Dharamshala: 10 monks from the 3 largest monasteries in southern India conceived and attempted to carry out a plan that would lead them over the world’s highest mountain range back to Tibet, their movement was called “return to Tibet movement.” The ten monks made it as far as Samdo, near Manali, northern India before they were detained for three days before being turned back by Indian police.Lobsang Jampa said “this mission is important because carrying the two flags to the boarder signifies that the boarder belongs to India and Tibet, not China. It is a defining act that claims the land for Tibet, but it is also an expression of unity and solidarity between India and Tibet.”
In Kirti monastery library the ten monks spoke about their experience and admitted that their movement had failed. Shangza Rinpoche the monk who spearheaded the movement said “in 2008 the determination and promise of 59 monks was dashed when an attempted return to Tibet ended in Samdo India, less than 5 miles from the Tibet border.”
On 10 May 2009 the second movement which included 10 monks from the 3 largest Buddhist monasteries, Sera, Drepung and Gaden, attempted to make the dangerous crossing. “ The monks walked through the northeasterly region of Himachal Pradesh for 5 days before they were arrested, the were beaten by the Indian police forces and one individual was seriously wounded.
Lobsang Jampa one of the men who attempted the journey said “we don’t hate or feel bitterness towards the Indian people or their government; they let us stay in their country for 50 years.”
Shangza Rinpoche held does not want to glorify the mission; instead he wants to apologize to the Tibetan people for failing in their mission of bringing the Tibetan flag back into Tibet. ”This experience will serve them well in future attempts to achieve their goal, and in their failure, Shanza Rinpoche says, “we are victorious because we learned how to succeed in the future.”The ten monks; Lhabsum Tendar a monk in Sera monastery is from Kham, eastern Tibet, Tsering Tenzin from Gaden Jangtse monastery, and Thaye Gyatso, a monk from Amdho Jone, Gomang monastery, Lobsang Phuntsok, a monk at Sera monastery originally from Kham Gawa, eastern Tibet, Lobsang Jampa from Gaden Jangtse Monastery, originally from Kham Dzapa, Lobsang Monlam from Gaden Jangste monastery was born in Kham Tao, and Kelsang Sumdup, a monk at Gaden Jangtse monastery was born in Kham Lithang, Nyima Dakpa from Gaden Jangtse monastery was born in Kham Tao, Tenzin from Drepung lobseling monastery was born in Kham Drakgo, Sonam Rinchen from Gaden Jangtse monastery was born in Kham Tao.
The 10 monks were detained for three days in Kaza police station in spiti northern India before being released.