Obama hosted Dalai Lama at White House which drew an angry reaction from China. No one expected anything else. Most suspect this as an American ploy to instigate China as Washington becomes more insecure of China's rising power. USA and China both have their reasons for their respective reactions. But is the Indian media too harsh a critic of China's policies in Tibet?
Some one made a very interesting point to me, a few days back. Isn't Kashmir is to India what Tibet is to China. People of Tibet don't want to be part of China, even though China is on its way to become a superpower. We Indians always wonder why the people of Kashmir want to go to Pakistan when they are better off economically in India. Indian government does not tell them to forget their culture or religion. Yet why are they so hell bent on Pakistan? Isn't the China case similar? Chinese too feel that Tibetans are better off being a part of China, free to follow their culture ( Though this point can be debated as there are counter views on this), be a part of the great economic revolution, then why are they pinning for a different state. And if they say they want independence, then same is the case of Kashmir. One can argue that Tibet revolution doesn't involve the level of terrorism that India faces from Kashmir militants. ( Though I dont have any information on the nature of protest of Tibetans.)
I am not supporting the analogy or arguing against it, simply because I don't think I am capable enough to comment on it. But it is indeed an interesting analogy that makes you think twice and dig deeper into the history.
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Hi Ritika,
ReplyDeletenice analogy that you have brought out...but i have a few points based on what i have heard first hand and read at few articles...
1) People of Kashmir are not saying they want to move out of India..they are just helpless in the cat and dog fight...they want to be happy and be part of our country but since it’s so much of torture to them..they have agreed for their own peace to be part of Pakistan.
2) As for Tibet its been said that its very rich in minerals and stuff ..and govt of China is taking all that and developing other parts like Beijing and Shanghai..but for Tibet they are not doing their bit and that’s why they want to be a separate nation
Hey Amit,
ReplyDeleteCan't comment on part 2. Could be true. But for the first part, there is a lot of literature that suggests that Indian govt doesn't favour a plebiscite in Kashmir bcoz they know they may lose it. The Indian media is obviously biased about Kashmir reports but u will find a lot of literature that suggests that people in Kashmir initially didn't want to be part of India.