In the serene landscape of China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Palha Manor stands as a testament to the region's aristocratic past. Once home to the elite, this manor-turned-museum vividly showcases the opulent lifestyles of its former masters.
However, this grandeur starkly contrasts with the past of approximately 90 percent of the manor's neighboring villagers, who were serfs. As Dawa Chosphel from Bainjig Lhunbo Village recalls, his grandparents endured relentless manual labor under the manor's rule, a life far removed from the prosperity seen today.
\"At that time, life was tough,\" Chosphel shared, highlighting the arduous conditions faced by serfs.
Change swept through Xizang in 1959 when the Chinese central government dissolved the region's aristocratic local government, liberating over one million serfs. This monumental shift transformed the social fabric, empowering former serfs to become the masters of their destiny within the nation.
Under a series of forward-thinking policies, Bainjig Lhunbo Village flourished into a model community, blending modern agriculture with tourism and cultural initiatives. Remarkably, 89 percent of the villagers have pursued higher education, a significant leap from past generations.
\"Now life is more prosperous, much better than before … Their current houses are taller and better than the ones their previous master had,\" remarked Pubu Tsering, a tour guide at Palha Manor.
'They embraced freedom for the first time'
The transformation experienced by the villagers of Bainjig Lhunbo epitomizes the profound impact of the 1959 emancipation. Recognizing its significance, the regional legislature commemorated this pivotal event annually on March 28 starting in 2009.
\"The emancipation of more than one million serfs is undoubtedly the most profound social reform in Xizang's history, and a landmark of foundational significance in the history of human rights in the region,\" stated Ma Cheng, executive director of the Human Rights Research Center of Northwest University of Political Science and Law.
Ma emphasized that human rights center on treating individuals with inherent dignity. As the serfs gained the freedom to shape their futures, they truly embraced their humanity for the first time.
Earthshaking changes
Ma Cheng highlighted Xizang's remarkable evolution from a medieval serf-dominated society to a modernized region under Chinese leadership. Prior to 1949, Xizang was entrenched in serfdom, with nobles and monks exerting control over vast lands and resources.
\"The darkness and cruelty in Xizang at that time was worse than that of serfdom in medieval Europe,\" Ma noted.
Significant milestones in human rights development include the peaceful liberation of Xizang in 1951, which ended foreign imperialistic influence and united the region with other ethnic groups in China. The establishment of the Xizang Autonomous Region in 1965 further solidified ethnic autonomy and governance.
The dawn of a new era following the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012 brought special policies aimed at strengthening ethnic unity and promoting sustainable development in Xizang.
These efforts have culminated in impressive statistics: life expectancy in Xizang rose from 35.5 years in 1959 to 72.19 years in 2023, while regional GDP surged to 239.3 billion yuan (about $33 billion) in the same year, a substantial increase from 174 million yuan in 1959.
\"Over the past 75 years, Xizang has made remarkable progress in economic development and human rights, and the central government's strategy for administering Xizang has won universal support from the people of all ethnic groups in the region,\" Ma concluded.
Addressing ongoing challenges, Ma cautioned against external forces that attempt to distort Xizang's history and undermine its human rights advancements. He invited international observers to visit Xizang to witness its true transformation firsthand.
\"Rumors end with wisdom. I suggest that international friends who really care about China's development and the human rights cause in Xizang to come to the region and take a look. You will certainly have a real feeling,\" he affirmed.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
