Himalayan Times (1951)

January 2), 1951

DALAI LAMA'S DEPARTURE
FROM LHASA

The story of the Dalai Lama's
departure from Lhasa on Dec. 10 was
tol 1 bv Mr. D P- N'edbycloff, a whit?
Russian, who was till recently employed
by the Tibetan Government to look aft-r
electrical installations in Lhasa.

At about 7 p. m. on Dec. 18 he
was given orders to be ready within
an hour in order to leave the city with
the Dalai Lama's party. At abuot 8
p. m. he went to the house of the
Government official where those who were
travelling were told to assemble, but it
was not till about 1 a. m. the the party
was prepared to leave.

An hour later the party, which has
been split up into two, left by two
parallel roads leading south from Lhasa
to the Kanibala Pass. Mr. Nedbyeloff
was with the party which had been
ordered to guard the left flank of the
Dalai Lama.

At the Kambala Pass which was
reached three days later, this party was
ordered to act as a rear guard and travel
one stage behind the main party but
a few hours later another ord"r stated
that it should tiavel one day ahead and
act as an advance guard.

The posting of this party first as
a flank guard and then as an advance
guard was due, Mr. 'Nedbyeloff stated,
to reraours that Communist Chinese troops
were advancing to capture the Dalai
Lama.

Mr. Nedbyelolf stayed four days
at Yatung after his arrival and on leaving
had an interview with the Dalai Lama
who give him his blessing and tied a
very line piece of crimson cloth round
his neck as a good luck token.

The day before Mr. Nedbyeloff left
Yatung Mr. Reginald Fox and 'Mr. Peter
Anfschniter, the only other Europeans
who were in Lhasa, arrived. Mr. Ned-

DALAI LAMA IN MEDITATION

'even Day's Penance For Good Of Humanity

News have be ;n received horn Yatung
that His Hohness the Dalai Lama.,
temporal and Spiritual head of Tibet
has begun a seven day meditation at
the Tung Kara monastery in the Upper
Chumbi Vally. This meditation is besides
the annual fortyfive day's meditation
the Dalai Lamas observe every year:
It is said that the Dalai Lama has
undertaken this penance in view of the
present delicate position of Tibet. Com-
plete fasting has to be maintained during
these special meditations and no one^is
allowed to approach His, Holiness while
be is j in trance Tibetans generally
believe that this special meditation will
do immense good to Tibet and its people
and will be helpful in bringing peace
to mankind in general.

Mrs. DEVIKARANI ROERICH
At Kalimpong

The famous Indian artiste Srimati
Devika Rani Roerich has arrived at
Kalimpong and is staying with Prof.
Roerich (elder) here at the Crookety in the
Development Area. She proposes to stay
here for some time.

byeloff said that he did not know how
these two people came to be left behind
in Lhasa after the Dalai Lama lelt.
especially as Mr Fox was not looked
upon with favour by the commnists.

Speaking of the Dalai Lama, Mr.
Nedbyeloff said that His Holiness was
greatly interested in cinematography
and had his own-lfinim projector which
was mi d to show news reels, documen-
tari's and cartoons. He was also interested
in the pjtrol engined generator and
altern-tor which were used for supply-
ing power for the projector, lhs Dalai
Lama, he added, was also a keen amature
photographer.