Ref: – It is beyond Dalai Lama alone.
Dear Sir
On October 17, 2007 President Bush personally presented the Dalai Lama with the US Congressional Gold Medal and called on China’s leaders to open talks with the Dalai Lama, which China resented, as it complained, “Dalai Lama is seeking independence for Tibet”.
But in his remarks at this award ceremony, the Dalai Lama reiterated his desire for the Tibetan people to have meaningful autonomy within China, which should have reasonably allayed the fears of China.
But that does not mean that Tibetans will now automatically achieve autonomy. Rather on the contrary they are likely to remain frustrated on this count for the simple reason that Tibetans are not doing any thing worthwhile for it.
Tibetans can succeed in their mission for meaningful autonomy only when they shed their lethargy and mobilize India and international community apart from having and showing faith and trust in China’s leadership by bringing paradigm shift and change in strategy as given below: –
(1)- India since fifties has never questioned the assimilation of Tibet as part of China. Therefore China is bound to have trust in India’s intentions regarding territorial integrity of China and about the instrumentality of India in bringing about peaceful and just solution to Tibet problem.
(2)- India has been the home for Dalai Lama and other Tibetans for the last about half century therefore Tibetans are also bound to have a faith and Trust in India’s role as a mediator between China and Tibetans.
(3)- Time is running out fast for Tibetan autonomy in view of large scale demographic transformation which is taking place in Tibet due to massive civilian & military infrastructure projects being implemented over there by China.
(4)- But ageing leadership of the Dalai Lama (though it is very useful for general international goodwill & respect for Tibetan cause) alone is now incapable of realizing the mission of “Autonomous Tibet” which is evident from the fact that last week India’s de-facto ruler Sonia Gandhi visited China but Tibetans did nothing worthwhile to utilize her visit to promote the cause of Tibetan autonomy.
(5)- Therefore collective leadership is imperative. Tibetans should evolve some organizational mechanism where younger elements in a joint leadership assist Dalai Lama to take the struggle further in order to realize the mission of “Autonomous Tibet”.
(6)- Also in view of said appeal of USA to China’s leaders to open talks with the Dalai Lama, it is opportune time to mobilize international community / UN in the interest of realizing the mission of “Autonomous Tibet”.
(7)- For this Tibetans will be well advised to launch a forum (having membership also from well meaning Indians and persons from other countries) who will work with Tibetans in realizing the mission of “Autonomous Tibet”.
(8)- This forum may have its head office in India and branch offices in other countries and will carry out its work also through wide & concerted international media coverage of its various programs like seminars, delegations, demonstrations, debates, meetings etc. in India, China and in other countries.
Yours truly
Hem Raj Jain
208, Supriya, Plot # 20, Sector – 10, Dwarka,
New Delhi -110075, INDIA.
Ph: – +91 11 32940177, Mob: 09871194983