Russian Scholar Depicts The Independence Status Of Tibet

 
Title: Hidden Tibet: History of Independence and Occupation (pp. 541 & 180 pictures)

Author: Dr. Sergius L. Kuzmin, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

Publisher: Publication A. Terentyev, St. Petersburg, 2010

Publication sponsor:   Save Tibet Foundation, Moscow

Review and summary by Nawang Rabgyal

The latest book in Russian on Tibet entitled  HIDDEN TIBET: HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE AND OCCUPATION,  authored by Dr. Segius L. Kuzmin, Senior Scholar of Russian Academy of Sciences, was released on March 10, 2010, on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day.

The book contains 12 chapters in 541 pages and 180 photographs, starting from geography of Tibet and origination of Tibetan people up to the present situation in occupied-Tibet. It is the most comprehensive and convincing work in Russian language devoted to the question of Tibet. It  depicts the history and development of Tibetan culture and religion, which makes very clear that Tibet had its own independent and unique national identity. The book analyzes  the Chinese traditional and geopolitical views as well as politics in respect to "national minorities", and thus makes very clear why China misinterpreted Tibet as a state subordinate to China, or even the part of China, and why it is wrong. It analyses legal argumentation of the Tibetan question and depicts very clearly that according to international law Tibet has never  lost her statehood and thus uneqivocally Tibet is an occupied country.

The book disproves some erroneous views on history of Tibet. In summary the author writes " Tibet has never been a part of any other state. At the time when China was an inseparable part of Mongolian Yuan Empire and Manchu Qing Empire, Tibet was a separate  country but not a part  of these empires. It was not a part of Chinese Tang and Ming empire. Statement that Tibet was a part of neighboring empires is related to ancient Chinese conception of the emperor's global power. Its principles are being wrongfully transferred onto a nation state model in post-revolution China. Inclusion of Tibet into the People's Republic of China was not legitimate. Tibet is an occupied country."

To jump to the conclusion, the book traces history of the Tibetan statehood from ancient times to our present days, describes life of Tibetans at the times of " feudalism"  and under Chinese socialism. It depicts the economic development and system cultural genocide in Tibet under China's rule.

The book is now being translated into English under the management of Moscow-based Tibet Culture and Information Center, which also up-loaded the Russian version in its website: www.savetibet.ru

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