A: This question may be answered by the results of a survey recently carried out in Lhasa. According to questionnaires completed by 100 households in Lhasa's Chengguan District conducted in early 2001, 86 percent of Lhasa inhabitants believe that, "the Dalai is a separatist." According to a research fellow of social sciences, "The results of the survey indicate that more and more Buddhist followers in Tibet have extricated themselves from blind worship of the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan people cherish their happy life more and more. The survey also indicates that the Dalai has lost popular support."

 

The questionnaire covers 24 items, including inhabitants' housing and economic conditions, children's education, religious beliefs, political views, etc. the 100 households surveyed included 376 people, among them 129 Buddhist followers. Most of the heads of the families surveyed were Buddhists. In answering the question "What kind of a person is the Dalai Lama to your mind?" 86 percent of the inhabitants answered, "The Dalai Lama is a separatist or politician"; 6 percent of participants in the survey did not answer this question. Only 4 percent answered "The Dalai is a religious leader" while 4 percent answered "The Dalai is a deity or Living Buddha."

 

A woman aged 35 answered in her questionnaire, "I have never seen the Dalai, and I don't worship the Dalai. What I am concerned with is whether my child can be enrolled in a Tibetan class in the interior area."

 

A resident aged 73 said, "I used to think the Dalai Lama was our savior, and that he cold help me live a happy life. But it was only a handful of serf-owners that enjoyed their lives, while serfs and slaves led the life of beggars. Now we live in peace and contentment." The old man continued, "What the Dalai Lama has done abroad is really disappointing."

 

In answering the question "What has made you happiest since the peaceful liberation of Tibet?" more that 90 percent of the inhabitants answered, "the smashing of the shackles of feudal serfdom, emancipation of a million serfs who subsequently become masters of their own society, and a new life of equality, harmony and independence."

 

In filling in the questionnaire, inhabitants did not reveal their names, and wrote in the Tibetan language. The oldest participant in the survey was 80 and the youngest was 25. Among them were former owners of manors, serfs and slaves, and also middle-aged and young people born since the peaceful liberation of Tibet. There were also those who had fled abroad with the Dalai and later come back to lhasa to settle down.