Tibetan Uprising

One of our oldest marchers, 67 year-old Mewang Namgyal, fled Tibet after the suppression of the 1959 revolt. He soon returned to see his parents but the Chinese police caught him. They put the then 17 year-old in a labor camp for five years there before escaping with nine others and fleeing across the Himalayas. Mewang-la dedicated his life to the liberation of Tibet and joined the Special Frontier Force of the Indian Army. Originally formed to act as guerrilla units in Tibet, the group never got to fulfill its mission and instead he regretfully fought in the ‘71 war in Bangladesh. After his discharge with 22 years of service, Mewang-la settled in Karnataka and participated in numerous marches across India to raise awareness about the Tibetan cause.

During the March to Tibet, Mewang-la is often seen at the head of the line of marchers, leading the way. On March 13, the Indian police arrested him with the 99 other core marchers for disturbing the peace. After refusing to sign a document pledging to not march, he was sentenced to two weeks imprisonment. Unexpectedly released a week early, Mewang-la commented, “I always felt the March to Tibet and didn’t feel about the imprisonment.” He rejoined the march as soon as possible to be joyfully welcomed as one of the beloved elders.

His message to his comrades in Tibet: “On behalf of Tibetans in exile to all Tibetans inside Tibet, what you are doing under the Chinese guns we will appreciate and we’ll never forget you all.”