November 27

Through My Eyes

Saturday November 27

(We continue to listen to Dalai Lama as he tells of his meetings with Nehru! )

" A day or so after my arrival, I heard of a Xinhua news agency report suggesting that because my Tezpur statement had been written in the third person it could not have been true. It went on to assert that I had been blatantly abducted and put under duress by 'rebels', and referred to my statement as 'a crude document, lame in reasoning, full of lies and loopholes'. this Chinese version of the story described the Tibetan people's uprising as having been organised by 'a reactionary upper-strata clique'. However, they explained, 'with the aid of the patriotic Tibetan monks and laymen, the People's Liberation Army completely crushed the rebellion. Primarily, this is because the Tibetan people are patriotic, support the Central People's Government, ardently love the People's Liberation Army and oppose the imperialists and traitors.' I therefore issued another communique confirming that the initial statement had been authorised by me.

On 24 April, Pandit Nehru himself arrived in Mussoorie. We talked together for over four hours, assisted by a single interpreter. I began by telling him everything that had happened since I had returned to Tibet-largely, as I reminded him, at his insistence. I went on to say that I had done just as he had suggested and dealt honestly and fairly with the Chinese, criticising them where necessary and trying hard to keep to the terms of the Seventeen-Point 'Agreement' . I then explained that I had not originally intended to seek India's hospitality but that I had wanted to establish my government at Lhuntse Dong. Only the news from Lhasa had changed my mind. At this point he became rather irritated. ' The Indian Government could not have recognised it even if you had,' he said. I began to get the impression that Nehru thought of me as a younger person who needed to be scolded from time to time.

During other parts of our conversation he banged the table. 'How can this be?' he asked indignantly once or twice. However, I went on in spite of the growing evidence that he could be a bit of a bully. Finally, I told hem very firmly that my main concern was twofold: ' I am determined to wind independence for Tibet, but the immediate requirement is to put a stop to the bloodshed.' At this he could restrain himself no longer. ' That is not possible!' he said in a voice charged with emotion. 'You say you want independence and in the same breath you say you do not want bloodshed. Impossible!' His lower lip quivered with anger as he spoke.

I began to realise that the Prime Minister found himself in an extremely embarrassing position. In the Indian Parliament, another tense debate on the Tibetan question had followed the news of my escape from Lhasa. For years now, he had been criticised by many politicians over his handling of the situation. And now, it seemed to me, he was showing signs of a guilty conscience at having been so insistent that I return to Tibet in 1957.

Yet at the same time it was clear that Nehru wanted to protect India's friendly relations with China and was determined to adhere to the principles of the Panch Sheel memorandum, despite the Indian politician Acharya Kripalani's description of it as having been born in sin to put the seal of our approval on the destruction of an ancient nation' . He made it quite clear that the Government of India still could not contemplate taking issue with the Chinese over the question of Tibetan rights. For now, I should rest and not make any plans for the immediate future. We would have the opportunity for further discussions on other occasions. Hearing this, I began to realise that my future, and that of my people, was far less certain than I had imagined. Our meeting ended cordially enough but, as the Prime Minister left, I experience a profound feeling of disappointment.

It quickly became clear, however, that we were faced with more immediate problems than the question of Tibetan independence. No sooner had we arrived in Mussoorie that we started to hear reports of large numbers of refugees arriving not only in India but also in Bhutan. Immediately, I sent some of my officials to receive them at the camps hastily opened by the Indian Government."

( The beginnings of the Tibetan nation in exile were terribly difficult. I promise to add more tomorrow...)

*( please click here to read of the day with me )

* This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth

Dalai Lama of Tibet.

( Please see my spinning for you!)

( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh?I began the day in our studio struggling with the technical problems. On the way to get

some needed equipment the clutch on the auto malfunctioned. So I spent most of the day on that although I did get some useful items you will see when you come. Two as one we're still working through those technical difficulties;we'll put up the pages on our infosite later. It was an awful bunch of coincidences basically. Anyway I hope you liked the picture of me from our sacred place. It was tough to set up as usual ; I know you understand though. You can see the stick on the loom that I use to keep track of how many spans of thread I've spun that day; I just move it from one stick of the loom to the next to keep track! After that I returned to our studio to spin for you then to work on our a land of Tibet. Two as one we've fixed a few more mistakes on the pages as usual.I'll put this up so we can rest.

