A Trip Into Surreal Tibet
(By *Advitya | Dharamshala | October 13, 2006)

Delhi: A trip organised by Friends of Tibet (Delhi) to Dharamshala left me panting for breath both literally and figuratively. Before leaving for this trip I had a vague idea of the Tibetan issue; China occupying the Tibet. The trip was an eye-opener into the real suffering of Tibet by communist China. Please excuse me if this write-up sounds anti-China but by the end of the trip I was ready to negotiate with Osama Bin Laden and get his help to torch the communist regime.

Leaving aside personal instances of insanity, the 5-day trip as packed with lectures and trips. One of the first lectures given was by Tenzin Tsundue. He gave us a general overview and history of Tibet. The first day was mildly exhausting due the long bus ride from Delhi to Dharamsala and the strenuous walk we undertook for pizza. What one does for food…

The second day began with the group being late for a talk on Tibetan Buddhism and Culture! While walking towards the library where the session was to be held, we witnessed His Holiness the Dalai Lama leaving his residence, which kept all of us engrossed. We finally reached and encountered an interesting session which shed light on many Buddhist practices we had so far seen and yet had no clue whatsoever of the meaning. Our trip organisers had gotten us all passes to see the exiled government's parliament in session (may god bless them all!). It was quite interesting and might I add boring cause there were no flying chairs or chappals or abuses being hurled at each other by the members of parliament.

On to a more serious note, the day ended with a visit to the Ghu-Chu-Sum museum, dedicated to the political prisoners of Tibet. There was a talk given by an ex-political prisoner, more like a personal account if the atrocities he had suffered in prison. It was enough to make one think out of the box and simply label the Chinese as barbaric inhuman creatures. I'm sorry but anything else would have been censored. The talk deeply moved us and by the end of it, we were scared to say or ask anything. Even though he was speaking in Tibetan and Tsundue translated it, it was hair-raising.

To shorten this write-up, days 3, 4 and 5 were not so much packed with back-to-back sessions but had trips fitted in to various places. There were all in all 3 talks in these 3 days. I'd sound very biased but the talk on the history of the Tibetan freedom struggle by Lhasang Tsering was real beyond belief. It was practical and spoke of a solution, which could be possible. I'm all for optimism but Lhasang la was the only one who made real to us the whole situation. It's a different world when you talk sitting on a rooftop café and when you actually are living in Tibet. He was able to put the moving picture in front of our eyes.

There were treks to the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and Tibetan Children's Village. A visit to Norbulingka was an insight into the hard work that is put in my artist while creating Tibetan arts and sculptures.

Now that I have bored all with my detailed narrative, I'd like to say this. This trip was more than a visit to a hill-station and session. I never felt like I was in India the whole of the trip…it was a surreal experience. Something I'm finding difficult to put in words… you gain so much during a 5-day trip that you're left gasping for breath… information overload and you don't care if it goes into overdrive!

My heartfelt thanks to those who organised it and to Tsundue whose talk was the main motive for me to go on this trip.

*Advitya is student of Journalism studying in Delhi University and is a member of Friends of Tibet Delhi Chapter.

Members of Friends of Tibet (Delhi) members with their Tibetan friends Tenzin Dhondup and Losang in Dharamshala

Students Outreach Programme was organised by Friends of Tibet (Delhi) in association with Friends of Tibet (Dharamshala) and India-Tibet Coordination Office, New Delhi with students from the Delhi University from October 4-8, 2006.