Patriots from a neighboring land - The Tibetan refugee community in India

As the military stand-off with China continues in Ladakh, India has received unflinching support from Tibetan refugees - who live in India under exile. In this piece, we will discuss the historical background behind Tibetans taking refuge in India, and why their contribution to India should be rewarded, instead of being ignored or sidelined.

Historical Background

India’s decision to provide homage to Tibetans goes back to the 1950s. In 1950, China invaded and annexed the then autonomous region of Tibet. Despite resisting the invasion with valour, the Tibetan army could not match up to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China. After the invasion, China effectively coerced Tibet to sign an Agreement that would bring Tibet under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, and grant it a limited amount of regional autonomy.

After facing more than 8 years of repression from the Chinese establishment, a revolt erupted in Lhasa (the capital of the Tibetan region) in 1959. Tibetans flung the streets to protest for independence from China, and for the formation of a People’s Assembly. They also surrounded the Palace of the Tibetan God-king and spiritual leader – The 14^th Dalai Lama. This is because there was a brutal crackdown by the Chinese PLA, and the Tibetans feared that the Dalai Lama would be assassinated. On 12^th March 1959, thousands of women gathered on the streets to fight for Tibetan independence, and also approached the Indian Consulate in Lhasa to demand the help of the Indian Government. 12^th March is now recognized as Women’s Uprising Day in Tibet.

5 days later, the Chinese PLA fired 2 shells at The Dalai Lama’s Palace. This left the Dalai Lama with no choice but to prepare for an escape. At 3 AM on the next morning, the Dalai Lama and members of his family began their escape from Lhasa. The Dalai Lama disguised himself as a soldier, and was accompanied by Tibetan resistance fighters. Their goal was to safely reach the Indian border. During their journey, they caught up with other Tibetan resistance fighters who had been trained and supported by the CIA – the primary foreign intelligence agency of the United States.

The CIA-trained resistance fighters sent a radio message conveying Dalai Lama’s intention of reaching the Indian border to a US military base in Okinawa, Japan. This base had been occupied by the US during the concluding stages of World War II, and had not yet been handed back to Japan. The CIA then personally requested Prime Minister Nehru to grant asylum to The Dalai Lama, before he reaches the Indian border. After extensive deliberations within the Government, Nehru agreed, and welcomed the Dalai Lama. The Indian Government then decided to house the Dalai Lama in McLeodganj, in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. Soon after The Dalai Lama’s escape, the revolt in Lhasa was brutally crushed by the Chinese PLA. But, despite this repression, Tibetans continue to fight for their independence from China even today.

Since 1959, The Dalai Lama has continued to reside in the Namgyal Monastery of McLeodganj, and has provided support to the struggle for Tibetan freedom. The Tibetan Parliament and government-in-exile is also based in Dharamshala, even as of today. Post India’s decision to grant asylum to The Dalai Lama, around 1 Lakh Tibetans have come to India over the years. They stay in regions such as Ladakh as refugees. As Tibetans practice Buddhism, the Tibetan refugees share cultural and ethnic similarities with the populations of Ladakh, and other Himalayan regions. While continuing to support the Tibetan demand for freedom, the Tibetan refugees have stated that they consider India as their ‘second-home’.

The 1962 India-China war and its aftermath

India’s decision to grant asylum to The Dalai Lama in 1959 came at a cost. This decision received severe backlash in the Chinese Communist Party. As Bertil Lintner points out in his book, China’s India War – Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Chairman Mao Zedong felt that India had provided tacit support to the Tibetan uprising in Lhasa. They had already made up their mind to ‘teach India a lesson’ - for granting support to the freedom movement and asylum to The Dalai Lama. This, according to Bertil Lintner, was among the prime reasons why China decided to go to war with India – when they got an opportunity in October 1962.

The war had been meticulously planned in advance, and contrary to popular belief - China did not go to war solely because it wanted to occupy Arunachal Pradesh or the Aksai Chin region, and settle the boundary dispute.

Even after India’s defeat in the 1962 war, Tibet has continued to occupy an important focal point in India and China’s military and diplomatic relations. Immediately after the war, the Indian Government set-up the Special Frontier Force (SFF), which was a covert military unit that recruited Tibetans living in exile as its soldiers.

The contribution of the Tibetan SFF and other refugees

The SFF also worked with the Indian army in the India-Pakistan war of 1971, which liberated East Pakistan to create the separate State of Bangladesh. During the 1971 War, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sent a message to the Tibetan commandos, stating that while the Indian Government could not compel them to provide assistance in the war, they should remember that the Pakistan army’s genocide against Bengalis in East Pakistan was similar to the way in which the Chinese establishment had treated the Tibetans. Soon thereafter, Operation Eagle was launched, where the Tibetan SFF commandos helped in neutralizing Pakistani positions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and prevented Pakistan army personnel from escaping to Burma.

The role of Tibetan SFF commandos in India’s 1971 victory is an inspirational story – as they assisted India in a full-scale war even though they were only refugees, and not Indian citizens. Over the years, the SFF has taken part in covert operations in Operation Blue Star in the Golden Temple, and in the Kargil conflict. The SFF has also played a game-changing role in the current military standoff with China. They played a crucial role in India’s operation to capture certain unoccupied heights in the Chushul sector of eastern Ladakh. This operation was conducted between August 29 - 31, and as defence experts have pointed out – occupying these heights have given the Indian army a crucial advantage against the Chinese PLA.

One commando of the SFF, Subedar Nyima Tenzin also lost his life during one of these operations in eastern Ladakh. He had served in the SFF for 33 years, which highlights how members of the Tibetan refugee community have given their blood, soul and life for India, even though they only stay here as refugees. Other members of the Tibetan refugee community have also established small shops and undertakings of their own, in places like Ladakh. Amidst this standoff with China, and even otherwise, the contribution of this community should not be forgotten. India must remember the Tibetan sentiment – where members of the Tibetan refugee community staunchly consider India as their second home.

Despite the strong bond between India and the Tibetan community, the Indian Government has in the recent past tried to distance itself from the issue of Tibetan independence. This was done with the intention of ensuring stable relations with China. China states that Tibet is part of its ‘core interests’, and is hence non-negotiable. But on the other hand, China has refused to condemn Pakistan for sponsoring terrorist-activities in Kashmir. China has also refused to fully acknowledge the Indian Government’s stance that the Kashmir issue is to be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan. In fact, Shaksgam Valley, which is a part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (a disputed territory) – was gifted by Pakistan to China in 1963.

Moreover, China still continues to claim that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of China. The Chinese authorities still issue stapled visas to Arunachal Pradesh residents who visit China – on the ground that Arunachal Pradesh is nothing but Chinese territory that is occupied by India. If Tibet is China’s ‘core interest’, aren’t Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh also core interests for India, which China should recognize? India must hence avoid falling into this kind of trap, and should continue to recognize and reward the Tibetan community for their love and valour.

Despite their stellar contribution to India, the Tibetan refugees were not among the communities that were eligible for fast-tracked citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA), which was passed in December last year. A first step to recognize the efforts of the Tibetan refugee community is to make them eligible for fast-tracked citizenship, and grant them all the rights and privileges available to citizens. Instead of falling to Chinese pressure, the Government should take concrete steps to fulfill the needs and requirements of the Tibetans in India - who are equal patriots, belonging to a neighboring land.

As The Dalai Lama himself said – “I am a son of India, who has survived on dal, rice and roti”.