Seven Years in Tibet is a very
powerful and adventurous story of by an Austrian mountaineer. Heinrich Harrer,
the author of this book was in the Himalayas attempting the infamous Nanga
Parbat mountain, when the second world war broke out. Due to his nationality he
was jailed in India. After two failed attempts he finally made it in his third
attempt and escaped into Tibet.
His hardships including
hunger, hiding from wild animals, traveling through inhospitable terrain and
finally entering Lhasa in Tibet, is a wonderful sorry to read. Harrer stayed
there for seven years. During this time, he learnt the language, studied the
local customs, befriended people, became friend and tutor of the Dalai Lama. In
1951 the red army invaded Tibet and Dalai Lama fled to India with a hundred
thousand Tibetans. The author accompanied Dalai Lama to India.
Throughout the book the author
has chronologically explained the events during his journey. His days in
internment and his partners in the escapement of prison are explained.
Furthermore, the rituals, social norms, religious festivities, means of
livelihoods, entry into the forbidden city are clearly mentioned. The author
works for the government, helps in gardening, makes a small cinema for the
Dalai Lama and assists in saving parts of Tibet from flooding by improvising an
embankment.
The author regrets leaving
Tibet as the political realities change in Asia and the red army invades Tibet
Heinrich Harrer leaves Tibet unwantedly. Lastly the author says: “My heartfelt wish is that this book may
create some understanding for a people whose will to live in peace and freedom
has won so little sympathy from an indifferent world.”
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