A Brief History of Tibet
Truman McGee
The Earlham College Tibetan Studies Program takes place mainly in Dharamshala, India. Dharamshala is home to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Government In-Exile, and a large contingent of Tibetan refugees. This diaspora began when the 14th Dalai Lama and other Tibetans chose to flee from the Chinese forces that illegally invaded Tibet [3]. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) forcefully occupied Tibet in 1949 with two goals: creation of a sinicized (adhering to Chinese form) Tibet and use of Tibet as an advantageous military vantage point [2]. Fleeing migrant Tibetans have established population centers around the world as they wait for the Chinese forces to withdraw.
The Tibetan diaspora, specifically in Dharamshala, has developed over the last sixty years as a hub for Tibetan refugees as well as for those interested in the Tibetan Independence Movement, Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism. This briefing will serve as an introduction to the Chinese occupation of Tibet (starting in 1949) and the resulting establishment of Dharamshala as a base for Tibetan migrants and cultural preservation.
The Sino-Tibet relationship extends much further into the past than the invasion of 1949. Historically, Tibet has served as an area of interest for the larger states surrounding it including China, the Mongols, the Gorkhas, and India [1]. Despite this interest, the country and the people of Tibet were able to avoid the immersive globalization of the last several centuries. This does not necessarily mean that Tibet was fully exempt from international relations and affairs.
Tibet shared a “priest-patron” relationship with the Manchu empire of Qing-era China during the 17th and 18th centuries [1]. The 5th Dalai Lama acted as spiritual advisor to the Chinese emperor as needed. The Chinese provided Tibet with military protection in exchange for the Dalai Lama’s guidance. This relationship did not have any effect on the autonomy of Tibet. At this point in time, Tibet identified as a self-governing nation with no allegiance to a colonizer state [1].
These initial interactions allowed emissaries to travel between the two countries. The Dalai Lama provided guidance to the Qing emperor while the Chinese often sent emissaries to Lhasa (the capital city of Tibet) in an effort to gain political sway [1]. However, upon the British invasion of Tibet in the early 20th century, the Chinese government’s pursuit of Tibet became more aggressive. China invaded Tibet in 1910 but were repelled by Tibetan forces just as the Manchu empire in their home country was overthrown to create its current state - the PRC [1].
Great Britain, acting as the superstate of India, attempted to broker a territory agreement between Tibet and China in 1913 [1]. This agreement, known as the Shimla Convention, acknowledged Tibet’s right to autonomy, territorial integrity, and borders. The Chinese failed to sign the agreement. The PRC’s decision to not ratify the agreement showed that they still considered Tibet as a “territory.”
In 1949, the PRC army crossed the Tibet-China border and easily overwhelmed the much smaller Tibetan military. There are three main reasons for the invasion. The first is that Tibet, as a buffer zone, gives the PRC an advantageous military vantage point on the Sino-Indian border [2]. Second, Tibet houses a vast array of natural resources including strong rivers (for hydropower) and an abundance of precious metals [2].Third, the PRC wanted to convert Tibet into a loyal satellite state formed through rigorous sinicization [2]. The PRC sent 40,000 troops into Tibet and enacted what is called “the 17-Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet” [4]. Tibet was forced to yield to the agreement as they lacked the military strength and international support needed to stand against the enemy forces.
The agreement states that the religious and cultural practices of Tibet will be preserved during the Chinese occupation of Tibet [4]. However, it is known that forced cultural assimilation and oppression of free speech is currently ongoing in Tibet [5]. Thousands of Chinese natives are moved into Tibet every year [6]. Monks and laypeople are forced to enroll in courses and school programs that are taught in Mandarin Chinese instead of their native Tibetan [5]. The nomadic population of Tibet is being forced to adopt urban lifestyles that perpetuate poverty [5]. The rivers and lakes of Tibet are being bottled for global commercial sale or diverted for hydropower that powers Chinese cities [5]. The PRC is moving forward with the intention to reclaim Tibet as its own territory and propel it into an industrialized future.
