In this fourth and final episode of our series, we continue the story of Tibet’s relentless pursuit of independence, set against the backdrop of world powers repeatedly hesitating and dilly-dallying over their support for the land of Shangri-La.

We also cover the Manchu Empire and its unleashed general, Zhao Erfeng, who brought immense destruction to Tibet; the empire’s eventual collapse and its aftermath; and the new power struggle in China that not only turned the streets of Beijing red, but also introduced a fresh set of challenges for Tibet.

This series would not have been possible without the esteemed authors whose works provided the depth and clarity needed to bring Tibet’s history—its glory, tragedy, and enduring spirit—to life. I am deeply grateful to the scholars and explorers whose writings informed this journey:

• Purshottam Mehra – Tibet: Writings on History and Politics

• Francis Younghusband – India and Tibet

• Thomas Laird – The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama

• Sam van Schaik – Tibet: A History

• Elsa M. Spencer – Escape from Shangri-La

If you’re interested in diving deeper into Tibet’s past and its ongoing quest for independence, I strongly recommend reading these works.

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As the British, wary of the Russian threat, began their military expedition to Tibet, they chose Francis Younghusband to lead the mission, a man of caliber, trusted by many, and backed by Lord Curzon. With a strong British contingent, they marched towards Tibet via Bhutan. But what awaited them? Would they uncover signs of Russian imperial ambitions in Tibet, or was it all just a hoax?

To know more, listen to this episode:

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The British, long intrigued by the mysterious land of Tibet, finally sent one of their most trusted and decorated envoys. Sir George Bogle, to initiate dialogue and explore trade opportunities. Bogle met the Panchen Lama, and the two connected instantly. It marked Britain's first official engagement with Tibet, but it would not be the last.

Meanwhile in China, the Manchus, after toppling the previous dynasty, didn't abandoned their vows to protect Tibet and found themselves in direct conflict with yet another Himalayan kingdom.

The Great Game was underway, played by rival empires with competing interests in the Tibetan plateau. We’ve covered a lot in this episode, so sit back, listen, and seep into the mystique of the Land of Shangri-La.

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In this opening chapter of our three-part series on the Tibetan conflict, we travel back to the windswept highlands of the “roof of the world”, a place once known more for monks and mysticism than military campaigns. We begin with a deeply personal, imagined re-creation of a Tibetan family's escape in 1959 — a story inspired by real accounts like that of the Kelsang family, among thousands who fled their homeland under Chinese occupation.

From there, we dive into Tibet’s ancient roots: the rise of the early Tibetan Empire, its spiritual rebirth through Buddhism, and the formation of the Dalai Lama institution. We explore how Mongolia’s warrior princes first turned to Tibetan lamas for spiritual guidance. This episode tracks Tibet’s evolving power dynamics all the way into the 18th and 19th centuries — when indirect Chinese control begins to tighten, masked under layers of diplomacy.

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Hi you awesome listeners, thank you so much for listening to my podcast and as promised in my last episode this is the final part of our Sri Lankan civil war series.

This series would not have been possible without the works of esteemed authors who have extensively chronicled the Sri Lankan Civil War. Their research, insights, and first-hand accounts helped shape my understanding of this complex conflict. I extend my deepest gratitude to:

📖 Chellamuthu Kuppusamy – Prabhakaran: The Story of His Struggle for Eelam

📖 Anita Pratap – Island of Blood

📖 Tom Cooper – Paradise Afire: The Sri Lankan War: Volume 1 - 1971-1987

📖 Nagore Rumi – Prabhakaran: Entry and Exit

I hope you've enjoyed all my episodes, next time will come up with another conflict, and another chapter in history. Stay tuned for it!

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Hi, everyone welcome back to another episode of Yours History Mate by Prateek and as we're covering part four of the Sri Lankan Civil War. A conflict that ravaged the small island nation for decades before peace was finally achieved. In this episode, we’ll pick up right where we left off., I will tell you how rise of LTTE and their constant attacks on Sri Lankan Army & civilians compelled the Sri Lankan government to launch an all-out operation against the militant group in their stronghold of Jaffna. We’ll also explore the domino effect that led to India’s military intervention, plus I will unravel the complexities of geo-politics where each country uses another as a pawn to strengthen their strategic interest.

This one’s going to be a jam-packed episode with history, strategy, and intense storytelling—so brace yourself, folks! Lastly, wishing you guys a very happy new year. May this year 2025 brings lot of cheers, happiness, prosperity to you.

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In the previous episode, we discussed how the political marginalization and violent suppression of Sri Lankan Tamils led to the rise of militant organizations fighting to create a separate homeland in the northern and eastern regions of Sri Lanka. Among them, the most prominent was Prabhakaran, the founder of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

In this episode, we will explore how ordinary civilians experienced this conflict and examine the role of India—particularly Indira Gandhi—in supporting Sri Lankan Tamil leadership. Tune in to this episode to learn more!

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In the last episode, we discussed how Sri Lankan government policies marginalized the already excluded Tamil population. Despite Thanthai Chelva of the Tamil Congress leading a non-violent movement to draw attention to the Tamil cause and push the government to hear the demands of ordinary Tamil people, racial policies favoring the Sinhala language and culture left Tamils feeling like second-class citizens in their own country. Tensions escalated, especially with the Sinhala-Only Act and other discriminatory policies, pushing Tamil youths to take up arms. Among them was a young man who would become the face of the resistance—V. Prabhakaran, Vellupillai Prabhakaran.

In this episode, titled Birth of the movement and rise of the Tigers, we delve into how Prabhakaran first formed the TNT (Tamil National Tigers) and later renamed it the LTTE, or Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. We explore how he successfully convinced the youth that violence was the only way to make the Sinhala administration address their grievances. Listen to the full episode to learn more!

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