After reaching the "Roof of the World" I had fulfilled the dream of my youth. As a penniless fugitive I soon experienced the hospitality of the Tibetans.

I learned that I was living with a happy people in a happy free country. As a matter of fact, Tibet was so independent that only the Tibetan Government in Lhasa had the authority to issue a permit for crossing the border.

While I was there, the happiest seven years of my life, I had the privilege to work with farmers in the south and also to stay with the nomads in the north. During all these travels I never met a single Chinese - no soldier, no officer, not even a Chinese trader. Only in Lhasa, where I lived with Tibetan officials and nobility, only in the capital stayed a handful of Chinese civilians. These officials I met at receptions or great ceremonies, when other representatives of Great Britain, India, Nepal or Bhutan also were present. There were no privileges or preferences. It was as it is customary in free and independent countries all over the world. The invitations of the Tibetan Government to the representatives of other nations were generous, the atmosphere was amicable and extremely polite.

As the civil war in China went on, the Tibetan Government asked the few Chinese to leave Lhasa. It was done very politely, and all the Chinese had white silk good luck scarves around their necks when riding through the big Western Gate Stupa on their way to India. I tooks a few pictures of the little caravan, but otherwise the population of Lhasa took hardly any notice.

During those days the Tibetan Government made several efforts to inform the world of the Chinese threat. There was certainly no imperialistic influence, as the Chinese broadcast said, and it was ridiculous to speak of freeing Tibet. Freeing of what, of whom? The British gave India independence, retired as colonial power and then the Chinese began neo-colonialism.

The cry for help came late and had little effect, simply because Tibet had no newspaper, no radio, no means of communication with the outside world.

It is amazing how little the West knew about the country and its people - a monk state, surrounded by the highest mountains of the world. Only recently the world learned that there was a thousand-year-old independent high culture. The artistic skill of handicraft, metalwork, woodcarving, pottery and painting astonished the visitors of exhibitions.

All this fine meticulous work had been possible because Tibetans had no stress, did not have all those materialistic ambitions and found plenty of time for family, meditation and leisure.

I am grateful to His Holiness for arranging this meeting. I am very happy to see some of those who shared the unforgettable wonderful time we spent together half a century ago in free Tibet.

Undoubtedly they all will give testimony that we led a happy life in a happy, free and totally independent country.

The suffering in the occupied country continues. The Tibetans need the unconditional and absolute solidarity of the free world.

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Last updated: 2-Feb-96