Saving Tibet Is All About Saving India

1. The issue of Tibet’s independence has been in the collective global mind-space for over six decades. The world in-principle has acknowledged China’s indiscretion and supported the right of Tibetans to be an independent people. But sadly, ride with the horses and hunt with the wolves is all the rest of the world has done. And ironically, the rest of the world feels it has done its bit for the Tibetan cause.
   
   I for one am not getting into specifics of history though it’s acknowledged fact that Tibet until the early part of the twentieth century was an independent kingdom, hidden from the eyes of the word, a la Shangri-La. So how and when did Tibet become a part of China is something even the Chinese capita-commie rulers will find hard to explain and prove.
   
   Yet, the fact that the Chinese could annex Tibet and have continued to rule this land for over decades now is a testament of how the world views China and how little value the world has for Tibetan life and values.
   
   But friends, in Tibet, the rest of the world has a lesson to learn. China is hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympics and in the name of this mega event the Dragon is busy expanding road and rail networks to Tibet and also along the territories bordering the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. So what, you will ask, for what China does within its boundaries is its concern.
   
   My question is considering what happened to Tibet would it be wise for India to wait for China to do a Tibet with Arunachal Pradesh? Skeptics can laugh at my reasoning, but make no mistake, when China does make its move, we will be forced to redefine our map to reflect an India minus Arunachal Pradesh. You can call this being alarmist, but I believe that being alarmist is better than losing India.
   
   India has supported Tibetans by letting them live in Dharamsala and by allowing them to form a Government in Exile. But what use is that help when the people have no hope of deliverance?
   
   The world has turned a blind eye to Tibet. Believe me, it will do the same if China were to attack and annex Arunachal Pradesh. And if that were to happen, our dear politicians will end up doing precious little other than playing the blame game. And Arunachal would be gone, and it’s people prisoners of an alien regime.
   
   And if that were to happen, then what would stop Pakistan from annexing Jammu & Kashmir with Chinese help. China is Pakistan’s closest ally after the United States in the global political arena. Then we will have Pakistan and Bangladesh with the help of China attacking and annexing West Bengal, Darjeeling and the North-Eastern states.
   
   So do we get the picture here? Do we see the map of an India minus all these territories? There is no point in waiting for the US and its allies, which means practically the whole of the Western world, to wake up to the designs of the Chinese and support the Tibetan cause. They will do no such thing because their economic welfare lies in the hands of the Chinese, what with even miniatures of the Statue of Liberty sold on Liberty Island being made in China. The symbol of democracy, equality, freedom, and liberty being made in a country that knows not the meaning of any of these words, let alone practice them.
   
   So dear friends, it is in the best interest of India that we Indians support the Tibetan cause, not with any noble intention of helping Tibet, but with the selfish motive of safeguarding our borders from an expansionist China and its ally Pakistan. Are we going to realize this reality or are we going to settle for selling Made in China miniatures of the Taj Mahal? That is for you my fellow countrymen to decide.