Tibet was made an autonomous Region of China fifty years ago this month. The purpose of this article is to examine what progress Tibet has made during the last fifty years.

We Sri Lankans remember Tibet as the Birth Place of poet monk S Mahinda. It is also called the roof of the world. The average elevation of the country is about 15000 feet above the sea level. Today Tibet is in the limelight due to Dalai Lama’s efforts and manipulations to secede from China.

Tibet is governed as an autonomous region of China and it has it’s own legislative council. It has achieved tremendous progress under this dispensation and to understand the magnitude of the progress one should compare what it was prior to 1951 and today.

The system of government before it became a province of China, was somewhat a theocracy comprising Lamas, aristocrats and high officials. It was manifestly clear that the social structure was feudal with an old fashioned and rigid class system, tantamount to semi slavery. They had no freedom or human rights and they were taxed heavily. Even the dead were taxed. Punishment for non payment of taxes were severe.

95% of the land belonged to 5% of the population. There was no advanced agriculture and very primitive agricultural methods were applied. The economy was mainly pastoral, herders, many of whom were nomadic raised yaks, goats, sheep , horses and pigs in the mountain and plateau pastures. Industries were non existent. Literacy rate was below 5 percent.

Prior to 1949 the British and later the American tried every trick of colonial trade to distance Tibet from China as it would retard the progress of Chinese influence of the region.

If we follow the history of Tibet carefully it is quite evident that China had ruled Tibet from the 13th century up to 1911. It became independent of Chinese influence in 1911 and became a part of China again in 1951.

The Tibetan government was dissolved by the Chinese central government on the 28th of March 1959 and the governing of Tibet was entrusted to an independent self governing autonomous body in 1965.

Under this autonomous rule the centre managed to develop Tibet like the other regions of China. This region was entrusted with greater political freedom. All Tibetans received equal rights and under the aegis of the central government this region made great strides in every field of development. Out of the 301 members in the governing body 242 were Tibetans. There were peasants shepards and- surfs among the elected members of the first regional council. Like other regions of China Tibetan women also received voting rights. This body approved several legislative measures that were central to the development of Tibet.

Under the guidance of the Chinese Central Government the governing body of the Tibetan autonomous region took several measures needed initially for the rapid economic growth of the region in 1978.

In 2004 the gross domestic product of Tibet was 21154 Billion yuan. The area under the plough increased from 160,000 hectares in 1952 to 230,000 in 2004. The value of the agricultural product in 2004 was yuan 2656 billion. Tibet managed to overtake several other regions of China in animal husbandry and export of animals. Value of animal exports exceeded yuan 2912 billion in 2004. Tibet also produces raw material needed for the textile industry.

Tibet has made vast strides in the generation of electricity , mining industry, weaving industry, medium size industries and handicrafts, after introduction of free market policies in 1978. By 2005 the generation of hydro electric power exceeded 500,000 Kilo Watts. Tibet is a leading producer of copper and out of the provinces that produce copper, Tibet occupies the second place in China.

In 2004 the value of foreign trade was US$ 22,355 million. It was an increase of 38.7 percent by 2003 figures. Tibet exports its products to countries such as India, Nepal Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Europe and America.

With the rapid development that took place after 195 1, Tibet was connected to various part of China by new road ways laid. Direct links were made to. Yunan and Sichuan provinces. The direct train link from Beijing to Lhasa was completed 2007. This facilitated trade between Tibet and other provinces of China.

The train link between Golmet and Lhasa which is 1142 Km in length has cost US$ 42 billion to construct.

In 2004 1.22 million tourists (including locals) had visited Tibet and this has brought US$ 3.6 million to the country. As result of this tourists influx various auxiliary trades have sprung up in urban areas of Tibet.

Prior to 1951 other than few religious school there were no schools for the average citizenry. Primary schools were opened in 1952 and by 1965 there were 1800 primary schools with a student population of 160,000. There were 4 central schools with a separate school to train teachers.

Tibet ethnic school was started to educate the ethnic minorities and special emphasis was made to teach Tibetan language which is closely related to Burmese.

In the second national congress held in 1984 the teaching of Tibetan culture in schools was encouraged. The Tibetan university commenced its work in 1984 and the Tibetan medical college commenced teaching in 1989.

As there were no medical terms available in Tibetan Language, teaching was done in Han Language. The Lamas saw it as a move to destroy Tibetan Language but science is taught in English in Dharmashala where lamas and other Tibetan exiles live. In 2004 there were 327,000 children attending school in Tibet. There were 45,200 graduates and 95 percent of the children attend school. More than 100 Tibetans holding PhDs live in Tibet today.

Religion

The policy of the central government in to allow people to follow any religion, and this has been endorsed by the independent Tibetan council too. Religious freedom was much restricted during the cultural revolution days. With the end of that era religious freedom surfaced again and today more than 1700 places of religious worship are found and there are more than 40.000 Buddhist priests. Research on Buddhist Philosophy is encouraged by the state providing various assistance.

Culture

Basically Tibet is a multicultural province. The state government has undertaken the responsibility of safe guarding the multicultural nature of the society. Between 1989 - 1994 the central government had spent 55 million Yuan restoring places of worship.

In addition to that the centre had provided gold and silver for the said restorations. In 2001 the central government provided 330 million Yuan for the restoration of Potala Palace. In 1997 an act was passed for the restoration and administration of the Potala Palace. In addition to that 18 such important cultural centres were identified for restoration.

In 2001 the UNESCO identified Potala Palace as a part of world heritage. In 2007 Jokhang Palace and Norbulingka Palace were identified as palaces affiliated to Potala Palace. The famous Rampoche monastery was brought under a special restoration plan.

Health Activities

The Tibetan autonomous government (state government) spent 1.8 billion Yuan at the inception for the development of the health services. Co-operative hospitals and government medical aid centres were created and 20 million Yuan are spent annually to upkeep them. Mortality rate of expectant mothers was brought down to 0.23 percent from 5 percent. Infant mortality was reduced to 3 percent from 43 percent. By 2004 there were 1326 health centres in Tibet. There were 79 centres for communicable diseases and 55 child and maternity centres.

The Life of Citizenry

Under the autonomous government (state government ) a real awakening has taken place in Tibet. Due to free higher education the living condition of people improved rapidly. People preferred electricity to Ghee Lamps and LP Gas for cow dung cakes for cooking purposes. Most of the Tibetans prefer to wear European clothes to there traditional costumes. By 2004 the purchasing power of the average Tibetan increased and it was second highest among the provinces of China.

The annual spending capacity of the people of urban areas increased upto 8057 Yuan. By 2004, there were 35,000 cars in Lhasa and there were 330,000 cellular phones among the people.