The conflict continues. Tibet wants to break free from the rule of the People's Republic of China ever since they were annexed in 1950 when the People's Liberation Army entered Tibetan area of Chamdo and crushed all resistance from the ill-equipped Tibetan army.
In 1959, a mass exodus took place led by the 14th Dalai Lama (the current one) to India while resistance towards the Chinese government continued on a large scale. Prior to this in 1951, the Dalai Lama signed the Seventeen Point Agreement with Chinese representatives from Beijing which affirmed Chinese sovereignty over Tibet with a joint administration under representatives of the central government and the Tibetan government. But soon Tibet was engulfed by the Chinese. The Tibetans exiled as their religion and their lives were under constant threat. The Chinese has been trying to do away with the Tibetan style of Buddhism while at the same time, many Chinese are actually adopting the Tibetan style of worship in other parts of China.
World over camps have been set up for the Tibetan cause along with the 'Government of Tibet in Exile'. One of them is in the Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, India.
So what has this got to do with India? The Chinese president has left India. The relationship between the two emerging powers of south-east Asia is ought to strenghten for the better and the worse. How much things could possibly change on the political front, one can only surmise.
As economicaly powerful neighbours, the relation between India and China has been inevitable in order to avoid the outbreak of a cold war and to avoid an outburst of a heated border dispute.
China has, time and again, claimed its 'legal' rights over Arunachal Pradesh, calling it the Southern part of Greater Tibet.
Tawang monastery is the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama, born in the 17th century. The Chinese want control of what is the biggest monastery of India 'reminding' the Indian government of what 'belongs to them'.
There are a lot of nuances to this issue.
As many worldwide are critical of the Chinese stance on Tibet and what we Indians know to be Arunachal Pradesh, lets just have a much deeper insight into the issue.
Tibet consisted of the traditional provinces of Amdo, Kham and U-Tsang; all taken over by the People's Republic of China. The Tibetan cultural circle extended to Bhutan, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Many Tibetans moved into Arunachal Pradesh which was under the loose control of Bhutan and Tibet before India was annexed by the British. The British and Tibetan governments came to a consensus and agreed upon a border which ceded Tawang into British India. Sikkim, which was only recently recognised by the Chinese government as an Indian state, chose to become a part of the Indian democracy in 1975.
Most of the north eastern states and Sikkim haven't recieved government attention at all. Infrastructure, development, basic necessities like primary education, hospitals housing facilities have been neglected. What makes matters worse, is the use of the Armed Forces Special Provision Act (AFSPA). The act puts a number of restrictions on an individual stealing away their fundamental rights to freedom. The army is allowed to fire or use any amount of force if needed to on 'suspected' persons, they are also allowed to search and invade any premise without requiring a warrant.
So how different would things be if Arunachal Pradesh was handed over to the Chinese government? Development would probably reach them like it reached Tibet. But what if they are going to be wiped off thier own land like the Tibetans? Today Arunachal Pradesh, tomorrow Kashmir, the Ngas for Bodoland and the Maoists of India would revolt for a seperate nation; land of their very own. Where will India be then?
Although I am personally for a free Kashmir, I realise that Pakistan will be no less hesiatant than it already is to annexe it. I also wish there could exist a Bodoland because the Indian Government does not seem to be interested in their welfare. But the entire thing would result in a tremendous chain reaction leaving us back in square one.
India's talks with China are only justified. Tibet should get freedom if India is willing to free Kashmir and the rest of the north east, however much we really need a 'buffer' state in between China and India. The appeals of freedom may be limited to this part of the sub-continent but it doesnt make them less relevent. We will have to give up for Tibet while China continues its sophistry. And the conflict continues...
In 1959, a mass exodus took place led by the 14th Dalai Lama (the current one) to India while resistance towards the Chinese government continued on a large scale. Prior to this in 1951, the Dalai Lama signed the Seventeen Point Agreement with Chinese representatives from Beijing which affirmed Chinese sovereignty over Tibet with a joint administration under representatives of the central government and the Tibetan government. But soon Tibet was engulfed by the Chinese. The Tibetans exiled as their religion and their lives were under constant threat. The Chinese has been trying to do away with the Tibetan style of Buddhism while at the same time, many Chinese are actually adopting the Tibetan style of worship in other parts of China.
World over camps have been set up for the Tibetan cause along with the 'Government of Tibet in Exile'. One of them is in the Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, India.
So what has this got to do with India? The Chinese president has left India. The relationship between the two emerging powers of south-east Asia is ought to strenghten for the better and the worse. How much things could possibly change on the political front, one can only surmise.
As economicaly powerful neighbours, the relation between India and China has been inevitable in order to avoid the outbreak of a cold war and to avoid an outburst of a heated border dispute.
China has, time and again, claimed its 'legal' rights over Arunachal Pradesh, calling it the Southern part of Greater Tibet.
Tawang monastery is the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama, born in the 17th century. The Chinese want control of what is the biggest monastery of India 'reminding' the Indian government of what 'belongs to them'.
There are a lot of nuances to this issue.
As many worldwide are critical of the Chinese stance on Tibet and what we Indians know to be Arunachal Pradesh, lets just have a much deeper insight into the issue.
Tibet consisted of the traditional provinces of Amdo, Kham and U-Tsang; all taken over by the People's Republic of China. The Tibetan cultural circle extended to Bhutan, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Many Tibetans moved into Arunachal Pradesh which was under the loose control of Bhutan and Tibet before India was annexed by the British. The British and Tibetan governments came to a consensus and agreed upon a border which ceded Tawang into British India. Sikkim, which was only recently recognised by the Chinese government as an Indian state, chose to become a part of the Indian democracy in 1975.
Most of the north eastern states and Sikkim haven't recieved government attention at all. Infrastructure, development, basic necessities like primary education, hospitals housing facilities have been neglected. What makes matters worse, is the use of the Armed Forces Special Provision Act (AFSPA). The act puts a number of restrictions on an individual stealing away their fundamental rights to freedom. The army is allowed to fire or use any amount of force if needed to on 'suspected' persons, they are also allowed to search and invade any premise without requiring a warrant.
So how different would things be if Arunachal Pradesh was handed over to the Chinese government? Development would probably reach them like it reached Tibet. But what if they are going to be wiped off thier own land like the Tibetans? Today Arunachal Pradesh, tomorrow Kashmir, the Ngas for Bodoland and the Maoists of India would revolt for a seperate nation; land of their very own. Where will India be then?
Although I am personally for a free Kashmir, I realise that Pakistan will be no less hesiatant than it already is to annexe it. I also wish there could exist a Bodoland because the Indian Government does not seem to be interested in their welfare. But the entire thing would result in a tremendous chain reaction leaving us back in square one.
India's talks with China are only justified. Tibet should get freedom if India is willing to free Kashmir and the rest of the north east, however much we really need a 'buffer' state in between China and India. The appeals of freedom may be limited to this part of the sub-continent but it doesnt make them less relevent. We will have to give up for Tibet while China continues its sophistry. And the conflict continues...
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