BANGALORE: Claude Arpi, an expert on the India-China border issue addressed people at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC) about the relationship that should be formed between India and China. Frenchman Arpi’s real quest started in 1972 with a journey to the Indian Himalayas. Since then he has been an enthusiastic student of the history of Tibet, China and the subcontinent.After graduating as a dental surgeon from Bordeaux University in 1974, he decided to come to India. Claude Arpi regularly writes on the geopolitics of the region, environment and Indo-French relations.At BIC he spoke about the relationship of India- Tibet, India-China and Tibet and China.Tracing back, he spoke about the birth of the yellow dynasty. His talk was divided into four parts; before Indian Independence, after independence, the religion belief and border distribute.He told the crowd that India and Tibet had a healthy relationship because of the religion and British empire, during the rule of British in India. India and Tibet enjoyed trade which created a harmony among both the nations.After the revolt against the British by the Indians in 1947, the British lost their power in India resulting in which the trade was prevented with Tibet because of government reasons. Arpi terms this loss of relation as ‘Karma’.On the other hand Tibet and India were linked because of Buddhism.“Buddhism originated from India spread all across Tibet and China. In Tibet, Buddhism is practiced in majority,” he said. To prove his point on the relationship background he quoted the incident of Dalai Lama’s visit in India.Dalai Lama had said, “Tibetan Buddhist culture is from India. I am a son of India”. Arpi noted, “The ruler of Tibet says he is a child of India because of Buddhism.” After the 1950s China and Tibet had signed a treaty in 1954 about the regulations about trade. In the agreement signed it says that “No interference in each others internal affair”.By this India was blocked forever in trade with Tibet.“Since India has no power over Tibet, China is overpowering Tibet with this agreement. Tibet being an independent nation is still a puppet in the hands of the China,” he noted The McMahon Line is a line agreed to by Great Britain and Tibet as part of Simla Accord, a treaty signed in 1914. “The McMahon Line is regarded by India as the legal national border. The Dalai Lama’s Tibetan governmentin- exile also accepts the line as an official border. This being the main reason for the Indo-China war in 1962.China winning the war had complete control over Tibet and divided it in to five parts.Till now the people of Tibet are considered as prisoners in their own land. If there is a relationship formed between India and Tibet, then there will be a lot of hope for change for the Tibetans,” he added.After the hour and half long speech he said, “There is a necessity for both the nations to form a relationship, which will help in the betterment of both the nations.” He also cleared the questions put forth by the BIC members about the topic.Arpi said, “There will be a relationship formed soon and change is in sight.”
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