting closer and closer-that is , if you want to, and if you look for it and wait for it- to the kind of information that will be very ,very dear to your heart..Among other things , you will find that  you are not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behaviour. You are by no means alone on that score, you will be excited and stimulated to know.   Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. you will learn from them --- if you want to". Just some day, if you something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And itsnt education. it is history. it is poetry." p 246


Mr. Antolini ,who Holden looks up to as a  smart and intelligent,keeps on sharing more on the virtues of acamdeic education :

"Something else an academic education will do for you. If you go along with it any considerable distance, it will begin to give you an idea what size mind you have. What it will fit and maybe, what it wont. After a while, you will have an idea what kind of thoughts your particular size mind should be wearing. For one thing, it may save you an extraondirary amount of time trying on ideas that dont suit you, arent becoming to you. You will begin to know your true measurements and dress your mind accordingly."(p.247)

As Holden, who couldnt withand and want to do something crazy, like running away and with suicidal thoughts. For that Mr. Antolini, fittly quated
psychoanayst Wilelm Stekel said

" The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one."p.244


Action speaks louder than words. All the adult's advise, and lecturing, seems to be doing little to him.  Holden is saved by his little sister Old Phoebe by her unpretentious love, and genuine love for him. Her uncomprosing attitude to run away with him  melt him, that killed him. And the story has a happy ending with the the main character finally have a tremendous sense of joy welled up in him.

 " I felt so damn happy, if you want to know the truth. I dont know why. It was just that she looked so damn nice, the way she kept going around and around..."

Tears of Joy

Saturday, Dec.06. around 10:30pm my family and relatives have gathered in our house in Washingtong D.C, excitedly waiting to video chat  with my mother and elder sister on other end of the world , in Lhasa Tibet.. This is unforgetable moment in my life,  that I earnestly wished for a long time giving my present circumstance. Being able to see my mother in real time after two decades is such a incredible feeling.

A camera is set up in our sitting room to catch the moment unfold . We have done all the technological manipulation to maximize the video conversation.There is a quiet and serene sense of apprehension. I was very excited and elated and yet also a tinge of sadness to realize that this mediated communication of face to face with my Mother is only the option open to us. 

As the signal of Voice Video reflected in our screen, we immediately accepted . It took a while to connect, then in the next moment, there I saw my mother's bewilderd and beaming face for the first time in two decades.  The image of my mother in my teenager year's  recollection is no longer the same that the face I am seeing on the screen.

Wrinkled face, grey hairs, and stoop posture are signs of age catching up my dearest mother in all these turbulent years!

over two decades, my mother had passed through tumultuous period of family tragedy, +personal hardship and the death of my father and uncle. She had whethered the harsh storms of our early existence of impermances and unfortunate life incidents with fortitude and unwavering determinaton.

I could not love my mother more, knowing that she has a great sense of  resilence and still very strong and determined at heart, and above all, she is so full of wisdom and wit and compassionate at the core of her heart.

Amazed at the ability of seeing us face to face on the screen, my mother and sister broke down uncontrobly. Admist tears of joy, mother wished and prayed for us and admonished us, with some profound thoughts and wisdom, that will guide me in my times of test and trail.

Seeing my mother and sister on the screen is so powerful a feeling that for a moment, I am at a loss of words.  I am overwhelmed with emotion and for a time, unable to express much of what I wished to say. She truly entreated that that I would visit her at the earlist possible.

My mother and sister is overjoyed to see us in good shape. She couldnt believe her own eyes that the distance that kept us apart is instantly closed up with the marvel of technology, by enabling us to see face to face simultanenously  from thousands of miles away. Mother said she have never thougth that such an encouter would be possible.

my mother is overjoyed as the image of my two beatiful daughters is shown and seen us all together.

My mother is very articulate and truly a women of wisdom and compassion. No matter what circumstance, she is always considerate of other people. She was delighted that one of our family friends, paid her visit, gave gift and asked if she would need any help. And she asked me that this person Tsegay is very kind and shouldnt forget to repay his kindness.

My mother who carries  me for 9 months in her womb and brought me to this world, and brought me up with love, care and compassion had some life changing admonishments for me. I as man will should live up to her aspiration , hope and wishes.

I would leave no stone unturned to pay a visit to her in the next year or so at the earlist. That her advice for us all brothers and sister to be one and the same as forever, and cling to each other. My mother made feel so proud and good that I have accomplished much in my life and at the same time, she would urge me to continue looking after  them with my attention and care, irrespect of the challenges and any obstacles that could come across.

My mother asked us to live harmoously and happily by being kind and compassionate to each other. That a true happy family would be one that take care of others. My mother doesnt know much about the tenets of Tibetan Buddhism, but she has an indepth of  understanding human nature and full faith in the goodness of human heart.

In speaking to Dhargyal, she has spelled out some practicle life changing guidance and if he takes it to heart that Dhargyal would never regret.  Even though, it seems that her advice for us seem to be the normal dos and donts of life, but they are so pround and so true. As she is speaking from a years of experience and encounter in life. I can see that my mother is truly a strong character and women of great courage and wisdom.

After two decades of separation, no love is lost between mother and son. They are yearning for each other, and they deeply cherish and respect what they stand for.

I am grateful for my mother, she is the rock of our family. I owe to my mother for her unflinching love and care for me, that  make me what i am today.  I am committed for ever  and with great conviction in my mothers  words of  wisdom.   Be patience, by broadminded, by persistence, and be compassionate.