Freedom in Exile the autobiography of the Dalai Lama

I have for sale a hardback ex-library book with dust cover in good condition, 295 text pages, 8 pages of photographs and maps on 5 pages, first publication in Great Britain by Hodder & Stoughton 1990.

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A paperback book in good condition, 295 text pages, 8 pages of photographs and maps on 5 pages, published in Cardinal by Sphere Books Ltd 1991.

‘Freedom in Exile’ tells the story of the Dalai Lama’s life through turbulent times and gives a fascinating account of what Tibet was like before and after invasion by the People’s Republic of China.

The book also makes a connection with Winifred Tovey’s new book (to be published in October 2011) entitled ‘Cor Blimey!  Where on earth ‘ave you come from’.  Following the Dalai Lama’s flight into exile in 1959, many Tibetans escaped into India, and in response to their need the Indian government offered several sites for the settlement of refugees.

One of these sites was at Bylakuppe, near Mysore City, south India.  When the first refugees arrived, Winnie Tovey was among a group of Mysoreans who worked to help the Tibetan families as they adapted to their new surroundings.  Winnie had already done much to aid the plight of Indian villagers during times of drought and famine, and to bring treatment and rehabilitation to people who had leprosy.

In her book, ‘Cor Blimey!  Where on earth ‘ave you come from’, Winnie includes the Dalai Lama’s description of the Bylakuppe refugee camp as she remembers it and as he found it in 1961: -

‘On 1 February 1960, the first settlers arrived at Bylakuppe in Mysore State.  I heard later that when they saw the land, many of the refugees broke down and cried.  The task before them seemed so immense.  They had been supplied with tents and basic equipment, but apart from this, their only resource was such determination as they could bring to bear.

During the early part of 1961, I paid my first visit to the new settlement at Bylakuppe.  On arrival, I found the settlers all to be very dark and thin.  I saw immediately why they had been so pessimistic.  The camp consisted of nothing but a few tents on the edge of a forest and, although the countryside was just as beautiful as I remembered it from my pilgrimage, the land itself did not look promising.  Moreover, the heat from the burning debris, combined with the heat from the sun, was almost unbearable.

The settlers had made a special tent for me with bamboo walls and a canvas roof.  But even though it was well made, it was no proof against the terrible dust thrown up by the clearing process.  Every day, a thick cloud of smoke and soot hung over the whole area.  At night it would settle slowly, penetrating every tiny opening, so that in the morning you woke up covered in a fine layer of powder.  Because of these conditions morale was very low.’

The National Christian Council and OXFAM donated some cows, bullocks and chickens to the Tibetan camp in Bylakuppe, and helped in many other ways.

 The group from Mysore assisted the Tibetans as they adjusted to living in the hot climate, to farming on the arid plain and to setting up healthcare and education for their community.

 ‘Freedom in Exile’ does not bring us up to date on the affairs of Bylakuppe (now a thriving Tibetan town in the heart of Karnataka (then Mysore) State), but it does give a detailed account of the ancient traditions of old Tibet, where on the death of the Dalai Lama his successor is found from the population by a set of rules, part visionary, part proof of the child remembering his previous incarnation as Dalai Lama, and in part the personal qualities of the child.

Before his third birthday the Dalai Lama was taken to live in the community of Buddhist monks.  As a boy, his eager sense of adventure was harnessed by his mentors in the monasteries.  In 1950 when the People’s Liberation Army invaded the eastern region of Tibet, the fifteen year old Dalai Lama had nothing but the teaching he had received on Buddhist philosophy to guide him on the defence of his country.

Four years later he made a dangerous journey out of Tibet, to live in the heart of Maoist regime in Peking, hoping to persuade them to give Tibet back to the Tibetans.  On return to Tibet he tries to peacefully restrain the excesses of the invader, but to no avail.

‘Freedom in Exile’ is an honest and thought-provoking account from a person, ordinary in many ways, but set up through a quirk of fate to lead a nation.  It gives insights of the Buddhist way of life and shows faith kept alive against all odds.

 I have two copies of this book available:-

1)      1990 hardback with good dust jacket – £6.00+£4.50 (U.K.)p&p. 

2)     1991 paperback – at £4.50 + £3.50 (U.K.)p&p. 

 Please email me at  Jenny@LittleKnollPress.co.uk if you wish to purchase this book.

Tags: autobiography, Buddhist, Bylakuppe, Dalai Lama, drought, exile, famine, Freedom in Exile, Karnataka, leprosy, Maoist, Mysore, OXFAM, People's Liberation Army, refugee, rehabilitation, settlement, settlers, Tibet, Tibetan, treatment, Winnie Tovey