Conflict Resolution:

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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 c) Lack of religious freedom in Tibet 2. How long have you been living in India? a) 20-25 years b) Separation from family d) Departure of H.H the Dalai Lama 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

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