Terror Tales From Tibet
(The Afternoon | June 19, 2005)

Three Tibetan nuns, who were prison for their non-cooperation towards the Chinese authorities, were in the city to share their experiences.

Bombay: Their deep eyes and demure self may be the first thing you notice when you look at them. But as they start speaking, you are introduced to the unrelenting willpower and belief that saw them through the years of torture in the Tibetans prisons. In the city on Saturday were three nuns - Nyima, Damchoe Drolma and Nyima Dolkar - who have suffered for their non co-operation towards the Chinese authorities in Tibet.

Organized by Friends of Tibet, the three nuns got an opportunity to see Mumbai and share their experiences about their days in Tibet. They spoke in soft whispers in to India. They participated in the free Tibet Demonstration and were arrested and tortured for that by Chinese authorities. Nyima Drolkar was the most expressive of the three and said, "There is no concept of rights and freedom in Tibet. We fought against the Chinese because we truly believed in Tibetan freedom. If we wouldn't have done that, more people have would have suffered." All three of them are in their late 20s and have never regretted or rethought about their decisions either to be nuns or be part of struggle. "The Chinese authorities tried to dishearten us by saying that all our efforts are useless. But we firmly believed that it was important," says Nyima Drolkar, the quietest of the lot. There aren't educational opportunities in Tibet and hence they are savoring every moment on their time spent in the Tibetan Transit school in Dharamshala, "it is school caters to the needs of various Tibetans who crossover to India," informs Tenzin Tsundue, National Secretary of Friends of Tibet, which regularly organize such programmes.

Ask them why they came to India and Myima says, "I wanted to tell everyone about real Tibet." Kama informs us that on an average 2000 to 3000 Tibetans trek through the risky path of Himalayas to enter India.

"The chief purpose is to meet Dalai Lama. Even the three of them spoke their heart out once they met him," informs Karma. The days in Tibet have transformed them as people and they say they feel like "human beings" in India. "We are free and can do what we want. It indeed is a blessing!". Concludes Nyima Drolkar as the other to give a hint of a smile.

'We Refused to Sing the Chinese National Anthem' was organised by Friends of Tibet (INDIA) at the YMCA auditorium, Colaba, Bombay on June 18, 2005.