Gere adds glamour to fast

“We should not forget that there are six human beings, representing six million people inside and outside Tibet, who are preparing to die,” said Gere.

Gere complimented India on accepting and sheltering the Tibetans when they had nowhere to go. “India is like a older and wiser brotherto Tibet and is even more important as Buddha was born on this soil,” pointed out Gere adding that India should protect them from China.

This is Gere’s third visit to India since December. “He became a vegetarian and has been frequently visiting India since 1984,” said Thinley Gyari who arranges Gere’s trips.

Gere said India had become a second home for him and he felt drawn towards the country due to its rich cultural and social past and varied religions.

In December, Gere came to India and went on a pilgrimage to all the sacred Buddhist sites in the country. His second India visit was in January, when he came to attend lectures in Buddhism at Dharamsala.

“There was a one day gap in the lectures and he utilised this to come to Delhi to support our cause,” said Norbu.

The TYC members have been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since March 10. “The six of them are going to die if their demands are not met soon,” lamented Gere. Surviving only on water they “are loosing weight andare feeling dehydrated but refuse to eat any food or even take any medicines,” said Tashi Dolma, a nurse attending to them.

68-year-old Palzom, the only woman taking part in the hunger strike, “I left China in 1985 after the Chinese atrocities became too harsh to handle.” Palzom lost her parents and her son died in Tibet of starvation. When there was no option left she fled to India. “I was forced to donate blood 138 times and every time we went without food dead pigs and chicken were thrown at us to eat,” said Palzom who is living in an old-people’s home in Dharamsala.

The oldest of the six is 70-year-old Kunsang. “I have taken part in two long marches to propagate our cause earlier and now at the fag end of my life all I can pray for is a graceful death and this is the best way,” said Kunsang who has been a labourer all his life.