Pema Tashi is not a Tibetan, but he decided to march with the Tibetan monks that he has spent the last eight years with at Sera Monastery in Karnataka. “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.”
Pema grew up in a Buddhist family of vegetable farmers in Arunachal Pradesh. He delighted his parents when he decided to take the vows of a monk. In 2000, Pema joined Sera Monastery in Karanataka in the South of India because of their reputation of providing excellent education.
When the five NGOs announced the six month March to Tibet, Pema knew right away that he would join. He said, “Since I made up my mind to go on this march, I am fearless.” On March 13th, Pema was arrested at Dehra in the Kangra Valley with the 100 other Core Marchers and spent ten days in judicial custody with his comrades. Once freed, he joined the second wave of marchers who continued the march from where Pema’s group was arrested. “If I am able to cross into Tibet, I would love to stay there for two months to examine the place and then my dream is fulfilled.”
Kalsang Choegyal, a 26 year old monk from Kham Tao, Tibet, fled into exile in 2004. Upon reaching India, he joined Jangtse Monastery in Karnataka, South India.
When Kalsang heard about the March to Tibet, he decided to join in order “to protect the culture [of Tibet] and our people.” Arrested on March 13th with the first wave of marchers, he felt “sad because we knew we are struggling for our freedom and culture and the police did not realize this. I felt pity for them not knowing what they are doing.” A tall man, Kalsang spoke quietly about his struggle while getting arrested. “I was confused. I couldn’t shout. I wanted to shout. I wanted to push but I couldn’t. I was scared my friends might show violence. I was afraid I might erupt in anger.” In such an emotionally intense moment, Kalsang displayed his and the march’s commitment to nonviolent resistance.
Kalsang said he was worried in prison because “we had been hearing about the things happening in Tibet and we felt desperate that we could do nothing.”
After being released from judicial custody in Yatri Niwas, Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh, Kalsang rejoined the March to Tibet.
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.”
This poem was sent to the Marchers from Rakra T.C. Tethong in Switzerland.
Hello, My name is Lindsey Martin and I am from Kentucky in the United States. I heard about your struggle and the march that you all will be partaking in. You have my full support. The world is full of injustices and this is one of them. (more…)
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Pema Tashi is not a Tibetan, but he decided to march with the Tibetan monks that he has spent the last eight years with at Sera Monastery in Karnataka. “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.”
