Tibet at a Glance

Tibet at a Glance

Tibet lies at the centre of Asia, with an area of 2.5 million sq km. The earths highest mountains, a vast elevated plateau and great river valleys make up the physical homeland of six million Tibetans. It has an average altitude of over 4,000 metres above sea level and is appropriately known as the ‘Roof of the World’.

Tibet is comprised of the three provinces of Amdo (now split by China into the provinces of Qinghai, Gansu & Sichuan). Kham (largely incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan. Yunnan and Qinghai), and U-Tsang which, together with western Kham, is today referred to by China as the Tibet Autonomous Region).

The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) comprises less than half of historic Tibet and was created by China in 1965 for administrative reasons. It is important to note that when Chinese officials and publications use the term “Tibet” they mean only the TAR.

Tibetans use the term Tibet to mean the three provinces described above, i.e., the area traditionally known as Tibet before the 1949-59 invasion.

Despite nearly 50 years of Chinese occupation of Tibet, the Tibetan people refuses to be conquered and subjugated by China. The present Chinese policy, a combination of demographic and economic manipulation, and discrimination, aims to suppress the Tibetan issues by changing the very character and the identity of Tibet and its people.

Today, the Chinese population in Tibet is increasing at on alarming rate, which is leading to a real danger that Tibetans will be reduced to an insignificant minority in their own homeland.

 
Map of Tibet

Tibet at a Glance

 
National Flag of Tibet

Tibet In-Exile - At a Glance

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, at the hamlet of Taktser in north-eastern Tibet. At the age of two the child named Lhamo Dhondup was recognized as the incarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso.

Dalai Lama is a Mongolian title meaning "Ocean of Wisdom". The Dalai Lamas are manifestations of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Chenrezig. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth to serve humanity.

Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as Yeshi Norbu, the Wishfulfilling Gem or simply Kundun - The Presence.

His Holiness’ enthronement ceremony took place on February 22, 1940 in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. He began his monastic education at the age of six. His Holiness the Dalai Lama sat for his final examination at the age of 23 in Lhasa’s Jokhang temple and was awarded the highest Geshe Lhahrampa degree (a doctorate of Buddhist Philosophy).

Resolving Tibet-China Conflict

Since Deng Xiaoping declared in 1979 that except for Independence of Tibet, all other issues could   be resolved through negotiations, the Tibetan Administration in –exile has pursued the Middle –Way Approach.

This approach is the basic policy of the Tibetans for resolving the issue of Tibet within the framework of the constitution of People’s Republic of China.

Proposed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Middle – Way Approach is endorsed by the Tibetan Parliament in –exile and enjoys the support of majority of the Tibetan people. The essence of the Middle –Way Approach is to have a genuine national regional autonomy for Tibetans, in letter and spirit, within the constitutional framework of PRC.

International Recognition

In 1989 His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the internationally coveted Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.     The committee announced that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has consistently opposed the use of violence. Instead, His Holiness has advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people.

On October 17, 2007 His Holiness the Dali Lama was awarded the US Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honour, for his untiring efforts in promoting peace, understanding and non-violence, inter-religious harmony and universal responsibility.