Opinions

Talk about going from bad to worse. First, officials from the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa offended common standards of diplomacy - not to mention decency - by advising Paul Martin to have nothing to do the Dalai Lama - or else.

The People's Republic of China has labelled the 14th Dalai Lama a "jackal," a "feudal serf-owner" and a "wolf in monk's clothing," among other colourful epithets. And now, against the backdrop of the exiled Tibetan leader's planned visit to Canada

The Tibet lobby is celebrating, and the Chinese embassy fulminating, over Paul Martin's decision to meet the Dalai Lama when he comes to Ottawa next week. The fuss on both sides is overdone.

In an age when religious and ethnic leaders from Iraq to Sri Lanka have promoted violent attacks and suicide bombings as a means to achieve their political objectives, one leader has taken a different path.

You wouldn't think anyone would pass up the chance to meet a Nobel Peace Prize winner - especially if he's one of the most respected religious leaders on earth. I'm talking about his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

We were ready to jump, all 48 of us "mostly young Tibetans, some elders too" ready to pounce at the Chinese Embassy in Delhi. We waited with baited breath, lying low, communicating in signals and whispers on mobile phones.

Development of Tibet is a subject much debated among the Tibetans and often this subject is seen primarily in its political context. In the past history of Tibet you can find references to the development of religion

Nearly one lakh Tibetans have been taking refuge in different parts of India since 1960s. If you notice the major Tibetan refugee settlements are in south while few of the largest settlements and Buddhist monasteries in Karnaka state.

Four and a half decades after he was forced to flee his homeland in the face of annexation by China, the Dalai Lama is as distant now from an independent Tibet as he was then.

This year, on 10th march, the 45th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, Delhi will see the biggest ever gathering of Tibetans and Tibet supporters in a free Tibet protest rally.