The national highway roars with high-speed traffic and the heat. At a point of time I asked for water at a small shop. The sardarjis inside offered me water and chai, and sat me down and asked me what caused me to walk in the hot sun begging for water.

I said “China ne hamara desh Tibbat ko kabza kiya ji, hum refugee hai ji. (China has occupied my country Tibet. I am a refugee.)” The tall giant men in turban went silent and listened to me in full attention. I continued “Ab Tibbat se China army India ko attack kar rahen hai ji. (Now from Tibet, Chinese army is attacking India). Yeh pamphlet border security ke barey mein Jankari hai ji. (This is an information pamphlet about India’s border security)”, I concluded.

“But, abhi kahan ja rahe ho, and food?” one man asked. I said I was from Dharamshala, Himachal, and that I was going to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister of India to seek his help to liberate my country Tibet.

“But sarkar hamara nahin sunta, tera kyun sunega? (The government doesn’t listen to us. Why would it care about you?)” he asked again. I said the government hears everything and listens only to its political interests.

Today we walked 21 kilometres and arrived in Laldu. We passed through Dera Bassi. Laldu is an industrial area, there is a loud little railway station nearby.

Today Chime Tamding la from Simla joined us as a volunteer. He had served in Tibetan Special Frontier Force (Establishment 22) for 17 years. Ever since we entered Chandigarh Sonam Ladakhi has been supporting us. He joined us for three days. Two members from Tibetan Women’s Association, Shimla, visited us and wished us well this morning. They gave us loads of tsampa packets. Our volunteer Jamyang who is a college student has been attending his online classes even while on the march. He might have to leave soon to write his mid-term exams.

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