A History of Modern Tibet, volume 2: The Calm before the Storm: 1951-1955 (Philip E. Lilienthal Books)

It is not possible to fully understand contemporary politics between China and the Dalai Lama without understanding what happened—and why—during the 1950s. In a book that continues the story of Tibet's history that he began in his acclaimed A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State, Melvyn C. Goldstein critically revises our understanding of that key period in midcentury. This authoritative account utilizes new archival material, including never before seen documents, and extensive interviews with Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, and with Chinese officials. Goldstein furnishes fascinating and sometimes surprising portraits of these major players as he deftly unravels the fateful intertwining of Tibetan and Chinese politics against the backdrop of the Korean War, the tenuous Sino-Soviet alliance, and American cold war policy. V. 1. The 'tibetan Question, ' The Nature Of Tibet's Political Status Vis-a-vis China, Has Been The Subject Of Often Bitterly Competing Views While The Facts Of The Issue Have Not Been Fully Accessible To Interested Observers. While One Faction Has Argued That Tibet Was, In The Main, Historically Independent Until It Was Conquered By The Chinese Communists In 1951 And Incorporated Into The New Chinese State, The Other Faction Views Tibet As A Traditional Part Of China That Split Away At The Instigation Of The British After The Fall Of The Manchu Dynasty And Was Later Dutifully Reunited With New China In 1951. In Contrast, This Comprehensive Study Of Modern Tibetan History Presents A Detailed, Non-partisan Account Of The Demise Of The Lamaist State. Drawing On A Wealth Of British, American, And Indian Diplomatic Records; First- Hand-historical Accounts Written By Tibetan Participants; And Extensive Interviews With Former Tibetan Officials, Monastic Leaders, Soldiers, And Traders, Goldstein Meticulously Examines What Happened And Why. He Balances The Traditional Focus On International Relations With An Innovative Emphasis On The Intricate Web Of Internal Affairs And Events That Produced The Fall Of Tibet. Scholars And Students Of Asian History Will Find This Work An Invaluable Resource And Interested Readers Will Appreciate The Clear Explanation Of Highly Polemicized, And Often Confusing, Historical Events.--publisher's Description. V. 2. It Is Not Possible To Understand Contemporary Politics Between China And The Dalai Lama Without Understanding What Happened During The 1950s. This Book Presents An Understanding Of That Period. It Furnishes Portraits Of These Major Players And Unravels The Fateful Intertwining Of Tibetan And Chinese Politics Against The Backdrop Of The Korean War. V. 3. It Is Not Possible To Fully Understand Contemporary Politics Between China And The Dalai Lama Without Understanding What Happened In The 1950's. The Third Volume In Melvyn Goldstein's History Of Modern Tibet Series, The Calm Before The Storm, Examines The Critical Years Of 1955 Through 1957. During This Period, The Preparatory Committee For A Tibet Autonomous Region Was Inaugurated In Lhasa, And A Major Tibetan Uprising Occurred In Sichuan Province. Jenkhentsisum, A Tibetan Anti-communist Emigree Group, Emerged As An Important Player With Secret Links To Indian Intelligence, The Dalai Lama's Lord Chamberlain, The United States, And Taiwan. And In Tibet, Fan Ming, The Acting Head Of The Ccp's Office In Lhasa, Launched The Great Expansion, Which Recruited Many Thousands Of Han Cadres To Lhasa In Preparation For Beginning Democratic Reforms, Only To Be Stopped Decisively By Mao Zedong's Great Contraction Which Sent Them Back To China And Ended Talk Of Reforms In Tibet For The Foreseeable Future. In Volume Iii, Goldstein Draws On Never-before Seen Chinese Government Documents, Published And Unpublished Memoirs And Diaries, And Invaluable In-depth Interviews With Important Chinese And Tibetan Participants (including The Dalai Lama) To Offer A New Level Of Insight Into The Events And Principal Players Of The Time. Goldstein Corrects Factual Errors And Misleading Stereotypes In The History, And Uncovers Heretofore Unknown Information On The Period To Reveal In Depth A Nuanced Portrait Of Sino-tibetan Relations That Goes Far Beyond Anything Previously Imagined-- [v. 1.] 1913-1951, The Demise Of The Lamaist State -- V. 2. The Calm Before The Storm, 1951-1955. V.3. The Storm Clouds Descend: 1955-1957. Melvyn C. Goldstein. Vol. 1 Written With The Help Of Gelek Rimpoche. