McLeod Ganj (Himachal), Nov 6: In an atmosphere where people largely have
remained apolitical and sort of indifferent to "Indian politics"; a
few Tibetan monks in this historic town McLeod Ganj, a suburb of Dharamshala
in Himachal Pradesh, seemed to have turned 'die-hard Narendra Modi fans'.
Not surprisingly this is
largely because of - what they say - Prime Minister Modi's "firm and
assertive" policy on China.
"We really admire the way Mr Modi had framed his government's China policy. It is remarkable and suits India's emerging global status and also as a strong democracy," a Tibetan monk told UNI here sharing his ideas on the Modi government's performance and its possible impact on the electorate's mind in this "Little Lhasa".
Mr Modi's handling of the crisis in Doklam sector and also about China's stand on One Belt One Road or OBOR has been "well articulated", said another Tibetan monk, who is in India for past 22 years.
The monk also mentions that he is "not being selfish" in lauding Mr Modi vis-a-vis China and due to Tibetan-Chinese complexity. "Mr Modi's policies will help India in the long run and also that India and Japan should take the bilateral cooperation on maritime affairs to the next level. "I think, this is happening and these are positive signs," the monk said on the condition of anonymity.
Over 1000 "Tibetans" have been enrolled to cast votes in Indian elections as they have been given "Indian citizenship and voting rights", says a local official at the 'Tibetan-run Government in exile'. "Some of them are excited as they may get some benefits like they will be eligible for jobs etc. Others still remain indifferent....It is the dream of every Tibetan to attain full freedom in our land," he says.
A local trader and a Kashmiri Mohammed Azad Dar (55) seemed to understand the complexity well.
"Tibetans will not take Indian elections seriously as we do. There are concerns in the community already
whether getting Indian citizenship for petty benefits like jobs will in the ultimate compromise their struggle against Chinese leaders," Dar told here.
Pema Dhondup, 37 year of age, is also a Buddhist monk for last 16 years studying Buddhist philosophy at the 'Institute of Buddhist Dialectics' at McLeod Ganj.
Dhondup hails from Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh and belongs to "Mopa tribe".
He also understands the complexities of Tibetans participation in Indian elections and says, "Most Tibetans find participation in Indian elections a self defeating move. They all want to go back to their country.
The shift to India over the years was only strategic and not to settle down".
However, to a question, Dhondup also says, "I too am proud of Modi government's China policy. The firmness the central government showed during His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh earlier this year is commendable. Same confidence and clarity was shown during Doklam build too.....Overall, its all good development and China is getting message that the world has moved beyond 1962".
"If you ask me, if I am a Modi fan....after all that we have seen during Dalai Lama's Tawang visit; I
can say I am a die-hard Modi fan," said Dhondup, whose brother is also a serving Indian army officer.
In fact, a 14-year-old Class IX student of a Tibetan school in McLeod Ganj, Ms Tenzinyang also readily told this reporter that, "If there is full freedom in Tibet tomorrow, first thing she would like to do is to go back to Tibet".
A senior official in the Tibetan-run Information Department, said the matter of seeking "Indian voters' cards" were left to individuals strictly. The development came once, the Government of India and the Supreme Court of India have said that Tibetans can apply for Indian citizenship. UNI
"We really admire the way Mr Modi had framed his government's China policy. It is remarkable and suits India's emerging global status and also as a strong democracy," a Tibetan monk told UNI here sharing his ideas on the Modi government's performance and its possible impact on the electorate's mind in this "Little Lhasa".
Mr Modi's handling of the crisis in Doklam sector and also about China's stand on One Belt One Road or OBOR has been "well articulated", said another Tibetan monk, who is in India for past 22 years.
The monk also mentions that he is "not being selfish" in lauding Mr Modi vis-a-vis China and due to Tibetan-Chinese complexity. "Mr Modi's policies will help India in the long run and also that India and Japan should take the bilateral cooperation on maritime affairs to the next level. "I think, this is happening and these are positive signs," the monk said on the condition of anonymity.
Over 1000 "Tibetans" have been enrolled to cast votes in Indian elections as they have been given "Indian citizenship and voting rights", says a local official at the 'Tibetan-run Government in exile'. "Some of them are excited as they may get some benefits like they will be eligible for jobs etc. Others still remain indifferent....It is the dream of every Tibetan to attain full freedom in our land," he says.
A local trader and a Kashmiri Mohammed Azad Dar (55) seemed to understand the complexity well.
"Tibetans will not take Indian elections seriously as we do. There are concerns in the community already
whether getting Indian citizenship for petty benefits like jobs will in the ultimate compromise their struggle against Chinese leaders," Dar told here.
Pema Dhondup, 37 year of age, is also a Buddhist monk for last 16 years studying Buddhist philosophy at the 'Institute of Buddhist Dialectics' at McLeod Ganj.
Dhondup hails from Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh and belongs to "Mopa tribe".
He also understands the complexities of Tibetans participation in Indian elections and says, "Most Tibetans find participation in Indian elections a self defeating move. They all want to go back to their country.
The shift to India over the years was only strategic and not to settle down".
However, to a question, Dhondup also says, "I too am proud of Modi government's China policy. The firmness the central government showed during His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh earlier this year is commendable. Same confidence and clarity was shown during Doklam build too.....Overall, its all good development and China is getting message that the world has moved beyond 1962".
"If you ask me, if I am a Modi fan....after all that we have seen during Dalai Lama's Tawang visit; I
can say I am a die-hard Modi fan," said Dhondup, whose brother is also a serving Indian army officer.
In fact, a 14-year-old Class IX student of a Tibetan school in McLeod Ganj, Ms Tenzinyang also readily told this reporter that, "If there is full freedom in Tibet tomorrow, first thing she would like to do is to go back to Tibet".
A senior official in the Tibetan-run Information Department, said the matter of seeking "Indian voters' cards" were left to individuals strictly. The development came once, the Government of India and the Supreme Court of India have said that Tibetans can apply for Indian citizenship. UNI
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