By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, August 1: Three Tibetan youth studying in Bengaluru have carried out a unique political campaign with a religious touch through a prostration march from Koramangla to Brigade road, one of the most popular locales in the city, to protest against China’s demolition of constructions in Larung Gar Monastery founded by late Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok.
The three Tibetans representing the three traditional provinces of Tibet, Tsultrim Dorjee, JIgme Wangchuk and Lungrik Dorjee on Sunday prostrated some eight kilometers from the Tibetan Youth Hostel in Koramangla to Brigade road in the busy Bengaluru traffic. However, being a Sunday did help the youth make the journey less troublesome.
“Usually prostrations are done to show reverence to the three Jewels. However our prostration is towards the UN and all the world leaders to convey our message to Beijing to immediately stop the destruction at Lurang Gar,” said Tsultrim.
Since the campaign was first of its kind, bystanders mistook them as beggars or students carrying out corporal punishment. However, with the help of other Tibetan studnets distributing pamphlets and talking to people about the march did manage to aware people of the injustice happening inside Tibet.
“Even while the founder, late Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok was alive, China had forcibly evacuated students and demolished dwellings. It is an unfortunate event. At one hand, China claims religious freedom exists in Tibet and on the other they put restrictions on those studying in the Buddhist academy,” Sonam Norbu Dagpo, Secretary (International Relations) of Department of Information and International Relations told Phayul.
He also said that CTA does not accept the reasons given by the Chinese authorities that the institute is undergoing renovation works to create accessibility in the locale to avoid fire hazards.
According to media reports, more than 600 structures have been torn down since the Chinese government led operations began last Wednesday. As per the local sources, Chinese workers are demolishing nearly 100 to 250 houses in a day, with no sign of stopping.
The demolition drive is aimed at cutting the center’s strength to 5,000 from reportedly 10,000 by 2017. Last year, over 600 members of the center were ordered to leave, while around 400 members over the age of 60 were also asked to leave.
Similarly, the year 2001 also saw a similar dismantling of Serthar Institute. Over 8,000 students were evicted forcibly from the Institute and approximately 2,000 dwellings of monks and nuns were demolished that year.
