March 10th, 2011, marked the 52nd anniversary of the ‘Tibetan People’s Uprising’, an historical event that occurred in Tibet’s capital city, Lhasa, in 1959. The uprising was staged by Tibetans fueled by a wish to protect their Dalai Lama and their way of life from Communist China and its repression of their people and culture.
The 1959 Uprising: (On this day, 52 years ago)
One year after the Communist Party of China gained control of China in 1949, China claimed Tibet. The Chinese sort of showed up and were like, “hey so, you’re like, part of China and, just for the historical record, you always were, mm’kay?” The Dalai Lama, being peace-oriented and clearly outmatched, hoped for autonomy despite being ruled by China. This did not happen. The Chinese imposed taxes and rule which the Tibetans resisted. Armed conflict was reported, beginning in 1956.
According to the official website of the Tibetan Government in Exile (TGI), an invitation to attend a theatrical play had been arranged for the Dalai Lama from the Chinese in the days prior to the 1959 uprising. The invitation was one which the Dalai Lama felt necessary to accept for the sake of diplomacy, since relations between the Chinese and Tibetans were unstable. Worryingly, Chinese army officers visited the Dalai Lama’s head bodyguard the day before the performance, demanding that the Dalai Lama have neither armed escorts accompany him nor any public ceremony for the procession from his temple to the camp, contrary to tradition. However, the apparent secrecy the Chinese were seeking was not realized and paranoid rumors that the Chinese intended to arrest the Dalai Lama spread among the Tibetan people. The Dalai Lama recounts March 10th in his autobiography, ‘Freedom in Exile’, saying, “people were pouring out of Lhasa and heading in our direction. They had decided to come and protect me from the Chinese. All morning their numbers grew. …By noon an estimated thirty thousand people had gathered” (p.145). The Dalai Lama did not attend the performance; but the crowds of people outside the Norbulingka, the palace of the Dalai Lama, pissed off the Chinese who were threatening violence. Reasoning that the only way to disperse the crowds surrounding the palace was to not be in the palace any more, the Dalai Lama escaped to India and into exile, on the 17th of March that year, a week after the crowd had gathered but not moved.
Unfortunately, this did not prevent violence. Two days later, on the 19th, the Chinese began to shell the Norbulingka, thereby initiating violent combat between the Tibetans and the Chinese. With Tibetan forces being inadequately armed and totally outnumbered, the conflict lasted only two days and resulted in the destruction of Lhasa’s major monasteries and the slaughtering of thousands of Tibetans, followed by looting and public executions of many monks, nuns, and any Tibetans found to be harboring weapons in their home.
A New Home, a New Tradition:
Many Tibetans followed the Dalai Lama into exile but due to impoverishment, treacherous trekking conditions over the mountains to India, and bullets from armed Chinese troops, many died. Those who survived to arrive in India were met with the immense job of establishing sustainable living conditions starting from scratch in a climate far different from their homeland. It was a desperate time.
On March 10th of 1960, exactly one year after the uprising in Lhasa, the Dalai Lama spoke to a crowd of newly arrived exiles facing this immense challenge. In his autobiography, he says that in addressing his people he stressed the need “to take a long-term view…that our priority must be resettlement and the continuity of our cultural traditions. As to the future…with Truth, Justice and Courage as our weapons, we Tibetans would eventually prevail in regaining freedom for Tibet” (p. 175). I wonder if he emphasized the word “eventually”.
Since then, it has been an annual tradition for the Dalai Lama to give a public speech on March 10th, a day they have come to know as ‘Tibetan People’s Uprising Day’.
During the 2008 Tibetan People’s Uprising day, peaceful protests put on by monks and nuns in Tibet provoked security measures by the Chinese and the situation quickly devolved into violence four days later. The TGI describes the Chinese crack down as “ruthless” and reports that 219 peaceful protestors died, with 5,600 under arrest or in detention, while another 1000 are missing. More protests occurred over the next months, it says, resulting in the Chinese further tightening their control over Tibetans; measures included sealing off monasteries, blocking cell phones and internet access, as well as making travel difficult or impossible for Tibetans. Chinese “patriotic education” intensified and foreign media was “completely barred from the TAR [Tibetan Autonomous Region], with the exception of a small number of closely monitored government organized trips”.
The TGI also says that of those arrested or put in detention many are reportedly committing suicide because of the harsh conditions and brutal punishment. Reports from those that survived describe physical abuse resulting in broken bones, starvation, and being pressured by the Chinese government to denounce the Dalai Lama and affirm faith in CCP (Chinese Communist Party) and socialism, instead.
After 52 Years in Exile:
Though conditions have greatly improved for Tibetans living in India, many still only manage to eek out a living and many rely on charity. The culture and sense of unity of Tibetan people seems strong, nonetheless—at least to an outsider like myself.
In India’s Dharamsala the Dalai Lama still makes an annual appearance every March 10th, addressing crowds of Tibetans—many of whom were born into exile and have no direct experience of their homeland. This year, besides speaking on China’s relationship with Tibet and the rest of the world, as well as the hope for a non-violent reconciliation resulting in “genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the PRC”, he also spoke of Tibetan political reforms, particularly an increase of democratic participation in politics for Tibetan people.
The political fabric of Tibetans in exile has been following the thread of democracy since 1960 and in the year 2000 the Dalai Lama announced that the position of the Kalon Tripa (Tibetan Prime Minster) would be filled according to election by the people rather than being appointed by himself or his officials.
In 2011, the weaving of democracy into Tibetan politics will be complete. “On March 14th”, the Dalai Lama said, addressing his people, “I will formally propose the necessary amendments be made to the Charter for Tibetans in Exile, reflecting my decision to devolve my formal authority to the elected leader”. Functionally, this means that the position of ‘Dalai Lama’ will no longer be political. He further assured audiences that the decision did not reflect a “wish to shirk responsibility”, but rather an attempt to “benefit Tibetans in the long run”. It remains to be seen whether the Tibetan people will allow their beloved leader to let go of his political power.
Immediately following the Dalai Lama’s speech, Tibetans put on a peaceful rally in Dharamsala, as is tradition. Crowds gathered outside the Tsuglagkhang (the Dalai Lama’s temple) to chant and do their annual march down to lower Dharamsala. People waved flags, painted their faces, held banners and signs, and came together in a spirit of unity despite dislocation. One Tibetan, dressed entirely in blue and holding a blank blue sign, represented missing Tibetans, particularly the 1000 Tibetans missing since 2008.
To fathom that a culture can survive 52 years of exile despite scarce resources and with major political reform to boot, as well as brutal repression in their own homeland, might be nearly beyond the imaginations of those of us who know of no such struggle. But the fervor of the rally and the people’s dedication to the Dalai Lama and a sense of cultural unity is the proof. To have witnessed it would lead one to believe that they were exiled just last year.
That said, my admittedly non-expert view is not a hopeful one. China continues to grow as an economic power and fewer people internationally are taking up the cause of Tibet. Also, as Tibetans are spread further throughout the world, the culture does become increasingly dilute--as do the Tibetan genes, with mixed marriages and reproduction. I don't believe Tibet will be 'free' again. At best, they've won a moral victory but in terms of people getting what they want, I see it as just another example of peace losing, with phrases like 'free Tibet' becoming another logo to be consumed in niche markets of the commercial world.
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