Potala Palace, the 1000 room palace, seat of the Dalai Lama in Lhasa, UNESCO world heritage site, is a marvellous structure. After deserting it in 1959, fearing reprisal from China after the annexation of Tibet by China, the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetans scattered all over the world, are waiting for that day when they can all reunite in their motherland. Built in 637 AD as a apalec and later converted to the Potala palace in 1645 AD.
China meanwhile, trying to quell any unrest in Tibet are already using brute force to silence protestors which have resulted in deadly violence. China has accused the Dalai Lama of playing politics and even gone to the extent of calling him a liar, as if the Chinese are far removed from any politics and has only the Tibetan's interest foremost in their minds.
The forthcoming Olympics in August 08 in Beijing is the right time for the Tibetans to make their demand for a free Tibet heard and felt in international circles and fora.
Will China be able to resist international pressure to amend it's ill devised ways ? It has already given enough warnings to US to keep off Tibet and has openly rejected any dialogue with Dalai Lama. Pres Bush asking the Chnese President Hu to initiate dialogue with Dalai Lama was like Pres Bush taking steps to have talks with former Pres Saddam of Iraq before he was tried and killed.
The Potala palace is now under Chinese control and is a museum..
ReplyDeleteCan we draw any parallels between safdarjung museum in Hyd of the Nizam of Hyderabad and Potala palace in Lhasa ??