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Despite death and tragedy, the fire of freedom burns on

Amberish K Diwanji in Delhi

Venue: Noisy Parliament Street, New Delhi. Pavement dwellers, refugees who have lost the economic battle, struggle with the afternoon sun, while their children play without a care in the world of their bleak future. A little away, outside Jantar Mantar, are the political refugees, who have lost the military battle. The burning sun does not beat down on them as they sit or sleep in the protection of massive trees. But within them burns the fire for freedom.

And it is this fire that has created a martyr of Thupten Ngodup, who died on Wednesday after he set himself afire on Monday, April 27. Six Tibetans, owing allegiance to the Tibetan Youth Congress, began a hunger strike on March 10 to draw the world's attention to their forgotten cause.

Beijing was not amused. Neither was New Delhi. The Delhi police swooped down on the fasting Tibetans and forcibly removed them to hospital, when Ngodup doused himself with kerosene, and lit himself. He suffered 90 per cent burns, and later died of cardiac arrest.

"People have great admiration for what he has done," said Choekyong Wongchuk, secretary, international relations, TYC. "He has become a hero among the people." At the site, a photograph of Ngodup has been put up a table full of lamps stands as a mark of respect. A woman says prayers in front of the portrait, while the Tibetans, (men and women separate) sat on the ground, looking dejected.

Are the Tibetan youth frustrated which is driving them to take such drastic measures? Wangchuk shakes his head. "We are not frustrated. After all, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has done a lot for us -- given us education, ensured that our culture survived in an alien land, and he has his obligations also," he says. "This is just an additional form of protest to draw international attention to the plight of Tibet."

Twentyfive-year-old Dolma and her year-younger sister Pema differ. "It is frustration that is driving us to take such extreme steps," says Dolma. "What happened with Ngodup is good because it has drawn attention to our cause."

In a way, Dolma and Pema signify the despair of Tibetan youth. Both were born in India, and grew up in Delhi. They pointed out that much as they would love to visit Tibet, it seemed an impossible dream given the fact that the Chinese government was not particularly easy on granting visas. And this desperation for something to happen is perhaps what forced the latest protest.

Wangchuk concedes that the youth are getting impatient. "There has been no solution to our problem despite the best efforts of the Dalai Lama," he said. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight to India to escape Chinese persecution.

There is another difference. While the Dalai Lama, perhaps realistically, has agreed to autonomy for Tibet rather than independence, the TYC wants nothing less than independence. "This has been our demand ever since the TYC was formed in 1970," Wangchuk points out. "We want a plebiscite of all Tibetans inside and outside Tibet. The result of the plebiscite should be final," he declared.

Unfortunately, plebiscite is a word that New Delhi is not too fond of, as it has instant connotations with Kashmir. So is India keeping silent on Tibet in return for a Chinese quid pro quo on Kashmir? Not one minister or official has visited the fasting Tibetans or inquired into their cause. Only the Delhi health minister visited those who had been hospitalised.

Dr Kanti Bajpai of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, does see a link. "Certainly it seems that way. First, New Delhi kept quiet because we were worried about their stand on the North-East; now it is Kashmir," he said. Dr Bajpai pointed out since the 1970s, Beijing has not supported Pakistan's view on Kashmir and insisted on settling the dispute through bilateral negotiations.

Wangchuk does not disagree and goes on to blast Indian foreign policy. "Indian foreign policy has always been lacking," he declares, a trifle angrily. "You gave Bangladesh freedom, but today they dislike you. You have problems with Sri Lanka, with Pakistan, with all your neighbours. Why?"

An independent Tibet, Wangchuk adds, will be a source of security for India. "Remember, China attacked you only after conquering Tibet. Beijing still claims territory from your country. That country has always had imperial and territorial ambitions," he says

Yet, was there any reasonable chance of Tibet getting independence? Dolma insisted that since the peaceful methods had borne little result thus far, the only option was a violent struggle. "Violence is against our culture, but we also need a free Tibet," she says.

Both Dolma and Wangchuk say they are worried at the cultural genocide taking place in Tibet, and at Beijing's effort to flood Tibet with the Han community. "We keep getting reports of widespread starvation in Tibet, lack of jobs for ethnic Tibetans," says Dolma. "We have also heard the Chinese are selling cheap alcohol to ruin our people and culture."

It must be ironical that a Tibetan like Dolma cannot visit her native country while many others can. Robert McKelvey, 34, who hails from Michigan in the United States, has been to Tibet twice, once in mid-1996 and again last year.

"It is the best time of the year to visit Tibet because the weather is just changing. Winter is going, spring and summer are just coming. So the sun and the snow play hide and seek, the wind blows hard, and suddenly the next moment, there is bright sunshine and flowers blooming," says McKelvey.

The American agreed that the Chinese population in Tibet had increased by leaps and bounds. "I have not seen any physical violence against the Tibetans, but certainly the Chinese are pushing out the Tibetans from the cities," he said. "In the countryside, it is different. Out there, the Tibetan culture is still alive and people follow traditional lifestyles."

McKelvey is worried how long the Tibetan lifestyle will survive. "If things can be done in a generation or two, things will be fine, otherwise it may be too late," he says grimly, adding, "I heard a BBC report that the Chinese are trying to destroy Tibetan culture."

McKelvey, who speaks a smattering of Hindi and says he knows a wee bit of the Tibetan language, felt the best place today to protect and promote Tibetan culture was India. "Chinese education brainwashes the Tibetans, and the latter forget their history. Many believe the Chinese were always part of Tibet," he says. "Whereas India and Nepal provide decent education about Tibet and its traditions."

EARLIER REPORTS:
Tibetan protester succumbs to burns; hunger strike continues
And the Tibetan strike goes on
Police hospitalise Tibetan hunger strikers
Fasting unto death to free Tibet

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