(Re Tibetans) India, the holy land...Sudha Murty, Chairman Infosys

[Guest guest]

viji <viji123> wrote:

 

India, the holy land...

-------------------------------

Sudha Murty

Sunday Times of India Lucknow, November 20, 2005

 

 

Maya, a young Tibetan lady, was a frequent visitor to our house.

We children

would stare at her almost-white skin, dove eyes, little flat nose

and two long

plaits, in awe. Over time, she became my knitting teacher and a good

friend.

Her visits meant story sessions, knitting and learning about her

life in Tibet.

For us, Tibet was a foreign land and Maya would describe her country

with great

affection.

 

Sometimes she would narrate stories of how Buddhism started in

Tibet. "Once upon

a time, a King in Tibet was kidnapped. As ransom, his enemies asked

for gold

equivalent to his weight.

 

But the King sent word to the Prince not to waste gold on getting

him back.

Instead, spend the money to get Buddhist scholars from the holy and

compassionate land of India. Open schools and monasteries for the

people so that

they can live in peace and knowledge..."

 

My acquaintance with Maya was short, but it sowed a deep interest

in Tibet.

Recently, I visited Tibet and was surprised to see it dominated by

Chinese

rather than Tibetans. One of the places I visited was a Buddhist

Temple in the

famous Yerlong Valley - the Cradle of Tibetan Civilisation.

 

Though the afternoon sun was bright, the cool wind was making us

shiver. The

river Brahmaputra flowed by timidly in contrast to its rapid gush in

Assam.

I felt the snow-clad mountains gazing at me in absolute silence.

It was as if time had stood still. Though it was supposed to be a

famous

pilgrimage, I could hardly see a handful of people. After looking

around, I sat

on the steps of the monastery, that's when I spotted an old lady, in

her 90's.

 

She was going around with a stick, her only support. Neither the

cold wind nor

her age seemed to bother her. After finishing her round, she came

and sat next

to a young boy on the steps opposite me.

 

Then she pointed at me and said something in Tibetan to the boy.

It became

embarrassing; as I could make out they were talking about me.

 

A little later, she walked up to me, taking both my hands and

pressing them

gently against her eyes, she said something in her language. While I

was still

wondering what was happening, she kissed them and walked away.

 

I could see the happiness on her face, while my fingers felt

moist. The young

boy reluctantly came up to me and apologised: "Madam, please pardon

my

grandmother.

 

She is a villager and has hardly come out. I know you must have

felt awkward

about what she did to you. I'm sorry, she was just thanking you."

I was surprised at the Indian English he spoke. He said he had

lived and studied

in a college in Chennai for five years. "But why did your

grandmother thank me?

I have done nothing for her!" I said.

 

"Yes Madam. India has been a great help for us. It has sheltered

and honoured

Dalai Lama, our living God. We all respect him but cannot express

that in public

due to political reasons.

 

You must have seen there isn't a single photo of Dalai Lama in any

public place

in Lhasa. My grandmother was telling you, 'I'm an old lady and I

don't know how

long I'll live.

 

If I don't thank an Indian and die, I will never attain peace

after death. I'm

not bothered even if somebody punishes me for that. Neither can I go

to India at

this age nor can I wait to meet many Indians in this land.

 

It's a gift that today I was able to see an Indian and I must

thank her and her

country. If India had not sheltered our Dalai Lama, his life would

have been

difficult. India - the holy land, India - the compassionate land..."

 

I understood why my fingers felt moist. Maya sprang up from the

chest of

memories after decades.

-

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* The writer is chairperson, Infosys Foundation