New Delhi, July 27 : The book release function of Experiments with Truth and Non-Violence: The Dalai Lama in Exile from Tibet held yesterday at India International Centre in New Delhi took many by surprise. What many thought was a hagiography on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s life in exile or rather a comparative account on the non-violent freedom struggles waged by the Tibetan leader and Mahatma Gandhi turned out to be a critique, in essence, on the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way approach of fighting for genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people.
The chief guest on the occasion Dr. Sudershan Aiyangar, Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapeeth University introduced the book in a very lengthy review he read out to the audience. Dr. Aiyangar said the book was a good documentation of facts and events relating to the struggle for autonomy and freedom of Tibet and went on to discuss each and every chapter. Speaking on a particular chapter, Bending of the Bamboo: Diplomacy of Desperation that deals with the disappointment felt by the authors after the Dalai Lama’s public announcement on adopting Middle Way as the course of action for Tibetan freedom struggle, he said the authors themselves “appeared to be activists”.
The book was released by Tibetan Youth Congress president Kalsang Phuntsok Godrukpa who in his speech put forward the case of Tibetan independence. Quite aptly, a separate chapter in the book is devoted to the TYC and its history and activities. The authors Dr. Bhaskar Vyas and Rajni Vyas have dedicated the book to “all torchbearers of Rangzen” (independence in Tibetan).
Dr. Bhaskar Vyas was succinct in his remarks that the book was intended to draw comparisons between the “himalayan blunders” committed by Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian freedom struggle and the Dalai Lama through his call for autonomy. He, however lauded the Dalai Lama’s greatness in advising him to publish the book. “Yes, yes, you can tell it so in public; I don’t mind,” Vyas quoted the Dalai Lama as saying. The author said the book was a belated birthday gift to the Dalai Lama as it was originally intended to be launched on his birthday on July 6 this year.
Former Indian Defence Minister Mr. George Fernandes who presided over the function said it was important for the Tibetans especially the youngsters to weigh all options before arriving at decisions. He pointed out that difference in opinions was natural between young blood and those who have seen and experienced much. “Times change, situations change paving way for new ways and accordingly Tibetans should take decisions”, Mr. Fernandes said. He recounted his own experiences regarding the Tibetan freedom struggle from early days and lamented the lack of concrete decisive support from the international community for the Tibet issue. He said if needed one should take steps forward or backward depending on the reality of the situation.
Mr. Fernandes’ political colleague Ms. Jaya Jaitley was the surprise speaker at the function. Ms. Jaitley in her short speech highlighted the non-violent approach of the Dalai Lama in Tibetan freedom struggle and called on the Tibetan people to fight for their freedom with mental balance without wishing any ill will to anyone but to fight for justice. She said if the Tibetans kept the inherent goodness of humanity as the parameter in their fight for freedom, then the eventual goal, be it autonomy or independence, did not matter.
Mr. and Mrs. Vyas, the authors of the book are medical specialists in the fields of Plastic Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynaecology respectively. They teach psychology at M.S. University in Baroda in western India. Their interest in consciousness studies brought them in contact with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan situation twenty years ago. Their first book on Tibet-related subject was Changing Course of Brahmaputra.
