Opinion

Why History Matters!

--By Tenzin Nyinjey

The huge importance of the accurate accounting of Tibet's history can be gauged by the fact that it is the only bargaining chip we have in our negotiations with the Chinese, and the world, to secure genuine autonomy for Tibet.

A strong knowledge of history plays a highly significant role in determining the fate of a nation's freedom struggle. This is certainly the case with Tibet's ongoing struggle for freedom from Chinese tyranny. China's endless post-invasion claims of so-called sovereignty over Tibet rest on what it calls "historical facts". Tibet, it says, became part of China during the Tang dynasty, when Songsten Gampo took a Chinese princess as his wife.

The Chinese mandarins have been legendary for rewriting history. The fact that China rests its 'ownership' claim over Tibet on their own rewritten versions of historical analysis makes it critical for us to have a clear understanding and knowledge about all aspects of our nation's history. We must understand fully how Tibet evolved as a civilization, and the significant role it played in shaping the contours not just of itself, but also its neighboring countries.

Despite that we have been brutally subjugated and colonized under the present and now widely known post-invasion conditions, we are fortuitous that we still have strong and irrefutable knowledge of our own history. It is thus crucially important that we understand and question all aspects of this, to counter the overwhelming barrage of propaganda being unleashed from Beijing.

It is important that we are meticulous in our own presentation of historical enquiry, and question all official history, whether it is being put out by us here in Dharamsala, or churned out from Beijing. All material should be read with intense critical thinking, and scrutiny, and academic integrity. We must carefully read all the historical evidence, and take all possible material and documents into account. Taking this modern historical approach, one can then draw just and substantiated conclusions about whether Tibet was forcibly or willingly incorporated into Communist China.

In other words, we need to examine all evidence to determine whether Tibet was 'liberated' or 'invaded and illegally occupied' by China.

The reason I place so much importance on carefully examining the accounts of third parties is because there are now many Tibetans who are expressing doubts about the authentic historical status of Tibet. A close friend of mine, who was educated in one of the Ivy League universities of America, recently told me that he didn't think Tibet was historically an independent nation! This is quite understandable, considering the kind of history that was taught to us in our schools, but such notions based on poor understanding of history will only further dilute the truth, and must be avoided if we are to reach a sane and just resolution to our situation.

Most of what we have learned about Tibet's traditional history was written by Tibetan lamas, and their accounts were understandably largely tinged and colored with a unique Tibetan Buddhist flavor. Legends we were taught, such as that King Lang Darma had horns, are enough to sow doubts into the minds of any modern educated person. These folk legends are now being strenuously exploited by the Chinese propaganda machinery, through so-called 'neutral' scholars.

So far the Chinese have not succeeded in winning the war of words against the Tibetans in exile. Despite Beijing 's enormous political and economic influence, and massive use of manpower to this end, the international community is clearly not convinced of its claims of historical "ownership" of Tibet, nor that it has brought "enormous development and progress" on the roof of the world.

Lately, however, there are dangerous signs that this seems to be changing, as China keeps on sending carefully prepared "Chinese Tibetologists" around the world to "describe the true historical status of Tibet" and "expose the lies of anti-Chinese forces". For instance, just a few days ago, China sent a four-member "Tibetologist delegation" on a three- day visit to Canada to promote what it called "understanding on the Tibet issue". According to the Chinese state media outlet Xinhua, "the delegation met with scholars from the Canadian International Council, local media outlets, government officials and parliamentarian representatives". Judging from the confused responses of some Tibetans and some foreigners to this barrage, the Chinese seems to have made some inroads in its attempt to rewrite Tibet's history.

Under such alarming circumstances it becomes extremely important for young Tibetans, and especially the most educated ones, to continue to do a thorough examination of their country's history, and continue to challenge and question, in true and open academic debate, thus overcoming any fresh or lingering doubts about Tibet 's true status. Otherwise such words of doubt unanswered intelligently and correctly could easily become powerful tools for the ever-vigilant Chinese propaganda department, further undermining our own strength and future.

  (Tenzin Nyinjey is the editor of Tibet Journal, published by the Library of Tibetan Wroks and Archives, Dharamshala. The Opinion Forum of the Tibet.net is an open forum for the discussion of various ideas. The ideas expressed in this forum are those of the authors. The Central Tibetan Administration does not necessarily subscribe to the opinions expressed here.)

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