NOW LET US RETURN TO TIBET
(A Prayer Song for the March to Tibet)
By Rakra Thupten Choedhar
Ki ki so so lha gyalo!
Victory to the Gods of Tibet!
O Tibetan brothers and sisters, we have not met for a long time.
We are returning, we who have long wandered in foreign lands.
O you first sipa (origin) gods of Tibet, send us escorts
We need trusted guides to help us across the many passes and valleys.
O you first sipa goddesses, do not be distracted.
Open wide the gates of the great snow mountain wall.
You thirteen first sipa goddesses of our gur songs, sing us a verse.
It will make the journey shorter across the many passes and valleys
You twelve terma (treasure) goddesses please sing the refrain.
Raise our spirits and make us joyful as we march through the wilderness.
Any thoughts of turning back have been abandoned on the road behind
Our feet compel us to march forward to Tibet.
Lhasa, abode of the gods, gathering place of our people,
The capital city of all Tibetans, more precious than life.
Friends, do not offer the welcome chang right now,
There will be time enough for us to meet, drink and rejoice.
Let us first greet the Buddha Jowo at the Jokang Temple.
(This translation of Rakra Rimpoche’s poem was attempted by Jamyang Norbu from the Tibetan original below. Edited by Rigzin Dolkar)
A few days before his death, Pema Tashi told his best friend, Leki Dhondup, that “Tibet has given me so much and I want to give back to the cause. If necessary, I will contribute my life to the struggle.” On May 10, Pema drowned in the Kosi River at Kakri Ghat, Uttarakhand, during the March to Tibet.
Born in Arunachal Pradesh to non-Tibetan parents, he decided to become a monk by the age of six. Pema delighted his parents with his decision and journeyed down to Sera Mae Monastery to take his vows of monkhood. When he saw the announcement about the March to Tibet, he said, “I was happy because I had always wanted to see Tibet. I have lived in a Tibetan community for a long time and have always viewed Tibetans as compassionate people and this motivated me to join the march. Since I have made up my mind to go on this march, I am fearless.”
When arrested with the other 100 Core Marchers at Dehra, Himachal Pradesh, Pema said “I felt the agony and the status of a homeless refugee.” Once released from house arrest, Pema rejoined the march only to develop problems walking. They allowed him to switch to the tent building crew where he earned the reputation as a hard worker and a joker. In fact, everyone knew of Pema’s infectious joking and his friend Leki said, “he couldn’t be quiet for a minute.” He eventually got the nickname “Man of the March.” Other marchers would never refer to him as Pema. In fact, most didn’t even know that name. They simply called him “the Man.” It was said that without him on the march, there would be no joking.
As they approached what was to be Pema’s last campsite, he marveled at “the beauty of newly entered hills and felt a sensation of coming to his homeland.” After building the tents at the campsite, Pema jumped into the cold and cloudy water of the river, apparently hitting his head on a rock. He spent too long underwater and passed away a few hours later at the Almora Hospital. The entire march spent several hours in prayer for his soul and a team of monks stayed up all night praying over his body. His body was cremated the next morning with a mountain of katas.
To a hard worker, a lover of jokes and a warm person with a brave heart who died before he reached his home, everyone on the March to Tibet sends our prayers with you, Pema.
From Shadow Tibet
May 9, 2008
The following letter was written by a resident of Lhasa, who wishes to remain anonymous. It gives a personal account of the current situation and the tense atmosphere in the city:
Yesterday it was quite hot outside and the soldiers guarding one of the petrol stations had a big umbrella to protect them from the intense sunlight. Today it’s the opposite: cold, cloudy and even light snowfall as storm-fronts hover over the mountains and sometimes close in on the valley. Like the weather here in Lhasa the rules are quickly changing too. One day you can go nearly everywhere, the next, military checkpoints won’t let you pass. At the beginning of last week it seemed life was getting back to normal. Guards at the checkpoints relaxed and they seemed not as serious anymore, and overall, there was less military on the streets. But then suddenly heavy military presence was back. A few days ago, in the evening, I walked up Beijing Road. As I did, many military trucks passed me and there were patrols everywhere, only a few cars were to be seen driving around, and the streets were near empty of civilian people. The atmosphere was tense and made the young, normally childish looking soldiers, suddenly look scary. (more…)
The marchers left Nainital at 7am with local Tibetan residents cheering them on. Members of Gyagar Khampa (the association of Tibetans who came to India before 1959) and different Indian associations, such as Indian Shopkeepers Association (Bhawali), marched alongside the marchers until Bhawali. The Tibetan market in Nainital was also closed to show support and solidarity with the marchers.
