Opinions

Soon after the Chinese occupation army entered Lhasa, the "reform" of the Tibetan language become a priority program of the new administration.

Wars are said to be great accelerators of change, and World War II ( magchen nyipa or trukchen nyipa ) certainly speeded up Tibet's hitherto unhurried modernization. The economic impact alone was substantial.

During the 20s and 30s, many other new products came to Tibet . The popular kye-par, or honorifically sung-par (gramophone, lit. voice-print) with its 78rpm bhentse (record, perhaps from the Chinese panzi for plate) made of poekar (shellac or plastic) enlivened Lhasa's evening parties.

There has always been a sneaking admiration for China and Communist ideology in a section of Tibetan exile society, especially within the leadership.

But for the old Tibetan quarters, almost all modern buildings, shops and cars here are owned or occupied by the newly settled Chinese - Vijay Kranti

Global Vigil for the Panchen Lama of Tibet was concluded peacefully and observed by many local Tibetan, Nepalese, foreigner and press person here in Boudha stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal.

An average Tibetan of today has some understanding of the system of aristocracy, lamas and clan leaders in independent Tibet.

Tibetan filmmaker Pema Dhondup's "We are no Monks: A Struggle for Identity" is an important film. The last the Tibetans saw themselves on the screen, in all the scorching palettes of their oppression under the Chinese occupation

When tracing our cultural heritage, we Tibetans talk about three main sources of influence: for our spiritual tradition we looked towards our neighbor to the south, India; for our culinary tradition towards our neighbor to the east, China

Very few references have been made in the world press about the Bandung Conference, though this historical event is considered to be the beginning of the non-aligned movement and the first step of Communist China into world affairs