OBITUARY: Tibetan Freedom Fighter Bhusang la[Monday, 29 March 2010, 12:48 a.m.]
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| Bhusang la (1930 – 2010) |
Dharamshala: Bhusang
la, who spent 18 years in Chinese prison for defending his country from
aggression and invasion by the forces of the People’s Republic of China
in early 1960’s, passed away after prolonged illness in Dharamsala on
25 March 2010. He was 80.In its condolence message, the
Department of Security of the Central Tibetan Administration said,
“Since his childhood Bhusang la has never wavered for a single day from
his determination and commitment to work for the cause of Tibet and the
people of Tibet. We deeply commend his service and pray for a good
rebirth.”He was born to Lhawang Norbu and Tsering Yudon in
Nyemo district in Tibet’s central province of U-Tsang in 1930. In 1942,
at the age of twelve, he joined the Tibetan army and at the same time
studied Tibetan medicine at the Men-Tsee Khang for seven years. From
1949 he served as physician for the police department. During
the crisis of 1959 he fought the Chinese first in Lhasa, later in Samye
in Lhokha, Tsethang, Chideshol and Lhuntse and in due course moving to
Tawang, Assam and Gangtok.In March 1960 he went to the United
States for secret service training. After completing the training he
was part of the mission that was dropped into Markham district in
eastern Tibet. Overwhelmed by Chinese force and fearing imminent
capture on 15 April 1961 during an ambush he consumed poison to escape
arrest. Unfortunately he was arrested and the poison caused permanent
skin disease. He suffered immense torture and misery during his
18-year-long imprisonment.He was released from prison in 1978
and in 1980 he came to India, had an audience with His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and decided to reside permanently in India. He served in the
Department of Security of the Central Tibetan Administration from 1982
until his retirement in 2003. Throughout his illness he received
complete and full assistance and from the Office of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and the Administration. (Reporter: Lobsang Choedak)
