On BMW bike, US national of Tibetan origin on mission motherland

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Indian Express
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Tibetan activist Lhakpa Tsering poses with his bike upon arriving in Barcelona from Italy on 30 May 2010 , during his “Free Tibet World Tour”. Lhakpa started his motorcycle tour on 10 March 2010 at the United Nations in New York City to raise awareness about the situation in Tibet and he has now travelled to some 22 nations. He will be ending his tour at Dharamshala in India. (File photo/Reuters/Gustau Nacarino/Spain)

Pune- Motorcycle Diaries with a twist. That’s what Lhakpa, who was born in Dharamshala in India and schooled in India, who lived briefly in Nepal before settling in the USA in 1995 and who has never been to Tibet is perhaps trying to chronicle. Lhakpa, is on a motorcycle mission through countries. A butler in New York, he decided to cast aside his job and get onto his motorcycle to take up a world tour to raise awareness on Tibet. His decision had come after bloodshed in the place of his origin, Tibet, in 2008.

Starting his journey on March 10 at the UN, Lhakpa has travelled 22 countries, connecting to media, people on the streets, students and anybody interested in knowing more. India is the last point in his mission, where, after traversing Karnataka, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh and Agra, he will close it off at Dharamshala, on October 29.

It was Dharamshala his pregnant mother had reached 40 years ago, after crossing the Himalayas from Tibet only to die shortly after his birth.

Seven of his older siblings were donated’ to the Tibetan Children’s Village by his poor father.

On Monday, Lhakpa, aroused curiosity as he rode the streets of Pune on his imposing BMW R1200, adorned with stickers from different countries. Interacting with college students, Lhakpa, now a US national, said, “I realised I live in a free country, but my people have no freedom. Every time they protest, they risk their lives. Dissent can invite almost 35-40 years of jail or a death penalty,” said Lhakpa.

Over the months, Lhakpa discussed his ideas with the common man as well as Senators, often relating historical issues to the uninitiated. “Many people are not aware of the injustice in Tibet.” Lhakpa said. Though the Dalai Lama continues to be the apostle of peaceful protest around the world, the younger Tibetan generation has been impatient for being treated second-class citizens. “I always advise the younger generation against violence. We cannot afford that. Non-violence should be our guiding principle. In the end, truth will prevail,” said Lhakpa.