By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, March 24: The Tibetans here at the seat of the exile government are set to participate in yet another election, the local Municipal Corporation elections, on Sunday when voters in Himachal Pradesh will cast their votes for Municipal Corporations and Municipal Councils.
The election that will choose 17-members of Dharamshala Municipal Corporation has become more imperative following the upgrade of Dharamshala Municipal Council to Municipal Corporation, the only other corporation in the whole state being Shimla, the capital.
Aware of the Tibetan electorate, though small in number, local Indian candidates have included Tibetan texts in their posters in addition to personal visits to Tibetan homes to solicit votes.
Exile Tibetans, mostly residing in the McLoed Ganj area, falls under Ward 2 and Ward 3 (McLoed Ganj bazaar area, Bhagsu road and Jogibara) although some are in the Ward 1 and Ward 4 (Dharamkot area and Gamru area near lower Dharamshala). Although the total number of Tibetans casting their votes in the elections could not be confirmed, a reliable source puts the figure between 100 to 150 individuals.
Among the Tibetan community here, there are mixed reactions to the Tibetans taking part in the Indian elections. A local Tibetan businessman named Gonpo Wangchuk explains that the participation should not be construed as diluting the Tibetan-ness or in any ways shifting allegiance. “It is more to do with Tibetans having the opportunity to have some say in the matter of civic rights, it is towards being heard by the right people so when we run into problems later, we have the right door to knock on,” Gonpo said.
“Personally, I have not fallen short on any of my duties as a Tibetan. If one argues that such acts lead to one being less Tibetan, then our own Kashag (Cabinet of the exile Tibetan government) had minister with foreign documents, but that is not the point. I have my green book and I have my Registration certificate as well,” he further asserts.
Tenzin Tsundue, activist and writer, said the participation in Indian elections and other similar activities such as seeking Indian citizenship may set a negative precedent. “One cannot escape the reality of Tibetan exile life by relinquishing the refugee status. Though seeking citizenship rights is individual choice and it may satisfy small, temporary and personal interests, it may become a trend and therefore hurt the collective common cause,” said Tsundue.
A small number of Tibetans in Himachal, Delhi and a few other places participated in the Indian general elections in 2014.
