Tri-Party Politics Of The Himalayas

The Himalaya is the highest mountain range in the world which separates the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan plateau,  the mother of the major rivers of the Asian continent. These rivers combine the drainage basin which is home to some 3 billion people, almost half of earth's population. The Himalayas have profoundly shaped the cultures of South Asia. Many Himalayan peaks are sacred in both Hinduism and Buddhism. It served natural boundary between the Indian subcontinent and the Tibet for more than thousands of years ago; and also it served as buffer state, within this prolonged periods there had no issue on border dispute between the Indian subcontinent and Tibet. Therefore, Himalayas have not only profoundly shaped the cultures of Asia but also the significance of the geopolitical dimension and strategic perspective. In near future, Himalayas will become the battle ground of the water resources that will shape in the direction of the world politics. An essence of the study on the Himalayan politics and beyond aspects is the great significant of the Asian political system. Many Asian countries have been involved in the Himalayan politics, but three countries have determines entire dimension of its political scenarios which are India, Tibet and China. It also called tri-party politics of the Himalayas.


Yesterday we fought land battle, today we fight energy battle and tomorrow we will fight water battle. The Himalayas is considered as the third pole of the earth today. Due to drastic change of the climate and rapid growth of the population has been pouring the flood of environmental refugee in the different parts of the Asia. This is major concern of the world today. Thus, the Tibetan plateau is the heart of Asian water bank. Moreover, India and China, two giants of Asia have been representing the world, on behalf of the Asian continent. India is the biggest democratic nation and the China is the largest communist country. The great Himalayas are the natural barrier to cease the conflict between communist China and liberal democratic India, but the Himalayas could not be served as natural boundary between Indo-China relations anymore, because Tibet is lost in the world map. Neglecting Tibet issue is the biggest mistake of the Indian foreign policy towards China. The Sino-Tibet relation is not like midnight born baby. It began in the 7th century during the era of the greatest Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo and Tiang dynasty due to advent Buddhism in Tibet from India and marriage to Chinese princess. Since from that Choe-yon Relation rooted very deeply between Tibetan lama and Chinese emperors. End of the Choe- yon Relation in the beginning of the 20th century and British Indian government started to interfere in the Himalayas politics, this was the beginning of the triangle politics of the Himalayas.

British Indian government signed the treaty called Anglo-Russian convention with the Russian government in 1907 which contented Tibet suzerainty lies on China and any nation cannot be allowed to enter in Tibet without the assent of Chinese government. British government wanted to be Tibet as buffer zone. Further decision of the border dispute and trade agreement held in Shimla in 1914, that was the historical significant agreement between Tibet, China and British India. The Shimla treaty became the landmark of the Sino- India border demarcation and it was also controversial treaty at later. One of the most significant of the Shimla treaty was the McMahon Line which became the border between Tibet and India. Finally, Tibet lost her sovereignty in 1951 and was forced to sign the 7th Point Peaceful Agreement with China.

New birth of the People’s Republic of China and young India could not follow the  shoe of the British India policy to Tibet, unlike that the first prime minister of young India, internationalist Jawaharlal Nehru miscalculated the revealing mind of china and started to build the friendship bond with young red dragon. Nehru’s blind faith to China and over confidence without questioning the real mind and heart of Chinese diplomats put India into danger zone. India has experienced unprecedented humiliation in 1962 after deadly defeated war with china.  India’s recognition of Tibet sovereignty over China boosted the liberation of Tibet by the People’s liberation Army. Nehru also rejected western aids to Tibet through Indian soil and further supported to Chinese membership seat in the United Nations. Once more, Nehru kept Tibet isolated in 1950s and did not interfere Chinese occupation in Tibet though many concerned members of Indian parliament raised the Tibet issue in Lok Sabha. Nehru and his ambassador in China K. M Pannikar sold Tibet to China for future friendship bond with the People’s Republic of China. An internationalist or self appointed Asian leader Nehru and his puppet Indian ambassador Pannikar silenced Tibet issue to the people of India at last ten years. Finally, Chinese diplomats had given very big reward to Indian friends for their endure kindness and heartfelt friendship towards main land China that is new publication of border map in 1958 which included many Northeast Frontier Areas and Akai Chin. This announcement surprised the Indian diplomats and regretted, but it was too late to establish the strong defense at border areas. Whole world knows what consequence India had at last. Anyhow, we are very indebted to the people India and the government of India for given political asylum. Whatsoever, Indian foreign policy towards china is very elusive and complicated. That is the hidden secret of the triangle politics of the Himalayas.

India and China has combined half of the world population. The Himalaya is the main source of their water resources that indicated she is the mother of three billion children of the Asia. It is also called The Water Tower of Asia. Tibet plateau contains more than 46,000 glaciers covering an area of 105,000 sq. km, the most glaciated region on earth. The political and national interest of China have established many nuclear arsenals base in Tibet Plateau, massive deforestation and many inhuman activity pushed rapid climate change in the Himalayas that endangers the millions of life. India, a defender of the democracy and protector of civil liberty nation has to stand against the inhuman activities in Tibet plateau. It is perfect time to India repudiate Chinese allegation over Indian territories and restoration of once buffer zone in the heart of Asia.

Tibet is a key to success for India’s relation with China. May peace prevails in the heart of the Himalayas.


Tsewang Dorji
Master in Politics,
University of Madras
Ex-TSAM

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What can we do for Tibet?

1. Organize presentations & community forums
2. Show Tibetan films documentary

3. Boycott Chinese goods

4. Organize community boycotts

5. Educate businesspersons about the importance of Boycotting Chinese goods

6. Write articles & letters for the newspapers

7. Organize interviews with the radio & TV stations

8. Organize press conferences

9. Develop & distribute flyers & posters

10. Organize benefit concerts

11. Telephone 1 person each day & talk with them about China, Tibet, & the U.S.A.

12. Give articles about Tibet to your friends, co-workers, classmates, & relatives

13. Report inaccurate maps & facts about Tibet in books to the publisher

14. Fly the Tibetan Flag at your home, business, and/or school

15. Burn white candles each evening in prominent or public places

16. Walk for Tibet's independence in your community

17. Wear a "Tibet" button

18. Put a bumper sticker on your car & give them to others

19. Set up information tables in public places

20. Write letters to government officials (U.S. & PRC) & human rights' groups. Along with other issues, demand that Gendhun Choekyi Nyima be released

21. Circulate various petitions about Tibet & Tibetans

22. Recite long life prayers for The Dalai Lama & The Panchen Lama

23. Recite prayers to remove the obstacles to restore Tibet's independence

24. Hold silent vigils to symbolize the silent voices of Tibetans in Tibet

25. Visit internet chat rooms each day & educate & discuss Tibet, the PRC, & the U.S.A.

26. Wear rangzen bracelets demonstrating your support for Tibet's independence. Share these bracelets with your relatives, co-workers, & friends

27. Each day, wear the name of a different Tibetan Political Prisoner on your clothing

28. Organize hunger strikes for Tibet

29. Ask your radio stations to play "The Yak Band" (Purchase tape from ITIM)

30. Collect Signatures for Tibet's independence. Return petitions to ITIM

31. Collect Signatures for Boycotting Chinese Products. Return petitions to ITIM

32. Host Tibetans visiting your area

33. Raise Funds to assist Tibet Support Groups

Remember: It is easy for us to do many of these activities. Tibetans inside Tibet, in contrast, could possibly be imprisoned or killed for participating in any one of these activities. Whatever you do for Tibet, please be mindful of this reality.

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