DARJEELING: Mirror of 60 years of Tibetan struggle

Nov. 3: From waging an armed resistance on Chinese “incursion” to fleeing Tibet and establishing a democratic process, the entire journey of the community in exile has been brought alive in an exposition.

The Manjushree Centre of Tibetan Culture is currently holding the exhibition to mark the community’s 50 years of life in exile at its centre in Darjeeling and it will continue till November15.

Rare photographs of the Tibetan army training at a location called Drapchi and the violent uprising in Tibet in March 2008 adorn the centre’s wall, along with images of the refuges taking part in voting to elect representatives to the Kalon Tripa — the highest executive body.

“In 1949, the People’s Liberation Army marched into Tibet’s eastern provinces of Kham and Amdo seizing control of the headquarters at Chamdo. In 1951 a ‘A 17 point agreement on measures for the peaceful liberation of Tibet’ was forced on the Tibetan people before ultimately crushing the uprising in 1959,” said Tshering Norbu Dekeva, general secretary of Manjushree, pointing to the photographs of the uprising that took place in Lhasha in 1959.

In March 1959, the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the community, along with his supporters fled Tibet and entered India through Arunachal Pradesh.

“Life was difficult and His Holiness (Dalai Lama) established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Mussorie before shifting it to Dharmasala in 1960,” said Dekeva.

A parliament named Commission of Tibetan People’s Deputies was formed in 1960 and it was named as Tibetan Parliament in Exile in 2006.

It was from 2001 that direct election to Kalon Tripa was introduced. “Every five year, the Tibetan refugees scattered across the world cast their votes. There are equal representatives to the three provinces of U-Tsang, Dotoe and Domay (the region Dalai Lama comes from),” said Dekeva.

“Representatives of the four sects of Tibetans and Bhor (a religion Tibetans used to follow before Buddhism was introduced in the country) are also elected to the body,” he added.

The transformation and efforts of the community to preserve their culture and traditions have been documented through the 200-odd photographs on display.