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. CONTENTS......Page 10 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS......Page 12 PREFACE......Page 14 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 20 NOTE ON ROMANIZATION......Page 22 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS......Page 24 D......Page 26 G......Page 27 L......Page 28 M......Page 29 R......Page 30 T......Page 31 X......Page 32 Z......Page 33 Introduction: Tibetan Society on the Eve of Incorporation into China......Page 38 PART ONE. THE ROAD TO A SINO-TIBETAN AGREEMENT......Page 54 1. Chinese Perspectives: Radio Beijing......Page 56 2. Tibetan Perspectives: Contacts with the Chinese Communists......Page 78 3. Tibet Appeals to the United Nations......Page 96 4. Negotiations with Beijing......Page 119 5. The United States Intervenes......Page 151 6. The Dalai Lama Returns to Lhasa......Page 175 PART TWO. THE FIRST TWO YEARS: CONFRONTATION AND ADJUSTMENT......Page 204 7. Initial Contacts and Strategies......Page 206 8. The Advance PLA Force Arrives in Lhasa......Page 243 9. The Food Crisis......Page 281 10. The Panchen Lama and the People's Liberation Army......Page 302 11. First Steps toward Implementing the Seventeen-Point Agreement......Page 338 12. The Tibetan People's Association......Page 351 13. Turning to the Dalai Lama and Removing the Sitsab......Page 378 14. The Return of the Panchen Lama......Page 422 PART THREE. COOPERATION AND CHANGE......Page 434 15. Winds of Change......Page 436 16. Confiict within the Communist Party in Tibet......Page 459 17. Tibet's First Steps toward Socioeconomic Reform......Page 491 18. Events in India......Page 501 19. The Dalai Lama Goes to Beijing......Page 515 20. The Dalai Lama in Beijing......Page 528 21. The Return to Lhasa......Page 560 22. Conclusions......Page 578 APPENDIX A. LOBSANG SAMDEN'S 1952 LETTER TO TSIPÖN SHAKABPA......Page 588 APPENDIX B. KASHAG'S 1953 EDICT REFORMING DEBTS IN TIBET......Page 590 APPENDIX C. AGREEMENT OF THE SECRET RESISTANCE ORGANIZATION IN INDIA......Page 598 APPENDIX D. LIST OF CORRECT TIBETAN SPELLINGS......Page 602 REFERENCES......Page 620 A......Page 642 B......Page 643 C......Page 644 D......Page 647 E......Page 648 G......Page 650 I......Page 652 J......Page 653 K......Page 654 L......Page 655 M......Page 657 N......Page 659 P......Page 660 R......Page 664 S......Page 665 T......Page 669 U......Page 673 X......Page 674 Z......Page 675 CONTENTS 10 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 12 PREFACE 14 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 20 NOTE ON ROMANIZATION 22 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 24 GLOSSARY OF KEY PERSONS AND TERMS 26 A 26 B 26 C 26 D 26 E 27 F 27 G 27 J 28 K 28 L 28 M 29 N 30 P 30 R 30 S 31 T 31 W 32 X 32 Y 33 Z 33 Introduction: Tibetan Society on the Eve of Incorporation into China 38 PART ONE. THE ROAD TO A SINO-TIBETAN AGREEMENT 54 1. Chinese Perspectives: Radio Beijing 56 2. Tibetan Perspectives: Contacts with the Chinese Communists 78 3. Tibet Appeals to the United Nations 96 4. Negotiations with Beijing 119 5. The United States Intervenes 151 6. The Dalai Lama Returns to Lhasa 175 PART TWO. THE FIRST TWO YEARS: CONFRONTATION AND ADJUSTMENT 204 7. Initial Contacts and Strategies 206 8. The Advance PLA Force Arrives in Lhasa 243 9. The Food Crisis 281 10. The Panchen Lama and the People's Liberation Army 302 11. First Steps toward Implementing the Seventeen-Point Agreement 338 12. The Tibetan People's Association 351 13. Turning to the Dalai Lama and Removing the Sitsab 378 14. The Return of the Panchen Lama 422 PART THREE. COOPERATION AND CHANGE 434 15. Winds of Change 436 16. Confiict within the Communist Party in Tibet 459 17. Tibet's First Steps toward Socioeconomic Reform 491 18. Events in India 501 19. The Dalai Lama Goes to Beijing 515 20. The Dalai Lama in Beijing 528 21. The Return to Lhasa 560 22. Conclusions 578 APPENDIX A. LOBSANG SAMDEN'S 1952 LETTER TO TSIPÖN SHAKABPA 588 APPENDIX B. KASHAG'S 1953 EDICT REFORMING DEBTS IN TIBET 590 APPENDIX C. AGREEMENT OF THE SECRET RESISTANCE ORGANIZATION IN INDIA 598 APPENDIX D. LIST OF CORRECT TIBETAN SPELLINGS 602 REFERENCES 620 INDEX 642 A 642 B 643 C 644 D 647 E 648 F 650 G 650 H 652 I 652 J 653 K 654 L 655 M 657 N 659 O 660 P 660 Q 664 R 664 S 665 T 669 U 673 V 674 W 674 X 674 Y 675 Z 675 This is an excellent, illuminating book, in line with Goldstein's preceding volume. It is both superbly researched and highly readable, thanks to the author's admirable capacity to weave significan not quotations and documents into his narrative. This said, a couple of issues may be raised. 1st and almost all important, in analyzing this chunk of Tibetan history Goldstein adopts a consistent approach, reflecting his views. This is fully acceptable, however sometimes1gets the impression that the author's perspective has become static and schematic, as if he had partially lost his previous sensitivity to the events on the ground. The previous volume's extraordinarily vivid image of Lhasa's life and society is no longer there and the author seems to have become somewhat estranged from Tibetan mentality. Second, while it is impossible for anyone to fully grasp the complexity of Tibetan life and culture, Goldstein's relative indifference to its essential religious dimension is quite apparent here