Freeing Tibet: 50 Years of Struggle, Resilience, and Hope

by John B. Roberts, Elizabeth A. Roberts

In March of 1959, a 23 year-old Tibetan youth named Tenzin Gyatso burst onto the world stage. Fleeing his native country to govern in exile from India, the Dalai Lama would go on to become one of the great leaders of our time. Then, in March 2008, the diplomat, icon, and winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize was blamed for inciting violence in Tibet's traditional capital of Lhasa. From the national uprising in 1959, which cost more than 85,000 Tibetans their lives, to the rise of the Tibetan freedom fighters; the aftereffects of Nixon's historic visit to China, and preparations for the Dalai Lama's successor, this seminal history offers an insider's view of the 50-year struggle for autonomy. Based on interviews with CIA and political insiders, this epic story gives readers a new understanding of a conflict that continues to fascinate the world.

Genres: History

279 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note: for the plastic surgeon, see John Bingham Roberts

Reviews

[Brett Folk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brett Folk
Mrs. Allen
Advanced Composition
15 September 2016
Free Tibet
Imagine waking up and realizing that the country you live in has been invaded. Then imagine fighting for over 60 years to regain your once independent country. This is the scenario the region of Tibet has been going through for over 60 years, and also what my book Freeing Tibet: 50 Years of Struggle, Resilience, and Hope is about. The book is told in third person so there wasn’t a main character. It is set in a region of China named Tibet and covers the period from October 7th 1950 till present day. The book discusses the issue in this country and the conflict between Tibetan people and the Chinese government. Throughout the book, the authors describe the grotesque crimes committed by China’s army, the People’s Liberation Army. Also, they tell about covert missions orchestrated by the United States and lastly, Dalai Lama relations. With conflict for over 60 years, wouldn’t you think that the two countries are any closer to an agreement? You will have to read to find out and see if they are.
This book left me with the idea that even when it seems like there is no way to combat an enormous situation, you can still try and resist. I wanted to read this book because I have been interested in the movement “Free Tibet” for a couple of years now. This book reminds me of my life because I tend to want to fight for what's right. I align with mostly liberal ideals, so a lot of the things I stand for are humanitarian efforts.
You shouldn't read the book Freeing Tibet if you’re not interested in foreign affairs or Asian history. You can really experience through reading this book what Tibetan people endured. This book is aimed at anybody who would like to further their knowledge on Chinese affairs. But, people who enjoy learning about foreign affairs would also enjoy this.

[Michael Mcclelland · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intelligent and readable account of the efforts of Tibetans - and the related positions of successive U.S. administrations - to exercise autonomy and maintain cultural and religious traditions after 20th century Chinese colonisation of their territory.



While the question of historical Tibetan sovereignty isn't as cut-and-dried as this book makes out, what seems certain is that a distinct cultural group was subjugated by Communist authorities as part of the "Chinese Civil War" (an estimated 40-70 million people died in the wider conflict and later, through fatal idealist policies implemented by Mao Zedong's Communist party). Undoubtedly other ethnicities suffered similarly to Tibet during this time and the one thing unexplained by this book is why Tibet - as a cause - has far outshone any _other_ liberation movements of its ilk (e.g. claims by the Uyghur people). Perhaps that's an unfair criticism on my part as it's made clear this is a book about Tibet, rather than wider Chinese colonialism; but when the book champions a worldwide divestment campaign against China to pressure them into granting Tibetan autonomy - and brings up poor environmental and quality control practices in manufacturing to sweeten the argument - we can only wonder why no other autonomous claims against present Chinese territory are mentioned.



The book constrains its views to Tibet however and a fascinating history is unveiled: a secret CIA trained and sponsored guerilla war, a thrilling flight into exile by the Dalai Lama, the personal decision to approach China and betray Tibetan independance made by Nixon, the embracing of Tibetan Buddhism by the beatnik generation, and the eventual general assimilation into western society of the idea of a peacable people wronged. Finally a view to the future: now that the land is secure, Chinese control of the religion is next. Seemingly the next significant move will occur in the years following the death of the present Dalai Lama. Should he choose to reincarnate, China will endeavour to discover his successor amidst an upstanding Communist family: as they did the 11th Panchen Lama. Whereabouts of the Panchen Lama selected by the Tibetans themselves have remained unconfirmed since he was taken into Chinese custody in 1995.

[Rinchen]

This was one of my exhibition books. I haven't read all the chapters in the book but i read majority of the chapters. I thought that this was a really good book on Tibet because it had a lot of information that i didn't know before, for example it talked a lot about the CIA's involvement in the Tibet-China issues and how President Eisenhower actually helped Tibet with military before Mao Zedong had hit the cultural revolution in Tibet and before Mao wanted to get rid of the four old and said that "religion is poison". so overall in terms of facts and knowledge that I've gained from this book is very high. i would give it a 4.5 out of 5.