Before the Dalai Lama came to India to live in exile, he made a trip to India on then PM Nehru’s invitation with the consent of Chairman Mao, in 1956. This trip was a test for the Dalai Lama under the new CCP administration in Tibet. The trip took place while Chinese premier Zhou Enlai was also in India to ensure he did not take asylum in India.
Along with the unanswered question of asylum, the trip contained a hijacking of the Dalai Lama by the Chinese ambassador and many such interesting moments. More can be read about in this excerpt from The Dalai Lama – An Extraordinary Life by Alexander Norman.
Year
Source
1956
Source Caption:
The Panchen Lama, left, and the Dalai Lama of Tibet, adjust their movie cameras outside Elephanta Caves near Bombay, India on December 25, 1956, during their tour of the country. The trip was the first time the lamas had traveled outside Tibet since communist China took over the country in 1950. One of the first things they did was buy up camera equipment. (AP Photo) Dec 25, 1956 5:38 PM
