Why Tibetans Shouldn’t Be Offended by India’s Snub to Dalai Lama

[Big Uncle]

Looks like the author of this article is trying to cushion the effects of India’s snub of the recent cancellation of the Thank You India event in Delhi. Looks like it has sparked off massive fears amongst the Tibetans that India is shifting its position in regards to the Tibetan issue. Nonetheless, the article ends with practical advice, “Against this historical background, how the government of India will continue to view the exile community will depend on the Tibetan refugees themselves.”… which the Tibetans would certainly ignore.

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Why Tibetans Shouldn’t Be Offended by India’s Snub to Dalai Lama

When you thank a person for his or her hospitality or a favour done or courtesy shown to you, that person’s usual and expected response is “You are most welcome.”

In the lead-up to a major year-long Thank You India event to commemorate 60 years in exile and to take place across India and organised by the Central Tibetan Administration, the government of India’s response seems to be “We don’t want your thank you.”

As reported, the cabinet secretary of the union government issued a circular advising central and state leaders and officials not to attend any ‘Thank You, India’ event. The Central Tibetan Administration was advised to move the highlight of the event from New Delhi to Dharamsala.

India’s Diplomatic Tip-Toeing Should Not Distract the Tibetan Refugees

This is the trending topic among Tibetans on social media. Tibetans have expressed their disappointment, suspecting a shift in the attitude of the government of India to the Tibetan cause.

In fact, India’s diplomatic tip-toeing around the issue of Tibet should not distract the Tibetan refugees from the Indian government’s massive, consistent and unstinting support to them. With India’s support and under the Dalai Lama’s guidance, the Tibetan refugees have been able to establish a productive and cohesive community serviced by schools, settlements, hospitals, clinics, old people’s homes, monasteries and higher learning centres, all centrally or autonomously supervised by the Central Tibetan Administration.

More importantly, India’s tolerance and hospitality has given space to Tibetan refugees to re-energise and revitalise the institutions, values and disciplines of Tibet’s Buddhist heritage. This ability to re-establish Tibet’s cultural and spiritual heritage in India has attracted students and scholars from areas which once came within the ambit of Tibet’s Buddhist civilisation. The Dalai Lama’s tireless travel and his message of peace and compassion have drawn new students and scholars to India from across the world.

Some scholars call the ability of Tibetan refugees to plant the roots of cultural Tibet in India “one of the miracles of the twentieth century.”

As for the government of India’s policy to Tibet is concerned, that was settled in 1954. That year, India and China signed the Panchsheel agreement in which India recognised Tibet as an autonomous part of the People’s Republic of China.

Against this historical background, how the government of India will continue to view the exile community will depend on the Tibetan refugees themselves. How they conduct themselves, how they use the enormous freedom granted to them, and how they use the same energy to strengthen their cultural and community cohesion will shape the central government’s view.

As for the Indian public, there is a groundswell of sympathy and support generated by the Dalai Lama. This support and sympathy should never be squandered.

(Thubten Samphel is the director of the Tibet Policy Institute, a research centre of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala. The opinions expressed are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)

Source :https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/why-tibetans-shouldnt-be-upset-by-india-snub-to-dalai-lama

[Rowntree]

The article is obviously written as a form of public relation practice to shed a positive light on the #thankyouindia2018 event etc. being canceled/change of location. Looking at the position of the author, it is obvious that he is writing to CTA's advance. Unfortunately, one poor article like this is easily flooded by tonnes of articles that say otherwise. This is just a standard operating procedure of the CTA to look like they do something but in actual fact, the problem and its root remains. Pacifying the fear (if any) of the Tibetans will not solve the problem and to be honest, the Indian government do not give a damn on they feel. If they do, they wouldn't suggest a change of location for the event, the memo wouldn't be issued by the Indian government asking the officials not to attend.

[dsnowlion]

LOL “We don’t want your thank you.” This is just too hilarious... I India is like you can save your Thank yous if you really want to thank us.

60 years Tibetan leadership has had the freedom and privilege to whatever they want and they have never once done anything huge to show appreciation to India. This year when tensions between India and China became testy, what did Mr. Sikyong do, he added gasoline in the flames. So you know, if India did listen to his silly words about China, we would have seen 3rd World War and guess who is going to burn first? Well, I guess it is way too late to thank India now. And this means the CTA's days are really numbered.

Wonder what Ms. Shaling the so-called Information Secretary is going to do or say now? How will Sikyong cover his precious darling Sharling's behind now? This is the kind our government Tibetans want to manage them in Tibet? They can't even many a couple of thousands of Tibetans in Dharamsala! Pathetic and embarrassing. Geez, I feel sorry for the Dalai Lama to have to tolerate all this!

[michaela]

Although the situation has become embarrassing for the Dalai Lama and the CTA, the fact remains that India government has graciously hosted the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan refugees in their country without expecting anything. They even allow the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)  to function nominally.

No other government would do that for the Tibetans. The fact that India's support is waning now should be a wake-up call for the Tibetans. What do they want to do for their future? They can either choose to assimilate with their host country or start building rapport with China, and resume the negotiation to settle the Tibet's future.