Introduction: The recent passing away of Tsewang Norbu, a 25-year-old Tibetan in Tibet due to major injuries sustained after his self-immolation protest in front of the Potala palace in Lhasa – against the current Chinese Communist government led by Xi Jinping shows the dire and critical situation that Tibetans are and have been experiencing, since China invaded Tibet more than 6 decades back.
Tibetans are largely peaceful people and tend to mind their own business with their stand of neutrality during the 1st and 2nd world wars indicating it. Furthermore, the strong envelopment of Buddhism over Tibet to an extent also prevented Tibet from warfare which was becoming the trend of the world then and continues to do so even today with the Russian army invading sovereign Ukraine territory and initiating war being an epitome.
The Tibetans experienced their breaking point and their move away from peace when China under its military arm the People’s Liberation Army marched into sovereign Tibetan territory. And it all culminated to the 10th March Uprising in 1959 which continues to be remembered and commemorated to this day.
The 10th March Uprising: This uprising was a total revolution against the Chinese army and its overreaching authority. Both of which were now exhibiting signs of dictatorship and totalitarianism – never before experienced by the Tibetans. Peace loving Tibetans even the monks who were forbidden to hurt other beings, now took up arms to protect their home physically and aspirations mentally.
The already tense situation between the Tibetans and the invading Chinese was made worst when His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was secretly invited to attend a theoretical performance to be held in the Chinese military Headquarters in Tibet (ironically built by Tibetans after the infamous and controversial 17th agreement for the peaceful liberation of Tibet).
This truly made the bubble burst and the Tibetans prevented the Dalai Lama from attending this secret performance (the secret was leaked by Tibetans officials whom feared for the life of the Dalai Lama to the masses) and drew a violent response and retaliation from the Chinese, who with total disregard to human life used artillery and shelled the capital city of Lhasa and the vicinity of the Potala Palace. This uprising lasted for several days with several major developments taking place. One, the 14th Dalai Lama along with many Tibetans sought refuge outside Tibet.
Secondly the capture of numerous Tibetans who were part of this uprising indicated the template that China and its authority would follow in quelling such similar uprisings by people of the land – Tibetans. Thirdly, a sweeping shut down of monasteries and religious institutes which Beijing saw as a thorn and obstacle in their goal of conquering Tibet both territorially and culturally as well.
The domino effects: The uprising day still captures the mind and imagination of Tibetans worldwide and has had a wide ramification to Tibetans throughout. Even past the 60 years of commemoration, it has become a rallying cry for Tibetans against the harsh, inhuman, draconian and real brutality that Tibetans undergo day in and day out under Beijing’s duress and whims.
The first instance of a clear domino effect was the clear dislike and animosity towards the Chinese that fostered among the Tibetans especially towards the communist party officials. Prior to this there was a general sense of friendship between the Tibetans and its neighbor, the Chinese but it all changed since the invasion and has been consolidated since the 10th March uprising.
The second effect is the frequent wave of uprising and protest against the communist government of China both from inside Tibet and the Tibetan diaspora. The 1987 protests, the 1989 protests, the 2008 protests and the Self-Immolations that continue even today stand out. Indicate the spark and resistance that still remains strong among the Tibetans.
Thirdly, people worldwide now start to understand the true on ground situation in Tibet and many have even started researching about the real Tibet. This is all due to the constant noise that the Tibetans make every day but especially on the Tibetan Uprising Day on 10th March when Tibetans worldwide come together in solidarity to remember, commemorate and share the narratives of what really happened to our once independent nation of Tibet that is still in the process of being plundered physically and traumatized mentally.
Continued repression in Tibet by Beijing: Even though Tibetans have been able to share the world their plight and have gained a large amount of sympathy, there has been no real major developments when it comes to either the Tibetans in exile returning back to Tibet or the Chinese guaranteeing freedom of religion and rights to the Tibetans. Instead with the unprecedented rise of China since its rapprochement with the USA in the 1970’s its economy has gone from strength to strengthen, that now it commands a sense of respect even from the west and the global north.
And with the whole Weltanschauung centered around economy, China in some light is even seen to be the center of everything now. This has given them unprecedented power be it soft, hard or even bio power. This power is showcased strongly within annexed territories including Tibet and Xinjiang where now more than ever, in this open free world these two regions remain the most secret, protected and censored regions of the world. The example of the Tibetan diasporic community only able to verify the death of a self-immolated Tibetan in Tibet after many years since their passing away illustrated the tight net under which Tibetans live under Beijing rule.
And each year this strong-hand governance, grows stronger and more vigilant than ever. The recent mention of nearly 100% Tibetans possessing smart phones who are under direct surveillances of the Communist government shows us the level of discretion in which Tibetans live in. The latest reports of the destruction of Buddhist sites and structures in Drakgo, Kham-eastern Tibet and the imprisonment of monks, women and men who all advocate their Tibetan mother tongue and tradition in annexed/occupied Tibet is a very sad predicament that continues to worsen.
And with President Xi Jinping consolidating his position come this November, one certainly cannot be optimistic of Tibet’s future prospects. Conclusion: With the Tibetans commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising Day in the coming days there has been many movements and mobilization taking place right from Canada/USA in North America, France in Europe, India in Asia, South Africa in Africa and in Australia. This shows the geographical spread of Tibetans and their story being shared to the world. We Tibetans must continue to tread in this path but also engage in innovative means to ease the sufferings and burden carried by our Tibetan sister and brother in Tibet who are directly under the thumb of Beijing.
Bibliography: 1. https://freetibet.org/news-media/na/march-10th-%E2%80%93-tibetan-uprising-day2. https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/protest-rally-held-in-taiwan-ahead-of-tibet-national-uprising-day20220306005806/3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_and_uprisings_in_Tibet_since_19504. https://tibet.net/tibetans-in-paris-and-strasbourg-commemorate-the-62nd-anniversary-of-tibetan-uprising-day/5. https://www.tibetwatch.org/30-years-of-resistance6. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/potala-immolation-03042022175112.html7. https://www.orfonline.org/research/chinas-2021-white-paper-on-tibet-implications-for-indias-china-strategy/