Dalai Lama visits Tawang ~ TOI says 100s welcomed him !!!

Perhaps a small example of how we are fed by media ~ the news as they want us to see and understand !!  -      As the birthplace of the 6^th  Dalai Lama, Urgelling monastery, played host to the 14th 'incarnation' of the leader, hundreds of devotees turned up at the grounds of the 14th-century monastery to pay their respects to the 'living God'. – this is what TOI headlines read !!

o   A spoon cannot taste of the food it carries. Likewise, a foolish man cannot understand the wise man´s wisdom even if he associates with a sage.”

o   “The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation.” – couple of quotes of  Dalai Lama

Dalai Lamas are believed by Tibetan Buddhists to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are realized beings, inspired by the wish to attain complete enlightenment, who have vowed to be reborn in the world to help all living beings.  The current head is the 14^th Dalai Lama - ( Tenzin Gyatso, shortened from Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso).  He was born in Taktser village, Amdo, Tibet (currently administratively in Qinghai province, Republic of China), and was selected as the tulku of the 13^th  Dalai Lama in 1937 and formally recognized as the 14^th  Dalai Lama at a public declaration near the town of Bumchen in 1939.

Dalai Lama, His holiness is a world leader that is committed to promoting positive values such as , forgiveness, self-discipline, tolerance, compassion and contentment. He is a spiritual leader like no other and is highlighting the importance of happiness and world peace every minute of the day.   Millions of people turn to the Dalai Lama for inspiration.  He and his people have struggled all their lives with the audacity of hopelessness. Oppression and exile are their daily bread. Yet the Dalai Lama,  remains calm in the face of cruelty.

China's rulers aren't like the British masters of colonial India, and the Dalai Lama's Gandhiesque nonviolent struggle won't give them twinges of conscience, leading to Tibet's freedom. If anything, Beijing has grown more ruthless in suppressing Tibetan aspirations.  Last week, China warned  India  that it will take "necessary measures" to defend its territorial sovereignty and interests after India "obstinately" allowed the Dalai Lama to visit the "disputed" parts of Arunachal Pradesh causing "serious damage" to the bilateral ties.  China also lodged a protest with India's Ambassador in Beijing Vijay Gokhale over the Dalai Lama's visit.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters  that it goes against the momentum of the sound growth of bilateral relations and will not benefit India in anyway. "The visit will for sure trigger China's dissatisfaction. This will not bring any benefit to India," she said. China will firmly take necessary measures to defend its territorial sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests, Hua asserted.

This is the 100s of people that Times of India portrayed (but photo was not put up)

While China’s stiff opposition is understood, what does Times of India and other Press want to achieve.  Arunachal is Indian State and India has the sole right to decide what happens here.  This is not the first time Dalai lama is visiting Arunachal Pradesh.  He first did in 1983 -  24 hours after he set up his government in-exile. During his first visit to Arunachal Pradesh, Dalai Lama travelled to Tawang among other places - Miao, Tenzingang, Bomdila, Tawang, Dirang and Itanagar.  Dalai Lama visited Arunachal Pradesh for the second time in 1996. This time he did not visit Tawang but travelled to Miao, Tezu and Mirig.  In 2003, Dalai Lama toured Arunachal Pradesh twice.

China’s disapproval of the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh notwithstanding, it has continued with its objective to build robust infrastructure in the region contiguous to the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC). At least two more roads in the Tibet Autonomous Region are nearing completion that will soon reach the Line of Actual Control (LAC) ahead of Mechuka in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.  "Two roads at Chuningla Pass and Seruptangla Pass in the Mechuka subdivision on the LAC built by the Chinese have almost reached the border and are expected to be completed within a few months," said a local resident who serves as a porter for the Indian Army.  The hilly and meandering route from LAC to Mechuka was one of the entry points of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1962 and it had reportedly reached a place called Gurudwara which is only 15 kilometres from the subdivision headquarters. However, unlike in Tawang and Anjaw, the deployment of Chinese troops is thin across the middle region of Arunachal Pradesh which includes the West and Upper Siang districts.

People of India need to be wary of the sinister designs of China as also the media !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

10^th Apr 2017.