CONFLICT RESOLUTION:

UNDERSTANDING THE TIBETAN - CHINESE CONFLICT

WHY REFUGEES?

It was in March 1959 when People’s Republic of China entered Tibet and invaded
Tibet forcing the His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, to flee
across the Indian frontier. 85,000 Tibetan refugees followed his Holiness and many
try to escape the oppressive rule of the Chinese.

Thousand of monasteries have been plundered and looted. Of over 6000 monasteries
and nunneries in Tibet, 8 remained undestroyed. More than 1.2 million Tibetans died
because they were unwilling to denounce their faith.

THE START:

The initial years in India were particularly difficult as they had to start from point zero
and that too in alien and hot humid climate, many died. They faced health problems,
language problems and general uncertainties. Life for the refugees has not been easy
in exile. Most of them left Tibet with nothing and then have to face the difficulties to
entirely different culture and climate.

In a view of the difficulties, a series of discussions between The Dalai Lama and the
then prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru was held where it was decided to
provide all assistance to Tibetan refugees to settle down in India for some time, till
their eventual return. For proper rehabilitation of Tibetan refugees in India, Nehru
consulted the state government about the possible rehabilitation based on agriculture.
A number of States responded positively. They leased forest reserve and unused land
to refugees to agriculture and settlements. They made all the basic arrangements for
huts, drinking water, medical help, police and rations. Today the support from the
government of India has resulted in self sufficient Tibetan refugees in India and they
are by and large content and well settled in more than 25 Tibetan settlements in India.

SETTLED LIFE:

In past 48 years, the exiled Tibetans have experienced tremendous changes, changes
which have improved their education, rehabilitation and broaden their attitude. The
study on status of Tibetan Refugees may depict the changes brought within the exiled
Tibetan society. Tibetans in India are able to establish their second home in India with
the construction of schools, settlement and monasteries. They are successfully
managed to adapt in the entirely different environment. All these achievements are
because of the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama His inspiration paved way
for new life in exiled and ignited the spirit of nationalism amongst Tibetans.

Though politically unrecognized by the government of India, administration of His

Holiness the Dalai Lama has enjoyed a special status in India through refugee policy
of India toward Tibetan refugees. The gratitude of Tibetan refugees to Government of
India is inexpressible.
SOCIAL STATUS:

The first Tibetan refugee resettlement was done in the state of Karnataka at
Bylakuppe, 52 miles from Mysore. It was then agreed to resettle 3,000 refugees in the
first instance and Indian government sanctioned Rs.37, 84, 8000 for this purpose. The
place chosen was over 3000 acres leased to the Tibetan by the Karnataka State
Government. The government of India also paid the major part of their transportation
cost. The Tibetan settlers received rations of rice, flour, maize, meat, oil, milk powder
from the scheme funded by the Indian government. The development of five major
agricultural settled in India between 1960-1963. The refugees from Tibet became self
supporting and emerged as “one of the successful” refugee communities in the world
of refugees.

POLITICAL STATUS:

What sets the Tibetans apart from the other refugees who live in conditions of
stateless in India is their ‘Government in Exile’ headed by His Holiness the Dalai
Lama. Several newspapers, magazines and journals are published by the Tibetans
both in English and Tibetan where the information on happenings in Tibet and the
stories of persecution are published and point of view of the Government in Exile is
highlighted.

The legal fact that no state in the world recognized this ‘Tibetan Government in Exile’
does not alter the social fact that it provided legitimate leadership to the refugee
community as a whole. Its social function and not so much its international legal
standing, is relevant to refugee studies.
CULTURAL & ECONOMIC STATUS:

The monastic community that suffered most under the Chinese received similar
financial and moral support from the government of India. The Tibetan
institute of Performing Arts preserves a wide repertoire of musical, dance and
theatrical traditions of Tibet. The Norbulinga institute of Tibetan culture preserves
and promotes Tibetan art and culture in exile. The Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute
is huge complex in a spacious compound where the fundamentals of traditional
Tibetan medical practice are taught.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF TIBETAN REFUGEES IN INDIA:

The thriving Tibetan community in exile is the best evidence of this. The Tibetan
Administration, the host Indian government and international aid agency have
invested upwards of Indian rupees 1.5 billion in education Tibetans exile since 1959.
Today, in the newly established Tibetan monasteries and nunneries in India there are
about 11,000 monks and nuns. Many specialized institutions have been established in
India to preserve the now endangered Tibetan culture. The Central Institute of Higher
Tibetan Studies in Varanasi provides traditional and modern education to Tibetans
and to students from Himalayan Buddhist region.

SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE:

STATUS OF TIBETAN REFUGEES IN INDIA -A CASE STUDY OF

BYLAKUPPE
Questionnaire to the Tibetan Refugees who are living in India for more than 20
years.
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Occupation:

I. ARRIVAL:

1. What was your reason for leaving Tibet?

a) Persecution b) Separation from family
c) Lack of religious freedom in Tibet d) Departure of H.H the Dalai Lama

2. How long have you been living in India?

a) 20-25 years b) 25-30 years

II. REGISTRATION AND LEGAL-POLITICAL IDENTITY:

3.Are you registered with the Indian authorities?

a) Yes b) No

4. Are you registered with the authority as an individual?

a) Yes b) No

5. Are all your family members registered?

a) Yes b) No c) Don’t know

6. What document do you possess (i) Identification Certificate (ii) Green Book
(iii) Registration Certificate?
a) (i), (ii) and (iii) b) (i) and (ii) c) (i) and (iii) d) (ii) and (iii) d) None

7. On what grounds can renewal be rejected?

………………………………………………………………………………………….

8. Are you an Indian Citizen?

a) Yes b) No
III. ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE IN SETTLEMENTS:
VI. ECONOMICS:

9. What is your main source of income?

a) Government Assistance b) Service c) Business
d) Employment e) Agriculture f) Sponsor

10. Is the income sufficient for your livelihood?

a) Yes b) No

11. What property do you own in India?

a) Land b) House c) Automobile d) Other

12. What is the process of obtaining the property?

…………………………………………………………………………………………

VI. POLITICS:

13. Do you have voting rights in Exile Government?

a) Yes b) No

14. Do you have voting rights in Indian elections?

a) Yes b) No

15. If Yes, do you vote?

a) Yes b) No

16. If No, why?

a) Not an Indian citizen b) Refugee status c) Don’t know

17. Are Tibetans allowed to carry out political activities in India?

a) Yes b) No

V. SOCIO –CULTURAL AND RELIGION;

18. Does celebration of Tibetan New Year (Losar) helps to promote cultural identity
in India?
a) Yes b) No

19. Does marriage performance according to Tibetan culture promote social

autonomy of the Tibetans living in India?
a) Yes b) No

20. Does the Tibetan Institute of Arts promote national identity?

a) Yes b) No

21. Whom do the Tibetans marry?

a) Tibetan b) Indian c) Foreigner d) other