Hi there,
As I began writing this piece it happens to be World Refugee Day.
The UN estimate states that there are 80 million displaced people around the world due to varied reasons, be it adverse climatic conditions, civil wars, political aggressions and many more.
Something similar happened little more then five decades ago in this region, today it is a forgotten story? So I thought I might as well share what little I know of this unfortunate event.
The year 1959 saw the influx of Tibetans migrants into Ladakh also all along the Himalayan belt; here in Ladakh they arrived from Ngari Skorsoom region around the Mt. Kailash and beyond.
They were mostly nomadic or semi pastoralists raising huge numbers of lives stocks and following Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism and Bon beliefs living peacefully for centuries on this most inhospitable region of the world.
Both the governments of Jammu and Kashmir State and the Government of India were thrown in a new geo-political somersaulting jolt?
India in their wildest dream could conceive that such a thing could happen that too on its border?
Faintly realizing the essence of time with the international community virtually in a state of shock; started convening frantic sessions of the U.N and asking the perpetrator their position but it was late and all efforts went in vain, Tibet for the moment seem lost?
The Asian sleeping giant adorned in red attire had crushed into centuries old peaceful Tibetan civilization in the name of liberation from medieval rule?
Communities all along the Himalayas received hundreds of thousands of Tibetans un-conceivable in the past but a new reality at that moment in history.
The migrated populations had to be adjusted in the new uncalled for situations. They were received very warmly all over as now it was their turn to repay the Tibetans in this existential situation?
The local governments designed plans to redress the most urgent needs such as: Housing facilities, jobs for incomes, rations and clothing so that they may come out of their sudden existential predicament also overcoming severe shock of displacement?
We were small children living in our villages. The members of many these families would arrive in front of our houses seeking for alms for food and materials they were very ordinary folks kind.
Our families would immediately offer plate full of Tsampa (roasted barley flour) offering chang, whey or tea and water to quench thirst also freshen them of long walks. This went for several years or more; very intense in the initial months and fading away as time went by.
The government intervened and allotted them land. A special department of Assistant Commissioner Refugee was created under the aegis of State government that looked into the various needs of this new community during 1960s.
Today thankfully they are a strong community having S.O.S Children’s Residential School, well functioning Mantsikhang or centre for traditional medicine, centre for Tibetan Handicrafts and Performing Arts, and so forth.
Just as all over the world the Tibetans have kept their culture and tradition very alive. The Tibetan settlements in Ladakh too have done their best to encourage their community in bringing stability in their new situation also preserving their cultural tradition.
The S.O.S Children’s residential school provides very effective primary to higher secondary school education. Their primary school imparts education in Tibetan language until standard five.
The local government and private schools could adopt the Tibetan model of primary schooling in order to enhance improvement of Tibetan or Bhoti language skills among local infants which could be a real gift for their grown up years!
One positive influence that these migrant society had on the local communities had been the revival of the rich Cultural Heritage of the Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism during the 1970s and 1980s.
Which had been so appropriate for the Ladakh of 21st century and beyond? As all Buddhist literatures and canonical texts contains unexplored vistas of Mahayana Buddhist wisdom with its profound science of mind so relevant for present times!
Ladakh on its part shared similar culture and inhabiting similar geographically terrain and was a small independent Kingdom until 1834 when it went under the rule of Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir until 1947 when India got its Independence.
Our monks along with hundreds of thousands of others all along the Himalayas hold the cradle of our Cultural Heritage and spritual Ethos. They would be going to Tibet either from Ladakh or from Darjeeling to receive teachings of Buddha Dharma until 1959.
There they would spend about 15 to 20 years receiving monastic education thus Tibet becoming later Nalanda with its great many monastic traditions and legacies.
There were the historic ancient monks’ residences of Spetub and Stagmo Khangtsang in Tibet. Besides the monks would head to their parent monastic schools be they Nyigma, Sakya, Kargyut, Drigung and Gelug traditions etc.
Many monks would not return as they would die of diseases or other misfortunes. But many would return bringing their learning, wisdom and material artifact as gifts to their parent monasteries thus enriching cultural heritage of the local region.
Ladakh during its formative years of formation in the 10th century C.E was ruled by Tibetan origin King Lhachen*(Great God) dPalgigon, the eldest son of the King of Ngari Skorsoom.
Who was a descendent of the last Tibetan King Lung Dharma in 9th century C.E; who was an evil King and cruel persecuting his own people and destroying the age old Cultural Heritage and Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet?
The period of the rule of three Kings of Stod or Upper region in the annals of ancient history of Ladakh was an enlightened rule of the three Gon Kings namely Lhachen dPalgigon of Ladakh, Tashisgon of Ngari Skorsoom and Detsuggon the King of Lahoaul, Spiti and Zangskar.
Buddhism once again revived through the efforts and sacrifice of Lha Lama Eshey Odh who was the royal son of the King of Ngari Skorsoom but was put in prison by an evil neighbouring King who asked for ransom of gold equal to the size of his body?
But the Bodhisattva had instructed his nephew to invest the gold to invite the great Vidhayadhara Atisa from Nalanda for the revival of Buddhism in Tibet.
After great persuasion the great Vidhyadhara Atisa was escorted to Tibet through Ngari Skorsoom. Who remained in Tibet for thirteen years also passing away at Nyanthang. His school later came to be called as Kadampa School or tradition.
During 11th century the great translator Rinchen Zangpo along with twenty other students were sent to Kashmir to learn Sanskrit and Buddhism. Only Rinchen Zangpo and two of his friends returned others perished.
The great translator built series of ancient Viharas from Zogila onwards until Ngari which today experts believe to be the confluence of Kashmiri and Tibetan Buddhist Arts. Bye for now.