Tenzin Choezin, an 18-year-old Buddhist nun, set herself on fire in a town square in western China on February 11. Choezin became the latest martyr to the cause of Tibet’s freedom from Chinese occupation. Over the last one year, many others — at least one of them a nun — chose self-immolation as the means to let not just China but the entire world know of their demand.

There has been a resurgence of the demand for Tibetan freedom recently and the Tibetan youth are at the forefront of this fight for liberty.
The recent spate of self-immolations by monks and nuns are not isolated incidents, the Students for Free Tibet (SFT) organisation says. Rather, they are part of a larger peaceful movement against forceful Chinese occupation. 

In the light of these events, the Kolkata context to the Free Tibet movement assumes significance.

While SFT has a pan-India presence, its Kolkata arm is perhaps the most actively involved in the movement. The city has a settlement of Chinese people. Tibetans also reside in pockets of the city. After 1951, a steady stream of Tibetan people arrived in Kolkata having crossed into India through the permeable Sikkim–Tibet border.

On February 8, SFT Kolkata called for a worldwide vigil in solidarity with Tibetans. Organiser Tenzing Loden Bhutia said. “We are planning to peacefully protest on March 10 to commemorate the Tibetan Uprising Day.” A candle light vigil will be held in the evening, he added.

In December last year, the SFT organised a candle light vigil in College Square, a popular North Kolkata street, to pray for the long life of His Holiness Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama has long since given up political power and the mantle has been passed on to Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan government in exile.

SFT-Kolkata’s Lobzang Ganzay incidentally shares his first name with the new Tibetan leader. From sporting ‘Free Tibet’ tees to putting up slogans on social networking sites, this young activist does it all. The ultimate goal is self-determination and free will, he says. “We seek complete independence for Tibet and nothing less. The Chinese have exploited our regions.” Ganzay says.

SFT-Kolkata comes under the umbrella of Students for Free Tibet International, founded in 1995. It works to restore Tibetan freedom. Kolkata has always been a preferred location in the past for calls for Tibet’s freedom. But demonstrating against the Chinese has never been  a smooth sailing in West Bengal, a state till early 2011 ruled by the Indian Communists. During the CPI(M) rule in 2009, Tibetans were denied permission to hold anti-China rallies, a move that later drew much appreciation from the Chinese consul general in Kolkata.

Speaking against Beijing’s brutal exercise of power, Ganzay said the Chinese motive is to “occupy and exploit Tibet”. Ruing the fact that Tibetans have been reduced to a minority in their own homeland, Ganzay, who has studied in a well-known Kolkata college, adds, “Tibetans don’t have opportunities.”

Recently, SFT had launched a campaign across twelve cities where documentaries dealing with critical Tibetan issues were screened and the Tibetan youth and their activism was discussed. Kolkata figured prominently in these discussions to draw up a plan for the future.

According to Velo Gerong, a Tibetan student and activist, awareness in Kolkata is important as most in the city have little information and understanding of the issue. “With increasing awareness, our message can be easily conveyed,” he said during a recent rally in the city.

When it comes to rallies, sit-ins and awareness camps, Chowringee Road, College Street, Esplanade and other Kolkata landmarks are chosen as venue. Non-Tibetans, including common Bengalis, join in from time to time. 

Ganzay said SFT will continue to protest against Chinese military crackdown on dissent. “The Chinese have control over everything – media, food, jobs,” he said, summing up the plight of Tibet under Chinese occupation.