By Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Aug 17: The Former Chief of the Indian Army, General Dr. MM Naravane (Retd.), shared his insights during the 6th edition of the International Rangzen (Independence) Conference 2023, dedicated to the cause of Tibetan independence. Held in New Delhi at the Indian International Centre (IIC) on Wednesday, Dr. Naravane emphasised Tibet’s historical status as a rightful neighbour of India and delved into the profound cultural ties between the two regions that are units by their common border.
As the Chief Guest at the event, Dr. Naravane called out China’s deliberate attempts to rewrite history, referencing a recent White Paper from China that asserts the nation’s historical sovereignty over Tibet since the 7th century AD. He labelled this assertion as “incorrect” and an “attempt to rewrite history.” In response, he strongly reaffirmed Tibetans’ legitimate right to reclaim their ancestral land and cultural heritage, stating, “Tibetans have the legitimate right to go back to the land of their forefathers and experience their culture and traditions.”
He also said that numerous ideas will be alternated and suggested two approaches that will guide the participants of the conference- “vertical integration” and “horizontal stretch”. Elaborating on the “vertical integration” approach, he outlined its essence of globally elevating these concerns through various avenues, including engagements with thought leaders, think tanks, and even the United Nations. He described the “horizontal stretch” as a unifying effort to galvanise people worldwide, perpetuating the momentum of the movement. He stressed that this approach should be centred on forging a collective voice that transcends borders, ensuring the Rangzen movement remains both ‘dynamic and impactful.’
Other notable attendees included Parliamentarian Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende, Parliamentarian Lhagyari Namgyal Dolker, Parliamentarian Phurpa Dorjee Gyalthong, and Umit Hamit, a noted Uyghur freedom fighter. The conference also garnered active participation from delegates representing the Mongol and East Turkistan regions.
Parliamentarian Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende expressed his admiration for the conference, particularly highlighting his joy in attending on behalf of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE). The MP stated that the comprehensive four-day agenda’s themes hold great importance and that the conference participants possess a blend of modern and traditional education, patriotic sentiments, and a profound understanding of the circumstances faced by Tibetans within Tibet. He emphasised that the pursuit of Rangzen (Independence) doesn’t contradict the Umay Lam (Middle Way Approach) formulated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and adopted by the TPiE.
Parliamentarian Lhagyari Namgyal Dolker who is a member of the organising committee said that the decision to hold the conference in the capital city was driven by the significant connection between the Tibet movement and India. She highlighted the inextricable link between Tibet’s plight and India’s stance toward China, asserting that progress in India’s engagements with China necessitates addressing the Tibet-China conflict.
The first Rangzen Conference took place in Dharamsala on June 27, 2012. Subsequent editions were held in New Delhi (2015), New York (2016), and Paris (2017), respectively. The fifth and final conference was held in Dharamshala in 2018, where the participants had the privilege of an audience with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
It is encouraging to see former Indian Army General Dr MM Naravane attend the sixth International RANZEN Conference in New Delhi. India’s Tibet policy has been pusillanimous to say the least in the hope of befriending communist China for the last six decades! India has perhaps at long last learnt that China has no intention to be friends and instead it has bred antagonism by vetoing India’s attempt to join the 48 nation Nuclear Suppliers group (NSG).
It has also sabotaged India’s attempt to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by objecting to reform the 70 year old institution by including new powerful nations like India, Japan, Germany and Brazil. China is also shielding Pakistan based terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad and its leader Masood Azhar. To add salt to the wound, China bludgeoned to death 20 Indian Jawans in cold blood with medieval nail-studded batons in Eastern Ladakh! All these attempts by communist China are to contain India and prevent the rise of India as a global power! Ironically, India did everything to admit China in the UN to get international recognition when it was a pariah like the present Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan!!! Communist China returns gratitude with ingratitude! It’s therefore apt for the honourable Former Chief of the army to not only attend ceremonially but make bold statements which is new in Indian leadership. Until now, the only people who dared to delve into Tibet’s historical status has been Tibet supporters like Vijay Kranti. Every commentator or writer have avoided the truth about Tibet as an independent nation and only soft peddled it in deference to Chinese baseless claims and historical fabrications. THE FACT IS WHEN THE NEWLY FORMED PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA INVADED TIBET IN 1959/50, IT CREATED A NEW SOURCE OF CONFLICT. THIS WAS HIGHLIGHTED WHEN, FOLLOWING THE TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING AGAINST THE CHINESE FOLLOWED BY THE DALAI LAMA’S FLIGHT TO INDIA IN 1959, TENSIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND INDIA ESCALATED INTO WAR WHICH WAS UNHEARD OF UNTIL CHINESE OCCUPATION OF TIBET. Even the Chinese propagandists have dished out such colourful slogans; “India-China eternal friends” and “India and China never fought a war for two thousand years”!!! The truth is, as the honourable General Dr Naravane pointed out, THERE NEVER WAS A BORDER BETWEEN CHINA AND INDIA FOR MORE THAN THOUSAND YEARS!!! TIBET WAS AN INDEPENDENT NATION WITH ITS CLEARLY DEMARCATED BORDERS AND LIVED IN PEACE WITH ITS NEIGHBOURS! HH The Dalai Lama says in his Strasbourg Proposal: OUR HISTORY, DATING BACK MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND YEARS, HAS BEEN ONE OF INDEPENDENCE. AT NO TIME, SINCE THE FOUNDING OF OUR NATION IN 127 BC., HAVE WE TIBETANS CONCEDED OUR SOVEREIGNTY TO A FOREIGN POWER”!!!
Communist China has been accusing Japan of re-writing history about the Second Sino-Japanese war of 1937-1945. However, it is doing exactly same about Sino-Tibet relations. Tibet was an empire that conquered large swaths of China including the Tang capital of Chang’an (Xian) and installed a puppet regime. Some Chinese official told of the Tibetan conquest of Chang’an to the Dalai Lama in 1954 when he visited the place! The Chinese communists are all over the place when they make unsubstantiated claims over Tibet. In the 1950s until the 1980s, they attempted to portray the “17 point treaty” signed under duress by the Tibetan Government and PRC as the basis of their claim. They then changed tune. It was necessitated by their disavowing of the Tibetan Kashag Government and putting a new narrative that “it never recognised the Kashag”. After that, they claimed that since the 13th century, Tibet had “become part of China”. Seeing that doesn’t stand historical scrutiny, they made a new claim that “Tibet was part of China from historical times”. They must thought it would be easier to talk about “historical times”, so they don’t have to explain how Tibet “became part of China” when they are scrutinised! “Historical times” has been one of their usual tactic to make unfounded claims! In the seventh century, Tibetan emperor Songtsen Gampo was a conqueror per excellence and conquered many territories of many neighbouring countries but Tibet doesn’t make irredentist claims. During this time (7th century) Tibet was more powerful nation than Tang China. This is evident in the Tang emperor giving his daughter’s hand to the Tibetan emperor Songtsen Gampo in order to buy peace! During that era both in India,Tibet and China, the weaker power bought peace with the more powerful neighbour by offering their daughter hand in marriage. So, to claim that Tibet “became part of China” during the zenith power of the Tibetan empire can be conjured only by communist morons whose brains are as thick as a rhino skin! It’s not only ludicrous but flies in the face of logic. If matrimonial relation was responsible to Tibet’s subordination to China, it should do the same to Nepal whose Princess Brikhuti Devi was also offered to the Tibetan emperor in matrimonial wedlock by the Nepalese king! Therefore, Chinese claims over Tibet do not have a shred of evidence and are nothing but a figment of their imperialistic imagination!
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