ABSTRACT
The Tibetan state was neither militarily nor diplomatically capable, to defend itself. Jawaharlal Nehru fully supported the Dalai Lama in his effort to preserve Tibetan culture. Politically however he did not encourage him to appeal to the United Nations or other international organisations. The Government of India granted political asylum. Some hitherto unknown scriptures have been found in monasteries along the Tibetan border in Northern India. Tibetan Buddhist culture manifests itself on two levels: the level of lay devotees and an advanced level of seekers towards enlightenment and eventual nirvana. The language problem is particularly urgent as in Tibet itself the language is in danger of getting lost. Schools with Tibetan as medium of instruction are only tolerated in the ‘Tibetan Autonomous Region’. The Fourteenth Dalai Lama thinks that the Tibetan values of non-violence and universal interconnectedness may be of some help towards peace and tolerance in the present conflict ridden world.
