The writing on the wall is clear. The children of Tibet want to be free. Tibet can never be co-opted into an anti-culture, anti-religion system no matter how strong the oppression. China has a diplomatic mask that it wears with India, but when it comes to dealing with protest and dissent, whether internally or on occupied territory, the mask is dropped, showing the true nature of the beast.

India's stand on Chinese occupation of Tibet has always been the result of a feeling of embarrassment. After all, it didn't really affect us until China claimed that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of it. The dragon is at our gates because we allowed it to enter the gates of our neighbours. Not that we have had much power to prevent the occupation of Tibet, but at least ideologically we could have and should have taken a firmer stand. Much as we found the occupation deplorable along with the US and the UK, we have neither the spine nor the mind to oppose human rights violations both within the country and around us. It is all about making the right noises. As for the US, it couldn't care less because there is no oil in Tibet. Perhaps they will raise an objection once China chooses to annexe Taiwan. How then will they have access to cheap labour if China is going to keep it all to themselves?

We have lost a war to China and somehow this has made them more superior in our own eyes. We have always considered China our enemy and our worst fear is a Sino-Pakistan alignment. Yet we have no voice of dissent on Tibetan occupation by our enemy. We side with our enemies because they are stronger. This attitude stems from a deep-seated fear of anyone in power.

This is a typical symptom of an oppressed nation. Culturally, too, we seem to always side with the powerful. Even the most acknowledged criminals among politicians are welcome at public and private gatherings simply because they are a symbol of power. Our sense of social justice is probably the weakest in the world with open discrimination against weaker sections of society. Sadly, this complex reflects in our international politics, too. Right from 'non-alignment' to our stand on Iraq, we seem to dither in our ideology, simply waiting to see which side the wind will blow before deciding to back the more powerful force. Psychologically, we are more oppressed than the Tibetans!

Right now, China is in an embarrassing position because of its stand on Tibet. The excuse for annexation of Tibet was that China liberated Tibet from serfdom. Now it appears that the serfs are far more oppressed with this 'liberating force' than it was earlier. The US had a similar posture with Iraq. But the Americans know how not to be caught with their pants down. China is a different story. Just as it was opening its doors to the world with a benign smile and a welcoming bow, preparing to showcase Chinese development by hosting the Olympic Games, the ghosts from the past began to scream through the voices of Tibetan freedom fighters, catching world attention by slipping out of the front door and haunting the world with their anguished faces. China will quickly shut the door on the face of its guests while it beats these ghosts back into the closet, before reopening its front door with a smile and bow, pretending it is Paradise on Earth under Chinese rule. China is one big paper dragon. It will only hit at the weakest section and will not dare trouble Taiwan or Korea. But paper dragons rule where there is fear and apathy. Indian ground, in that respect, is ripe for the picking.

The Dalai group desperately needs support to make its voice heard. This time they are not speaking to the Heads of Nations who turned the other way for six decades, silently abetting the crimes against Tibetans. This time their cries are for the ears and hearts of privileged citizens of this planet, belonging to any nation. These citizens, whose souls have not yet been bought over by tax rebates, wide roads and subsidised oil supplies, will then echo the long-suffering voices of a people, and create a karmic action across the world which will eventually free the people of Tibet. Only then can the ghosts of those who died in the struggle for freedom be laid to rest in peace.

Courtesy: The week, April 21, 2008