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New Delhi: The nerve centre of Tibetans in India, Majnu-Ka-Tila in the capital, is in turmoil. Both Indian and foreign tourists are being bereft of buying garments, authentic Tibetan handicrafts and curiosities sold in this market, as more than 150 shops here have remained closed for the past two weeks.
Since the Chinese crackdown began in Lhasa on the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day on March 10, there has been uproar in various parts of India. Hundreds of Tibetan men, women and children are out at Jantar Mantar, the epicentre where protests and sit-in camps are organised, in support of their brethren back home.
With bright Tibetan flags and "Save Tibet"-T-shirts and caps they wait for some miracle to happen so that they can go back to their homeland.
Tsering Dorjee, 42, says "I have a feeling that we shall be able to return to Tibet before the Olympics. India has been very kind to us, but we are guests here. The entire Tibetan community is thankful to the Indian government for providing us space to live and work with dignity. But we cannot live here forever."
Dearly missed
"We love our country and miss our relatives and friends. All these years we have been waiting to return to Tibet when it is free from the clutches of the Chinese. It seems that day is not far," he added.
Tibetans came to India in 1959 and settled at Majnu-Ka-Tila refugee colony. But as their numbers grew, the families began shifting to various other parts of the city including Budh Vihar, Pitam Pura and Azadpur.
They were allotted shops in the sixties and several among them now trade in garments, in makeshift shops or as pavement sellers. Taking orders from the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, all businesses run by them are shut all over New Delhi, except Janpath in Connaught Place, where shops are owned by people from different communities.
The total population of Tibetans in New Delhi is around 5,000 and almost the entire community is standing united at this hour, despite their businesses suffering.
Dolma Tsering shares her sentiments. "Our country comes first. Before thinking about our livelihood, we have to think of our country. We have learnt to live in exile, but our hearts bleed for Tibet."
Several youngsters were all too keen to go to their homeland about which they have only heard.
"Several of our relatives are in Tibet. Earlier we used to call them up often. But for the past couple of weeks, all communication lines have been cut off. For fear that our phones might be tapped and e-mails vetted, we are not in touch with them. It could mean unnecessary trouble for our folks there," Tsering, who was born in New Delhi, said.
Several Tibetans alleged that the Chinese authorities had jammed the phone lines. "We have been oppressed and taken for granted for more than five decades, but the situation will not prevail forever," some said.
Asked what will be their next course of action, 52-year-old Sangay Tenzin replied, "We shall have peaceful protests. As refugees, we know our limitations in India, but till we are heard, every Tibetan will join the protest."
He lamented that although a lot of people responded with empathy to the Tibetan search for identity, not everyone understood the complex history that drives the movement.
"But then India has its own internal problems, how much can we keep expecting from them?" he wondered.
Providing support
Anger writ large on their faces, several young boys, barely having any knowledge about the problems and ongoing protests, have been out on the streets providing support to their parents. Protesting the oppression at the top of their voices, all they want is to go back to their country.
Although the pressure is mounting, especially on the aged Tibetans, none of them is willing to give up and sit at home. "How can we remain unperturbed when we are sitting outside our country?" an elderly man remarked.
Most were confident that they would do well on going back to their country. Tenzin remarked, "We came to India empty-handed, but did menial jobs and made a standing. Once we return, we will earn a name for our country."
Meanwhile, a press note issued by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee of Tibetan Government-in-Exile has mentioned that since the Chinese crackdown 140 Tibetans have been killed, more than 500 grievously injured and over 1300 arrested.
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