Giani Zail Singh,
former President of the
Indian Republic, on Tibet
(Speech delivered at the inaugural session of the
International Convention on Tibet and Peace in
South Asia, New Delhi, 12-14 August, 1989)
YOU all know the purpose of the meeting which I have come
to inaugurate. I apologize for coming quite late. My doctor had
advised me not to go out and my secretary telephoned
immediately to say that I would not be coming. I said that I will
definitely go. There was an agreement that I would not deliver
a speech, but would participate and meet the friends who fight
for human rights.
I am not saying anything as a former President of India, or
on behalf of the government. Whatever I shall say will be in my
personal capacity and it should not be misconstrued.
Whenever people of various ideologies have had any difficulty
and suffered, we, the Indians, gave them support. They came
and lived here as the Tibetans are living here today. This is the
basic tradition of India which we have preserved.
You will be glad to know that even though our government
keeps quite aloof from conferences of this kind, yet the voice of
the people cannot be suppressed. A government does not make
its people; rather the people make the government.
In the changed circumstances, I think our old friends who
are our friends even today, i.e., China and her leaders, claim
that Tibet is a part of their country. India too, accepts this position.
But if the Tibetan’s viewpoint, emotions, ideas, and ways of
living are suppressed and others remain silent I do not think it is
a good thing. Wherever humanity is suppressed, wherever the
people’s voice is suppressed by force and attempts are made to
keep them tied, the people of India cannot remain silent.
I wanted to say many things to the delegates of this
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conference. My speech is quite brief and my friend will read it
out to you. I am glad that leaders of the two superpowers have
turned friendly during the last one year or two. I am also glad
that Mr Gorbachev, whom I regard as an angel of peace, has
demolished the totalitarian regime in his country and taken
resolute steps towards democracy. The countries of the Warsaw
Pact have also achieved democracy. So many changes have
taken place and I think the voice of the people behind these
changes is the Lord’s voice. The people’s call is the call of the
Supreme Being (Paramatma). This is what I believe.
“Zulm dekha to shahanshahon ki hasti mein;
Khuda Dekha to logon ki basti mein.”
I saw oppression in the figure of the monarchs and
I saw God in the habitations of the people.
Gorbachev’s ideas have exerted their influenced in the Soviet
Union and on some other issues as well. I am not despondent
and believe that our voice will definitely reach the Chinese
leaders. It will also help the struggling Tibetans and give them
courage.