Published by: World Tibet Network News Tuesday - October 7, 1997

Dharamsala, 6 Oct (DIIR) In an unprecedented show of solidarity for the Tibetan cause by the Indian public, nearly 100 Indian people from various walks of life headed for Tibetan border on October 2, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, under the flagship of ABRS.

The main figures who participated in the satyagraha were Nirmala Deshpande, an MP, Nanaji Deshmukh, very welknown follower of Gandhiji, Ram Gandhi, a freedom fighter and follower of Gandhiji and Prof. Anand Kumar of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The purpose of this action is to encourage the start of an unconditional negotiations between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Chinese Government and to mobilise world opinion in favour of a constructive dialogue. A number of national leaders, international human rights groups, Buddhist organisations and youth associations have extended their support to the satyagraha.

On 2nd October, satyagraha began with a peace march led by Nirmala Deshpande in Kalimpong and an extraordinarily huge gathering, perhaps first of its kind in kalimpong. Nirmala Deshpande and Nanaji Deshmukh addressed the gathering. Nirmala in her address to the gathering said that the satyagraha is to appeal the people and the governments of the world to persuade the Chinese authorities to start unconditional dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and this action is just a beginning. Nanaji Deshmukh in his message to the Tibetan people inside and outside Tibet, he said that it is of paramount importance at this moment to give priority to the solution of Tibet's problem. He also said that the life of Tibetans under the Dalai Lamas was an ideal state to be followed by other countries of the globe and duty-bound behavior of the Tibetan people was and is a great source of inspiration for others. He also said that China out its expansionist ambitions, crushed the ideal state of society existing in Tibet.

It is reported that on 2nd October, a batch of 30 satyagrahis left for Tibet from Kalimpong via Zalek la through Sikkim border but later at the border they were stopped by the Sikkimis Security Personnel and they were not allowed to go to Tibet. The satyagrahis walked for about half a kilometer toward Tibet border and then sat for prayers and meditation. After that they returned back to Kalimpong with slogans like; Long live H. H. the Dalai Lama and restore human rights in Tibet etc.

On 3rd October, another batch of 30 satyagrahis left for Tibet border from Dhambar Chowk, Kalimpong but they were again stopped by the security personnel. They also returned back to Kalimpong after offering prayers at the border.

Again on 4th October a batch of 50 satyagrahis left for peace march towards Tibet but they met with the same fate. They returned back to Kalimpong and took out a procession in the town and concluded the satyagraha for the time being. During the concluding ceremony, Nirmala Deshpande thanked the people of Kalimpong for their tremendous support and the satyagrahis were given a warm and touching send off.