By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, March 16: Ven Bagdro, a former monk political prisoner and the author of “A Hell on Earth”, an autobiography that deals with his experiences in Tibet, launched his new book “Life in Exile, A personal Story” at a function here today.
“Life in Exile” is Ven Bagdro’s seventh book written since excaping Tibet in the early 1990’s after years of torture in Chinese prison for participating in demonstrations for Tibetan independence.
The new book, according to Ven. Bagdro, recounts his hardships as a Tibetan political prisoner under Chinese rule, and his tireless efforts in highlighting the issue of Tibet the world over through the kind of freedom he has found in exile.
The former political prisoner said the book is an outcome of one’s personal conviction and the pledge that he had made to his fellow Tibetan inmates while in prison to speak on their behalf to the outside world.
In the book, Ven. Bagdro details his extensive visits and engagement talks in different countries around the world to garner support for the Tibetan cause.
The book also carries a set of pictures of monk-led peaceful protests in Lhasa in late 1980’s and the different torture weapons used by Chinese authorities on Tibetan political prisoners.
Speaking on his new book, Ven Bhakdro recounted how he joined the peaceful protests led by monks of Gaden Monastery in Lhasa on 5 March 1988 and, was arrested and endured horrific torture, including a bullet shot in his foot, for his political beliefs until he was released in 1991.
Ven Bagdro has become one of the most outspoken Tibetan ex-prisoners in terms of World awareness on the realities of Chinese Communists’ inhumane repression of the Tibetan people.
Over the years, where ever he visited, Ven Bagdro took the opportunity to write series of letters to heads of respective countries and organisations, including the powerless International Court of Justice in The Hague, in The Netherlands, calling for their constant attention to the situation in Tibet.
He has also included some of the written responds he received to his letters in his new book.
Also through his new book, the former political prisoner said he wanted to remind the fellow Tibetans in exile about the urgency of the situation inside Tibet.
“Right now, the Tibetans inside Tibet are reeling under a hell on earth situation,” he said, urging fellow Tibetans in exile to forge an unbreakable unity for a collective responsibility in solving problems facing the Tibetan people.
The book was released in the presence of Kalon Kesang Yangkyi Takla, minister for the Department of Information and International Relations, and Mr Tenzin Phuntsok Atisha, secretary for international relations, of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.
Kalon Takla expressed her deep appreciation to Ven Bagdro for his relentless effort in speaking for the cause of Tibet.
“In exile Ven Bhakdro acted as the spokesperson of Tibetans living inside Tibet and made efforts to travel throughout the world to tell the real situation inside Tibet,” Kalon Takla said.
