I have to confess I do not know much about the situation in Tibet. To me it is a far far away land favored by the climbers and the like! I know things are not right and many people, including his Holiness the Dalai Lama, are living in India in exile.
When I went to Ladakh this summer, I met people from Tibet, heard about them, interacted with them and bought a few souvenirs from them. I thought I will post this photograph of a banner outside a makeshift Tibetan market in Leh today. It makes me want to know more about this fascinating country, called the rooftop of the world!
The little that could gather from talking with people, it seems local Ladakhi people are fine with Tibetans and they live in harmony together. I had a long chat with a young girl, sitting on the steps of a Stupa in the main market, Leh while having the local butter tea.
She felt that Tibet itself was to be blamed to a certain extent for the position it has landed in, because it followed a policy of isolation at one point of time and when it got occupied by China, nobody took any notice. I have no clue how things have come to the present impasse. She told me that she was born in India and has never been to Tibet but if possible, she would like to go there one day. After all it was her homeland! Her brother was doing graduation on scholarship in London.
Many of you would know much more about Tibet, maybe you can share it on this space too.
Also wanted to share that my blog got featured on The Guardian today.
Hi Mridula, sorry I can’t offer any good opinions about Tibet. But, I did try your link to the gaurdian and it is broken. I won’t take me to the article. I’d love to see the article though. Is it just my computer?
The little bit that I know about Tibet is that it was an independent and sovereign state that was invaded by the armies of People’s Republic of China in 1949 and which led to the flight of Dalai Lama to India. China does not however consider it as an invasion since it views Tibet as a “non-Chinese” territory (of past 700 years) which it has a right to own. The question of Tibet ownership or colonialism has been brought by some countries in UN but has hit a dead wall because of the counter resistance of the Chinese govt. to let any such topic be discussed within UN. Since the Tibetan government itself is in exile, they do not have much resources or platform to have their voices heard. Slowly and steadily, people seem to have forgotten this issue (if it is one).
Mo, sorry about the link, though I have fixed it now. It basically quotes the BBC story (makes fun of it too!) and gives alink to my blog among many others. Thanks a lot for pointing it out.
Pooja, thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts on Tibet here. It seems sad that so many people live as refugees, though on the positive side, I guess peacefully.
hi mridula. dolly here. reached your blog via amrit’s. wow!! it must feel so great watching all those different worlds. if i was a thought, would you carry me along? 🙂
Hey Dolly, so nice of you to stop by. Some peole have a way with words, ‘If I were a thought …’ In hundred thousand years I cannot think of such a line. So I use a lot of photographs to make up! Get travelling and take your small wonder along. I am sure she will enjoy it a lot.How are things back home, rain wise? Are things coming to normal?
Mridula..nice one..but I don’t know about Tibet…
Mridula, thts a really sad state of refugees there… I jst read a few articles abt these ppl, out of curiosity aftr reading ur blog.Hmm..&u famous bbc bloggr… going places…haan?! Mera# kab aayega 😉
Ganga nor do I, but I still thought I will post it. Viji, thanks for coming by, famous is a very relative term 🙂 I do not feel famous.
The article was great! I enjoyed it. 🙂
tibetans situation is pathetic from some points of view. but china is a booming country nowadays. it will probably make an el do rado out of tibet. religious freedom will evaporate though. no more monks…
i am not against monks. i was just looking at the silver lining.
I wonder if economic comfort is meaningful without choices in life. Or whether choices exist without economic freedom. Cannot make up my mind.
Mo, I am glad you liked the article.
Mridula, i am so happy that your blog has got another mention, you really deserv it. I enjoy reading about your travel tales. that shop in ladakh had a funny name and btw, loook at the colour of the produce, so green! yummy!!! 🙂
hey congrats on the bbc ! am not open enough to mingle with locals but wud love to do that.. i rem i was thirsty while climping down from the stupa.. i asked a local for water. They happily invited me to their house… and offered tea 🙂
Gulnaz, thanks a lot.Thoughts, I think people in remote regions in India are much more friendly than in bigger towns and places. That must have been some experience. Thanks a lot for stopping by.
hello mridula, just came across ur blog – im planning a trip (by road) to leh-ladakh this summer, it gave me good pointers. im not sure if u rem me, but i was in iitk from 2000-2004 and used to play TT 🙂
Thanks Ishwar, I sure do remember you. Wish you a wonderful trip to Leh.