Silicon Valley Saga series

News
    Front page stories
    National network
    International
    Analysis
    Editorials

Supplements
   Headstart
   Lifemate

Weather

Letters
to the Editor

Columnists

Express Interactive
   Chat rooms
   Ebate

Karmapa Episode

Dear Sir,

The tardiness of the government in responding to the diplomatic tangle India finds herself in the face of the arrival of the Lama is bewildering. However, they have adopted the right line by demanding from China, the circumstances under which the Lama escaped from China. If China can question us on how the Lama arrived, we have all the right in the world to ask how he escaped. However, inspite of all these misgivings, India should not over react to the situation. There is no reason why such an issue should be bludgeoned into a major controversy particularly when it is of little importance in the context of the larger interest of the two nations. It is time the two large democracies behave in a more responsible manner.

Ehtesham

Dear Sir,

The Indian government has done a great job over the decades in support of the Tibetan cause. It must now be upto the international supporters of democracy and free speech to take up the Karmapa cause. International non-governmental organisations and public opinion must try to persuade the United States and other Western governments to provide the Karmapa with residential status and political support. If Western governments fail to respond urgently, how can they claim to be supporters of international freedom and justice?

Somnath Mukhopadhyay, U.K.

Dear Sir,

It is indeed frustrating to witness the government's silence over granting political asylum to Karmapa Lama and the reports appearing in the media that India may not grant the same to the Lama for the fear of offending China. Not granting asylum to the Lama will not only be a compromise on the moral values of our society but also be an unwise move politically. One should view the potential worsening of the Indo-China relations in the light of the systematic antagonism with which China has been acting towards India for some decades now, in terms of its open military assistance to Pakistan to keep India's resources pinned down, not recognizing the merger of Sikkim with India, its anti-India stance at international fora on India's nuclear status and the list goes on.
In addition, given China's ongoing brutal oppression of Tibetan culture and way of living, it becomes India's moral responsibility to host the Lama because of the close historical and cultural relations between India and Tibet. It would also be a reminder to China that the Indian state could act tough when necessary if it continues its anti-India capmaign. India should stop its excessively friendly gestures towards China which merely invite more derision from her. It is a matter of common sense to realise that China's long standing India policy would not be changed a bit even if India deports the Lama. It would only highlight once again the soft state status of India.

Pradeep R. Guduru, USA