After the marchers departed, the Presidents of all five organizing NGOs held a press conference at 10:30am at the Press Club of Nainital. After the daily prayers in the evening, the Presidents rejoined the marchers, briefing them about the press conference and discussing the march.
The marchers camped for the night at Shri Kainchi Dam after walking 20 kilometers.
For Immediate Release
May 9, 2008
More Tibetans join the March to Tibet as the March gets closer to Tibet:
48 new Tibetan marchers joined the March at Nainital
Nainital - 313 Marchers left today on the March to Tibet at 7 am from Nainital in Uttarkhand State after receiving more orientation on Non-Violent action for two days. The March will make its first day halt at Kainchi and will head towards Almora.
“As we get closer to the Tibet border, the Marchers are reinvigorated and more determined than ever to cross into Tibet and join our brothers and sisters to unitedly protest China’s brutal Occupation of Tibet” said Tsewang Rigzin, President of Tibetan Youth Congress. (more…)
The morning was cold and calm. After breakfast, a second day of group discussion was held in the courtyard of the Nainital Tibetan School. Everyone actively participated in the discussion.
At 7pm, a prayer session was held at the Tibetan market. The Presidents of the five organizing NGOs spoke about the importance of March to Tibet. They also requested non-Tibetans to continue to support the Tibetan cause and asked the Tibetan residents of Nainital to continue to work for the freedom of Tibet.
The day started with a morning prayer session in the courtyard of the monastery. After breakfast, a group discussion was held at 10am, with marchers and members of the organizing committee. The marchers keenly participated, showering questions on each other. The discussion centered on the importance of discipline and the nature of non-violent action.
The marchers had a relaxing afternoon as they went down town to shop and see the lake which is the main attraction of Nainital. The Tibetan shopkeepers gave the marchers necessary items to the Marchers on cost price.
In the evening, a candlelight vigil procession was organized by the Nainital Tibetan community at the Tibetan market.
Gedun Gyatso, 27, grew up in the idyllic village of Podma in the Kham province of Tibet. He would spend his summers at the top of a mountain with five others young men protecting the village yaks from wolves and foxes with stones and slings. Gedun learned about Tibetan culture and history from his grandfather who had one relative killed and another imprisoned by the Chinese. Gedun grew up filled with anger at the Chinese and used his sling to break out the windows of Chinese military vehicles as they entered Tibet with soldiers and left with timber.
At 13, he fulfilled his childhood dream and entered the Podma Monastery near his village. After protests for independence at the nearby Sevo Monastery, the government intensified their “patriotic reeducation” campaign with the monks, stressing:
- The monks should not follow the Dalai Lama.
- They should not follow the Tibetan government-in-exile.
- They must listen to Chinese officials.
- The monks must love the People’s Republic of China. (more…)
The marchers set out from Jeolikote at 6 am and quickly covered the 18 kilometers to reach Nainital. Their energy was lifted as they approached the hills, giving the marchers a sense of being closer to Tibet. The marchers were welcomed to Nainital around noon by the Tibetan Community in Nainital who stood by the road waving Tibetan flags. The local Tibetan residents, from around 40 families, heartily welcomed the marchers with khatas. The marchers are staying at the Gomang Gaden Kunkyopling Monastery situated on top of a hill for the next 2 days, while they participate in orientation sessions, panel discussions, and a candlelight vigil.
The Tibetan Refugee Foundation, Regional TYC and TWA are hosting the marchers’ meals for the two-day stop in Nainital. The residents are taking very good care of all the marchers. Everyone is really enjoying the cooler weather in the hills.
Mr. A. Singh of Haldwani, a long time Tibet supporter who donated a large sum of money and food, came to visit the marchers again in Nainital after his visits at Haldwani and Jeolikote.
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