The Loss of Freedom and the Flight for Safety

The Peoples Republic of China invaded Tibet in 1950 and annexed it illegally in 1951. A popular rising against Chinese occupation was violently crushed in 1959, and Tibet’s spiritual and political ruler His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama was with 120,000 other Tibetans obliged to flee his own country. They found and hundreds every year still find refuge in the countries of the Himalayas, chiefly India and Nepal. They rebuilt and are rebuilding their national life and freedom in the lands of their exile

On reaching Dharamsala in the north of India The Dalai Lama constructed a democratic government in exile. From here he guides political, cultural and religious life among Tibetans throughout the world. The Dalai Lama is credited with libertarian attitide and political prescience. He drafted a modern democratic constitution of state for Tibet as early as 1963. This was revised in 1991 in recognition of principles which had gained in prominence

The Dalai Lama first sent a delegation at the invitation of the Chinese authorities in 1979, to research political, economic, cultural and religious conditions in Tibet. This research visit and three more which followed exposed to a large public outside Tibet the afflictions which the PRC’s repressive colonial rule has laid on the Tibetan people, and the need and want they suffer. Some 90% of symbols of Tibetan cultural heritage had already been destroyed

Buddhism forbids the Tibetans from resolving conflicts by means of violence. They therefore struggle calmly and without violence to reclaim the liberty and honour of their land and people

Life and Conditions in Exile

In the early time of the Tibetans’ life as refugees, numerous international aid agencies and foundations helped and supported generously. Attention of the worlwide public and of aid foundations was presently overtaken by newer tragedies and cataclysms of every kind both natural and man-made across the world. Many communities of Tibetans, those especially settled in remote parts of India and Nepal, are consequently left to fend alone

Many Tibetans live out their hope and anticipation of return in straitness or in outright poverty

Annual income averages CHF 600 to CHF 800, obtained by agriculture, handicraft and trade

There is for many elderly people no provision. There are still victims of malnutrition and illness. Parents cannot always pay for their children to attend school. Many young Tibetans cannot because of financial need have the upper school education which might have helped secure their future

Buddhist Education in Nunneries and Monasteries

Monks at monasteries share what modest provision they have with numerous young Tibetans who to this day flee Tibet in search of traditional Buddhist education at Tibetan nunneries and monasteries in India and Nepal. These monasteries are the spiritual and cultural centres of Tibetan life. Teachers of high standing nurture the 13-century-old thought-world, philosophy, psychology and insights of Tibetan Buddhism, and hand them on the new generations of monks and nuns. Literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, music, dance, history, medicine and celestial observation are also taught

Helping towards Self-Help in India, Ladakh and Nepal

The third Generation . . . . .

Thanks to the support of the Indian Government, with the help also of contributions to many mostly private aid foundations, but more than anything through intense and coordinated efforts of their own, Tibetans in India and Nepal have built a working infrastructure. Many infrastructural projects however lack the funds for completion

Boarding schools largely supported by contributions from Europe have been built in Ladakh and other regions of India. Numerous sponsorships have enabled Tibetan children to attend these schools

Simple clinical stations have been constructed in dwelling settlements in Nepal and the whole of India. Finance of these sick-bays is not in every case certain. This work has been come into being through intense effort, and needs support to to keep going forward

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