And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow

my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright

long dark mane in sunlight

so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)


	Through My Eyes Saturday November 27 (We continue to listen to Dalai Lama as he tells of his meetings with Nehru! ) " A day or so after my arrival, I heard of a Xinhua news agency report suggesting that because my Tezpur statement had been written in the third person it could not have been true. It went on to assert that I had been blatantly abducted and put under duress by 'rebels', and referred to my statement as 'a crude document, lame in reasoning, full of lies and loopholes'. this Chinese version of the story described the Tibetan people's uprising as having been organised by 'a reactionary upper-strata clique'. However, they explained, 'with the aid of the patriotic Tibetan monks and laymen, the People's Liberation Army completely crushed the rebellion. Primarily, this is because the Tibetan people are patriotic, support the Central People's Government, ardently love the People's Liberation Army and oppose the imperialists and traitors.' I therefore issued another communique confirming that the initial statement had been authorised by me. On 24 April, Pandit Nehru himself arrived in Mussoorie. We talked together for over four hours, assisted by a single interpreter. I began by telling him everything that had happened since I had returned to Tibet-largely, as I reminded him, at his insistence. I went on to say that I had done just as he had suggested and dealt honestly and fairly with the Chinese, criticising them where necessary and trying hard to keep to the terms of the Seventeen-Point 'Agreement' . I then explained that I had not originally intended to seek India's hospitality but that I had wanted to establish my government at Lhuntse Dong. Only the news from Lhasa had changed my mind. At this point he became rather irritated. ' The Indian Government could not have recognised it even if you had,' he said. I began to get the impression that Nehru thought of me as a younger person who needed to be scolded from time to time. During other parts of our conversation he banged the table. 'How can this be?' he asked indignantly once or twice. However, I went on in spite of the growing evidence that he could be a bit of a bully. Finally, I told hem very firmly that my main concern was twofold: ' I am determined to wind independence for Tibet, but the immediate requirement is to put a stop to the bloodshed.' At this he could restrain himself no longer. ' That is not possible!' he said in a voice charged with emotion. 'You say you want independence and in the same breath you say you do not want bloodshed. Impossible!' His lower lip quivered with anger as he spoke. I began to realise that the Prime Minister found himself in an extremely embarrassing position. In the Indian Parliament, another tense debate on the Tibetan question had followed the news of my escape from Lhasa. For years now, he had been criticised by many politicians over his handling of the situation. And now, it seemed to me, he was showing signs of a guilty conscience at having been so insistent that I return to Tibet in 1957. Yet at the same time it was clear that Nehru wanted to protect India's friendly relations with China and was determined to adhere to the principles of the Panch Sheel memorandum, despite the Indian politician Acharya Kripalani's description of it as having been born in sin to put the seal of our approval on the destruction of an ancient nation' . He made it quite clear that the Government of India still could not contemplate taking issue with the Chinese over the question of Tibetan rights. For now, I should rest and not make any plans for the immediate future. We would have the opportunity for further discussions on other occasions. Hearing this, I began to realise that my future, and that of my people, was far less certain than I had imagined. Our meeting ended cordially enough but, as the Prime Minister left, I experience a profound feeling of disappointment. It quickly became clear, however, that we were faced with more immediate problems than the question of Tibetan independence. No sooner had we arrived in Mussoorie that we started to hear reports of large numbers of refugees arriving not only in India but also in Bhutan. Immediately, I sent some of my officials to receive them at the camps hastily opened by the Indian Government." ( The beginnings of the Tibetan nation in exile were terribly difficult. I promise to add more tomorrow...) ( please click here to read of the day with me ) This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. ( Please see my spinning for you!) ( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh?I began the day in our studio struggling with the technical problems. On the way to get some needed equipment the clutch on the auto malfunctioned. So I spent most of the day on that although I did get some useful items you will see when you come. Two as one we're still working through those technical difficulties;we'll put up the pages on our infosite later. It was an awful bunch of coincidences basically. Anyway I hope you liked the picture of me from our sacred place. It was tough to set up as usual ; I know you understand though. You can see the stick on the loom that I use to keep track of how many spans of thread I've spun that day; I just move it from one stick of the loom to the next to keep track! After that I returned to our studio to spin for you then to work on our a land of Tibet. Two as one we've fixed a few more mistakes on the pages as usual.I'll put this up so we can rest. And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright long dark mane in sunlight so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)