Photo Exbition on Tibet and the Tibetans in Chennai

From the 10th to the 12th of March, a collection of photographs by photo-journalist Vijay Kranti is on at the Lakshana Art Gallery in Mylapore. I have had the opportunity to interact with the Tibetan student community (TSAM - Tibetan Students Association of Madras) in Chennai many years back when I accompanied them on an awareness cycle rally across the state and it was good occasion to renew oneself with one of the most peaceful struggles in the world when I attended the inauguration ceremony of the photo exhibition on the 10th March (yesterday).

Something interesting from the speech of the photographer, Mr. Kranti - he said that it is in India's interest to have a peaceful Tibet as that would cut down Indian government's expenditure on border maintenance with China! Wonder what would be a response to this from those who believe that India ought not to too overtly support Tibetan cause as it upsets our relationship with China and currently our relationship with China is important to us, etc.

Foreign Affairs are not easily discussed topics in students' circles in Chennai, but, cannot escape such discussion with the Tibetan students around. Some short good speeches were also given by two Professors, one from MCC and other from Madras University during the inauguration. In an otherwise technically oriented city, it is indeed a strong single community today where most of the students are studying arts and not sciences.

The exhibition itself is a mix of the photographer's effort to capture life in Tibet, in Lhasa particularly, some very moving scenes of the status of Tibetans (rather journalistic and almost casual in their captions, it could have done with more sensitive captions and less cliched ones), the life in exile in Dharamshala, Bailagoppa, Mussoorie, etc. If you are in Chennai and can spare some time, visit this exhibition.