The city that is home to Dalai Lama

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DHARAMSALA, situated at an altitude of 4500 metres on the falling slopes of the majestic Dhauladhar ranges, has always been a cynosure in many ways. During the British Raj, this fascinating hill station trucked away in the lush-green tea gardens and the deciduous trees, was the summer seat of the viceroy of Jalandhar province.

Soon after, the Britishers made an exodus from here, following Independence and the areas high vulnerability to earthquakes. Dharamsala, however, came on the world map when the Tibetan spiritual leader, the 14^th Dalai Lama, choose the township as his abode. The Dalai Lama, along with about 10,000 followers, had fled Tibet following repression and invasion by the Chinese authorities way back in 1959.

Since the arrival of the Dalai Lama and his Tibetan Diaspora, the scenic hill town has been a hub of international activities. Besides its immense appeal as a destination for tourists and devotees, the township has attracted visitors from far and wide too for research on Tibetan culture, heritage and dialects.

And the city grew in stature as the political capital of Tibetans too. The Dalai Lama organized Tibetans on democratic lines, thereby forming the democratic Tibetan government-in-exile, which now looks after the interests and welfare of Tibetans living all over the world.

All along have flourished various non-governmental organizations including the Tibetan Youth Congress, the Tibetan’ women’s organization and the political parties too.

For his non-violent and peaceful struggle for Tibet’s independence, the Dalai Lama was conferred the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.  The Tibet cause was further strengthened by international personalities such as George W. Bush; UNO Secretary General Kofi Annan and leaders of the European Union.

After the Dalai Lama because a Nobel Laureate, the number of sympathisers the world over have increased manifold.  The hope of the Tibetans to attain complete independence were clear during their celebrations of the 40^th year of their stay in exile in India.  These celebrations were organized two years ago.

Talking on the subject, Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche says that the Dalai Lama has succeeded in creating favourable opinion all over the world towards their cause.

He asserts that today, the world community well understands the problem of the Tibetans living in exile and those languishing in Tibet under the Chinese regime. “Today we feel happy that we (the Tibetan government-in-exile have got innumerable supporters the world over, who can intercede with the Chinese authorities to relent and give in to the demand of the Dalai Lama for autonomous status.”