‘Comrade’ Panchen Lama has broken his silence at last.
Buddhist Monks, one after another, have adopted the path of self-immolation to
protest against Chinese hegemony over Tibet and also for autonomy to Tibet
which China outrightly reject claiming it to be an integral part of China.
Panchen Lama is the China- backed Lama and hence he owes his allegiance to China.
The eleventh Lama appointed by Dalai Lama was not acceptable to China and his
whereabouts are unknown soon after he was appointed by Dalai Lama, the Supreme
leader recognized the world over. As far as China is concerned Dalai Lama is a ‘traitor’ unreliable ‘Buddhist
Monk’ whom China hates. And due to that very reason he is not recognized by
China and he is a hated figure in China and finds time to tarnish his image
before the world whenever a chance arises.
The senior Lama in the evening of his life, he is 77 now,
who is spending his days in India since 1950s. One of the reasons behind China
declaring an impromptu war against India violating the principles of ‘Panch
Sheel Agreement’ which was signed in 1954 at Bandung by the then Indian Prime
Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and Chow-an-lai, the then Chinese Premier.By giving
political asylum to Dalai Lama by India was seen as a treachery on the part of
India and China decided to wreak vengeance on India by declaring war against
India. An ill-prepared India was shaken and shocked beyond anything when a till
then friendly country which was in good terms with India attacked India without
serving any warning. As far as India was concerned it was a humiliating war in
which thousands of Indian soldiers lost their lives. India’s arsenal was practically
empty and India’s defence – preparedness was in a shambles as India believed in
peaceful co-existence with neighbouring countries. India actually couldn’t
offer any resistance against the mighty Chinese forces which ended in a humiliating
defeat. This is part of history known to all and therefore I need not dwell
upon the whole story.
Buddhist monks of Tibet and China belong to two categories.
The first category which are only a minority owe allegiance to China and
willingly accept Chinese occupation of China and believe firmly that Tibet is an
integral part of Peoples’ Republic of China. But the majority category are
absolutely against China occupying Tibet who are loyal supporters of Dalai Lama.
China and its rulers are anathema to them and they vent their anger whenever Chinese
leaders visit India and arrange protests, wave black flags and shout slogans
violating even security arrangements.
One year ago when Chinese President Hu Jintao flew to India
to participate in the BRIC summit (Brazil, Russia, India, China) the Tibetan
students in India ventilated their anger and protests against him and shouted
slogans which rent the air, demanding him to ‘go-back’ for the illegal
occupation of their land – Tibet. They want freedom from Chinese occupation and
due to a stubborn China not willing to pull back they are indignant and
frustrated lot. These anger and frustrations have prompted the Tibetan monks to
adopt the extreme step of immolating themselves to invite the attention of the
whole world to their plight. So far about forty four of them have set ablaze to
themselves and courted martyrdom.
Dalai Lama was witnessing with severe agony at this practice
of self-immolations still watching with pain the ongoing immolation. Lama who
as the supreme spiritual head of Tibetan Monks pleaded with them to desist from
such extreme steps.
Dalai Lama has pleaded with China while, remaining part of
China, Tibetans must be provided with autonomy at least, for which the ‘Communist’
regime is not prepared for. China not at all recognizes him as the
Buddhist-Spiritual head – China hates him, detests him and brands him as a traitor.
So far as China is concerned their ‘appointee’ Panchen Lama
is the true spiritual head of Tibetan monks as he extends support to China and
believes in the Chinese version of Tibet. Panchen Lama is considered by some as
the second most important Lama after Dalai Lama who is settled in China.
But when the Buddhist monks embarked on a self-immolation drive
against Chinese rule of Tibet he responded to it with silence. As a Buddhist
monk he too must have felt pain despite his allegiance to Chinese rule and that
might have compelled him to keep mum on the issue. That was why in an interview
given to The Hindu on the eve of 77th birth anniversary he made
remarks about Panchen Lama that the latter is more wiser than the Chinese
rulers.
At last Panchen Lama has broken silence, and has voiced his
opinion about the Buddhist monks who set fire on themselves as not men of religion.
He maintained that the basic responsibility for a religious person was to ‘help
people, do good deeds, and promote harmony and social developments thru
religious preaching ‘. He expressed confidence by saying, his words I quote ‘I
am confident to let Tibetan Buddhism play a more active role in promoting
social harmony and China’s development’. His preaching was on the occasion of
his visit to Lhasa’s famous Jokhang temple on Tuesday. He advised Tibetans to
work for social stability which is of great importance. Only thru social
stability Tibetans could flourish and therefore he further advised them to strive
for it. His visit to Tibet was at the behest of Chinese leadership and what all
he said there was what the Chinese leaders asked him to preach.
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