Tibet- where I was born and where I will die

I woke up with my eyes swollen and nose blocked, I wanted to sleep more but I didn’t because it was 10th March, our national Uprising Day, the day when Tibetans revolted against the invasion of China. My body was feeling so uncomfortable but at the same time I didn’t want to miss the day’s programme, which comes only once a year. So, after a very quick shower, I left my hostel to join the Mass Rally with two of my friends. Tibetans and Tibetan supporters around the world commemorate 10th March every year in remembrance of our Uprising in 1959. We (Tibetans and Tibet’s supporters) raise the Tibetan national flag in the air and come out in the streets either to organise or participate the mass rally. We raise our voices for freedom and fundamental human rights in Tibet every minute, every hour, every day and every year but Chinese and the world remain deaf to our voices. But with the strong belief that each individual would make a difference, I left to be a part of our uprising day.

One thing which cheered me so much before departing from my room was seeing my Indian friend coming to my room in her Tibetan shirt labelled “I love Tibet” while I was getting ready to leave. Living an exile life and having a friend who always stands beside me to show her support is the happiest part of my life.

As a keen observer, I looked around to see how many people had come after reaching the venue. It was disappointing. If I was not wrong there were more Indians than Tibetans at the protest. It was little shameful in front of my Indian friend but then I also realised that she must be used seeing Tibetans’ laziness.  One of my Indian friend used to say that Tibetans always wait for someone else to do something for their country without doing anything by themselves. I found it was proving very true, especially at that point. I wondered what more important things they must be doing in their respective homes without joining for their own national Uprising day. What can be more important than one’s own country! I am not saying as if I am so good but these are what I really felt deep within my heart. It tore my heart apart when we were not able to sing ‘sumchu duedren” and Uprising song well. Even I was forgetting some lines.  I was saying myself “shameful Choeyang”.

Right now, sitting on the floor and listening series of speech by our Indian supporters most of which I didnt understand. But during a speech by one Indian supporter I saw one of my friends clapping his hand so enthusiastically with huge smiles on his face. I couldnt resist my curiosity to fathom what the speaker might have been speaking. I asked "what did he say?”. "Tibetans are not only our guests in India,you can live in India like your own country. Even if Tibet doesn't become free,you can live here as your own land" was his reply. He also added that he really liked what he said but I really wanted to tell the speaker that Tibet will free and we all will return to our own country. I don't mean that I didn't like what he has said. Deep within my heart,I feel very thankful to him and like minded people for standing with us in our darkest period of time. And of course I always feel very grateful of India for giving us shelter over fifty years. We are living as political refugees and not as permanent settlements here so I strongly believe that we will go back to our own country.  We will fight for our freedom till death does us apart. I was born in Tibet and want to die only in Tibet!