After the initial invasion of 1949, the PRC would slowly move deeper into Tibet and initiate their sinicization strategy. Traditional Tibetan arts, cultural movements, and religious monuments would be destroyed. Hundreds of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries were destroyed (with the monastic members either killed or shamed) between 1949 and 1959 [1]. This oppression of Tibetans led to guerrilla uprisings throughout the country. Violence and dissent came to a head in 1959 in the capital city of Lhasa. Thousands of Tibetans came together around the Potala Palace (the Dalai Lama’s palace) to publicly protest for their independence. The PRC responded with a strong showing of its military power and thousands of Tibetans were killed, injured, or imprisoned [1]. It was at this time that the Dalai Lama decided to flee the country.
The 14th Dalai Lama serves as the religious leader of Tibetan Buddhism and was formerly the head of the political state of Tibet. After the 1959 uprising in Lhasa, the Dalai Lama fled to India and was offered refuge by the Indian government. Thousands of Tibetans have followed in his footsteps and made their way out of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has established Dharamshala as the hub of the TCiE [7]. It is the base for the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) which acts as the democratically-elected governance system for the TCiE. The Tibetans Children's Village (TCV), a boarding school system that focuses on providing housing and education for Tibetan refugee children, is also located in Dharamshala [3]. The Tibetan Welfare Office (TWO) acts as a support system for Tibetan refugees [3]. Furthermore, His Holiness has founded the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, Men-Tsee Khang (an institution dedicated to preserving traditional Tibetan medical knowledge), the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics and many more organizations since his arrival to India in 1959.
His Holiness abdicated himself of political authority in 2011 [7]. Historically, the title of Dalai Lama comes with political authority and governance of the Tibetan state. This decision from His Holiness signifies the importance of recognizing the CTA as a democratic institution. His Holiness is now solely the religious leader of Tibet and its branches of Buddhism. Despite not having governing authority, His Holiness is still considered one of the world’s most influential leaders and still continues to work for the liberation of his country. The occupation of Tibet, while sanctioned through the 17-Point Agreement, is an egregious violation of human rights.
Tibet is currently in its sixtieth year of occupation. The Tibet Independence Movement and other pro-Tibet organizations do not shy away from the truth. These organizations recognize the atrocities that are occuring in Tibet. However, many organizations that call for a free Tibet also envision a future that is hopeful for all Tibetans. It is more productive to work towards a better future than to wallow in a bitter past.
Tibetans, both inside and outside of Tibet, do not possess the means to effectively sway the Chinese from their illegal occupation. International support and attention will be the catalyst for significant change. The aim of this website is to share our learnings and experiences with its readers, but the information provided here is just a fraction of the entire narrative. We encourage you to learn more about the flagrant violation of human rights occurring in Tibet right now. We thank you for visiting our website.
Works Cited
[1] Central Tibetan Secretariat. “Glimpses on History of Tibet.” Tibet.net. https://tibet.net/about-tibet/glimpses-on-history-of-tibet/ (Accessed November 24, 2019).
[2] Stokes, Dustin. “”Conflict Over Tibet: Core Causes and Possible Solutions.” Beyondintractability.org. https://www.beyondintractability.org/casestudy/stokes-tibet (Accessed November 29, 2019).
[3] H.H. the Dalai Lama’s Central Tibetan Relief Committee. “Tibetan Settlement Office, Dharamshala.” Centraltibetanreliefcommittee.org. http://centraltibetanreliefcommittee.org/doh/settlements/india/north/tso-dharamsala.html (Accessed November 20th, 2019).
[4] Liming, Song. “Reflections on the 17-Point Agreement of 1951.” Department of Information and International Resources, 2012. (Accessed November 29, 2019).
[5] Wong, Edward. “China’s Money and Migrants Pour Into Tibet.” Nytimes.com. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/world/asia/25tibet.html?mtrref=www.google.com&gwh=67477291944D97F42DB0AE949B29C8ED&gwt=pay&assetType=REGIWALL. (Accessed November 29th, 2019).
[6] Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. Human Rights Situation in Tibet: Annual Report 2017. (Accessed November 28, 2019)
[7] The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “Brief Biography.” Dalailama.com. https://www.dalailama.com/the-dalai-lama/biography-and-daily-life/brief-biography (Accessed November 27, 2019).