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The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Escaping Tibet: Tracing the Dalai Lama's journey
On July 6, 2025, the Himalayan foothill town of Dharamshala witnessed a grand celebration. The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, turned 90 years old and blessed the crowd of devotees gathered to offer their good wishes at the Tsuglagkhang, also known as the Dalai Lama Temple complex. This town has been the residence of the Dalai Lama since 1959, and the spiritual epicentre of the movement for Tibetan autonomy. The Dalai Lama, the head of Tibetan Buddhism and a venerated religious figure, arrived here fleeing from Tibet, fearing for his safety under the Chinese government. He was granted political asylum by India under the leadership of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. We trace the Dalai Lama's journey through the treacherous Himalayan terrain, and look at what prompted the escape in the first place. Fleeing Tibet China has a deeply complex political history, moving from the age of Chinese dynasties to Mongol emperors, again back to Chinese monarchs and feudal warlords before the gradual creation of a republic. In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party under the leadership of Mao Zedong triumphed over the Nationalist Party or Kuomingtang (KMT) founded by Sun Yat-Sen, and came to power at the Centre. This regime sought the reunification of Tibet with China and the People's Liberation Army occupied the region in 1950. In May 1951, the two sides signed a 17-point agreement indicating that Tibet would have regional autonomy and control over political institutions and internal administration. The Chinese central government was to be responsible for foreign relations. The Chinese army was to enter Tibet for national defence purposes and gradually absorb the Tibetan forces. A Chinese military and administrative commission, as well a military headquarters, were to be set up in Tibet. A preparatory committee was set up for Tibet in 1956, with the Dalai Lama as Chairman, the Panchen Lama as Vice-chairman, and General Chang Kuo Hua as the representative of the Chinese Government. 'In practice, this body had little power, and decisions in all important matters were taken by the Chinese authorities,' the Dalai Lama asserted in a statement to the Indian press reflecting on this time. In 1956, the Lama made his first piligrimage to India, on the occasion of the 2,500th anniversary of the Mahaparinirvana of Buddha. Three years later, however, he returned to India as a political asylee. Per the Dalai Lama's account to the Indian press in later years, a struggle against the Chinese government started in Tibet's Kham province towards the end of 1955, and grew more serious in 1956. In the ensuing struggle, the Chinese armed forces destroyed a large number of monasteries. 'Many Lamas were killed and a large number of monks and officials were taken and employed on the construction of roads in China and the interference in the exercise of religious freedom increased,' the Dalai Lama said. In February 1959, relations between the Tibetans and Chinese government became more strained. The Dalai Lama was invited to a cultural show at the Chinese headquarters on March 10, but Tibetans became apprehensive that harm would befall him. Thousands gathered near the Dalai Lama's summer palace at Norbulingka, Lhasa, and prevented him from attending the function. They also demonstrated against Chinese rule in Tibet. While negotiations were underway, reinforcements from People's Liberation Army arrived in Lhasa. On March 17, 1959 shelling took place in the direction of Norbulingka Palace, heightening fears about the safety of the Dalai Lama and other top officials. Soon, the Dalai Lama fled from Lhasa, accompanied by officials and family. Among those with him were his 57-year-old mother, Gyuam Chemo ('Great Mother'), two sisters, and a younger brother. Parts of Tibet came to be under the control of the anti-Chinese rebels, with rebel leader Gonpo Tashi setting up his headquarters in Lhagiar Dzong, Kham. The Lama and his entourage headed first to the south, and then, finding it difficult to break through security to Nepal and India, headed east. They traversed the Himalayan terrain, crossing the Kyichu and Tsangpo rivers, and moving through the Lhoka area, Yarlung Valley and Psonadzong before reaching the Indian border at Kanzey Mane near Chuhangmu, 15 days after leaving from Lhasa. The Chinese had meanwhile set up up emergency frontier forces along the borders with Nepal, Bhutan, the then princely state of Sikkim, and India. Private communication was strictly censored in Tibet; The Hindu report dated March 29 said that telegrams transmitted out of Tibet were only allowed to say three words- We are safe. The Dalai Lama crossed over into India on March 31. The details of his entry were shared by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in an address to Parliament: the government received a message from Shillong dated March 31 evening. that an emissary with a message from the Dalai Lama had arrived at the border check-post at Chutangmu in the North-East Frontier Agency, on March 29, stating that the Dalai Lama had sought political asylum. On the evening of March 31, the Dalai Lama, with a small party of 8, crossed over into Indian territory. His first stop was Tawang, in the remote Kameng division in the North-East Frontier Agency, where India's largest Buddhist monastery is located, 10,000 feet above sea level, in dense forests inaccessible via helicopter or plane. At the monastery, monks and devotees welcomed him with salutations and celebratory drum beats. 