Kundun's last vow

Dalai Lama, also addressed as Kundun, made media take note of him during his trip to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Despite four decades having passed by since the defeat at the hands of Chinese, India remains apologetic of its territorial boundary. The curbs on media to cover Kundan's visit is not only shocking but also bewildering. It is interesting to wonder if the Indian dispensation can really safeguard the interests of the country for any kind of Chinese aggression. The saying that if Chine sneezes, India catches fever, still remains true, given the kind of lack of clarity on the part of the political leadership of the country.

"Kundun", a 1997 film written by Melissa Mathison and directed by Martin Scorsese on the life and writings of Dalai Lama sheds great light on what happened preceding to the historic flight of Kundun from Tibet to India. The last vow of Kundun to return back to Tibet remains incomplete, though the World does not tire of calling him the greatest man living.

There were a few speculation that Dalai Lama could have retraced his steps back to Tibet during his visit to Tawang. Such speculations have been quite off the mark given the thoughts of Dalai Lama. His misfortune is that he can not win freedom for his people if he does not go back to Tibet. Compounding his situation is the state of his host, India, which shivers even at the thoughts of China's domineering postures.

India did a great injustice to the peace loving people of Tibet by not protecting it when they faced the Chinese aggression and rather chose to trade its strategic geographical positioning for the misplaced friendship with the Red Dragon. Innumerable historical blunders of India's first Prime Minister JL Nehru has condemned the country to perennial sense of insecurity. No wonder why India can not help Dalai Lama to reclaim his country for his people.

With age catching up with him, it will be only essential that Kundun goes back to Tibet and let the world, the US in particular, guarantees protection of his life from any attack by the Chinese. Else, in India he will become just another Indian, with his vow and promise to his people remaining incomplete.

Mahatma Gandhi had also returned to India to lead its freedom struggle from the British. Others, including the adoring West, will not help unless Dalai Lama takes the first step to reclaim the freedom of his people in Tibet.

(The photograph has been taken from the web.)