Indian in general will sit with baited breath as India plays against Pakistan in a very crucial match in the cricket world cup. The Himachal-vasis have their election results due on that day. The Tibetans and their Indian supporters on the other hand will have their own reason to mark the 1st day of March in their memory.
Tibetan Youth Congress and Bharat Thibet Sahyog Manch today announced their plan to undertake a nation wide Bharat Jagaran Yatra on the 1st of March. Literally meaning A Rally to enlighten the Indians about the ongoing Tibetan struggle for their homeland. The Convener of the Bharat Thibet Sahyog Manch Mr Kuldeep Chand Agnihitori explained the aim of the March as an effort to educate the Indian masses about the importance of Tibet s existence as a free nation vis a vis India. He categorically stated the need of Indian Government to adopt a more proactive policy in dealing with China with respect to the Tibet issue and also in its own relation with China . He expressed hope of reaching the message to the Indian Prime Minister who is planning to visit China in few months time. He also added the need to make the Indians at all level understand how the Tibetans in Tibet are also waging a silent resistance against the Chinese rule. Taking into point the recent execution of Lobsang Dhondup and the other hundreds of
Tibetans still languishing in Chinese prisons.
The March to be carried out jointly by Tibetans and Indians will start simultaneously from seven different locations and conclude at three different destinations, thus covering the length and breadth of the country. The rallies in the North India will begin from Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) and Mussoorie (Uttranchal Pradesh) and will end at Delhi on the 10th of the same month. In the North East India, the walk will start from Tezu (Arunachal Pradesh), Gangtok (Sikkim), Kalimpong (West Bengal) and Jorbunglow (WB) and conclude at Siliguri. In South India, the March will start from Bylakuppe (karnataka) and subsequently end at Bangalore. A number of other short rallies are also expected to take place in various locations. The ten days extensive campaign will cover hundreds of towns and hamlets and reach as many people as possible. In Delhi the rally will stop right in front of the Chinese Embassy followed by a short procession to be attended by few well known personalities.
The Tibetan Youth Congress will make appeals to all Indian from all walks of life to convince their Assembly members to take up the issue of Tibet in their respective Legislative bodies. The Youth organization also hopes to see the government of India and other non government organizations to intervene and pressure the Chinese government for the release of the 11th Panchen Lama and other political prisoners. It also appeals the Central government to recognize the exile government as the legitimate government of Tibet.
Such a mass rally with large number Indians participating for the Tibetan cause is happening after exactly three decades. The last time when such a movement took place, it was soon after the Sino-Indian War in 1962.