'Rows and rows of butter lamps guttered in the sanctum sanctorum, which resounded to the recitations of the Buddhist tenets,' a report in The Hindu said. The retinue then passed through Bomdilla. It was met by officials, included P.N Menon of the Ministry of External Affairs, and Capt. Harmandar Singh, Political Officer of Kameng Frontier division. A contingent from Assam Rifles was guarding the area through which the Dalai Lama passed. He arrived in Tezpur on April 18, and discussed several arrangements for his stay with Mr. Menon. Presspersons gathered from all over the world in Tezpur, eager to cover the Dalai Lama's story. He made his first public appearance at a reception held at Darrang District college grounds, addressing the press and charging China with interference in the internal affairs of Tibet despite the 1951 agreement. Following this, he caught a special AC train to Mussoorie, passing through Siliguri, where his brother's wife, niece, and nephew, who were staying in Darjeeling, entered the special coach to see him. He was also received by the Maharajakumar of Sikkim and sister, and the mother and wife of the Prime Minister of Bhutan. The Dalai Lama finally arrived in Mussoorie on April 21, having journeyed for 35 days and crossing around 1,500 miles. He was put up in the Birla House, where Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel had stayed in the past. On April 24, the Dalai Lama met Prime Minister Nehru. In the succeeding years, India received and granted asylum to thousands of Tibetan refugees. Since 1960, the Dalai Lama has been in Dharamshala, which has earned the epithet Little Lhasa. He has established a 'Tibetan government-in-exile,' now known as the Central Tibetan Administration, with a 'Draft Constitution for Future Tibet.' There is also a Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPiE), made up of 45 MPs who are elected representatives of the diaspora in India, Australasia, Europe, and the U.S., and meet for bi-annual sessions in Dharamshala.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Day 2 of Boys State includes social opportunities, primary election
WESTON, (WBOY) — Monday was the second day of Mountaineers Boys State, where rising seniors from throughout West Virginia try to organize their own state for the week, complete with elected officials, emergency responders, law enforcement, bankers and everything else a society might need. 12 News sat in on a meeting with the 'Nationalist Party,' where candidates were giving their stump speeches for the primary later in the day. Director for American Legion Mountaineer Boys State Robbie Robinson said, 'It's better for the state, community and nation for us to do this, because a lot of the times [the students] are not getting how elections work in schools.' Carry Jack Howell Morgan of Monongalia County ran for Governor. Morgan told 12 News he cares about politics and trying to find a way to cut through divisiveness in America. 'We're slowly damaging ourselves more and more every time we continue to just bicker and villainize each other,' Morgan said. He added that his goal coming into Boys State was to work on his public speaking and see if he could get into a leadership role. Blenko unveils limited-edition, train-themed West Virginia Day pieces Outside of learning about the political process, Boys State also offers a unique opportunity for social development, giving students the opportunity to meet others from all around the state. 'There's guys that I know that came to this camp in 1962 and still are in touch with the boys they were in camp with here in Jackson's Mill,' Robinson said. Zach Turner of Putnam County ran for Attorney General with the slogan 'Don't be whack, vote for Zach.' Turner said he's valued the social experience of Boys State so far. 'I think that's one of the biggest aspects of Boys State is learning about your peers, getting to know your peers and all your friends. I've already made a lot of friends.' Boys State will continue through June 14. By the end of Tuesday night, they should know the result of the general election. If you want to keep up, you can follow the work of the students doing journalism at Boys State at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Polish nationalist Nawrocki expected to win presidential vote, news website Onet says
(Reuters) -The candidate supported by Poland's largest nationalist opposition party, Karol Nawrocki, was expected to win the presidential election second round with 50.9% of votes, the news website Onet said early on Monday. Poland's Electoral Commission said on its website it has finished counting all of the votes. Official results are expected sometime Monday morning the Commission had said earlier.
Reuters
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Polish nationalist Nawrocki expected to win presidential vote, news website Onet says
June 2 (Reuters) - The candidate supported by Poland's largest nationalist opposition party, Karol Nawrocki, was expected to win the presidential election second round with 50.9% of votes, the news website Onet said early on Monday. Poland's Electoral Commission said on its website it has finished counting all of the votes. Official results are expected sometime Monday morning the Commission had said earlier.
CNN
03-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Peru's former first lady flees to Brazil for asylum after she and ex-President Humala sentenced to prison
Peru's former First Lady Nadine Heredia has fled to Brazil, where she has been granted diplomatic asylum after a court in her home country sentenced her and her husband, former President Ollanta Humala, to 15 years in prison on money laundering charges. She landed in the capital Brasilia with her son on Wednesday, her lawyer Julio Espinoza told CNN. According to the Peruvian Foreign Ministry, she had requested asylum at the Brazilian Embassy in Lima on Tuesday morning. Brazil granted asylum to her and her son and the Peruvian government provided guarantees for their safe passage, it said. Heredia's lawyer said she had applied for asylum due to an unspecified family reason. 'A family and personal decision happened about two to three hours before the sentencing,' he said, adding that he only found out about her asylum request through the media. Her arrival in Brazil comes just a day after she and her husband were sentenced in a trial relating to alleged illicit contributions to Humala's election campaigns in 2006 and 2011. Prosecutors had alleged that Humala's Nationalist Party received illicit contributions from the Venezuelan government and the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to finance his campaigns. Humala and his wife had denied any wrongdoing. Humala was in attendance as a judge read out the verdict on Tuesday, three years after the trial began. Heredia did not attend. Moments after the ruling was announced, the judiciary ordered Humala to start serving his sentence immediately and be sent to prison. His lawyer, Wilfredo Pedraza, criticized the decision as unjustified and told CNN they would appeal. 'The panel has said that the illegality of the crimes can be verified along the way – that is inadmissible. Here, in oral trial and in sentencing, affirmations must be made, no longer presumptions,' he argued. The former first lady's lawyer said Wednesday that if the case is appealed, she may attend the hearings virtually from Brazil. Prosecutors were seeking 20 years in prison for the former president and 26 years for the former first lady.
