The Chinese embassy in India buzzed with activity on Monday (March 10) morning, as several Tibetans in the city swarmed the location.
These individuals were protesting in front of the embassy on the occasion of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, an annual event commemorating Tibet’s 1959 uprising against oppressive Chinese rule imposed on the region.
Protesters carrying placards and raising slogans such as “Free Tibet” denounced Beijing’s colonial ambitions in the region.
Police in Delhi detained several members of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), detaining them in a bus.
A video from the protest shows activists waving Tibetan flags and holding placards reading “Free Tibet” and “World Stand Up for Tibet” while shouting slogans against Chinese occupation even as they were being detained. Soon after, the authorities transported them away.
Watch:
#WATCH | Delhi: Tibetan Youth Congress workers in Delhi hold a protest outside the Chinese embassy, demanding Tibet's freedom.
— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2025
The protestors were detained by police. pic.twitter.com/NYtWpOgDi1
#TibetanUprisingDay top trend on X in India
As protests unfolded in Delhi, social media saw a surge of support under the hashtag #TibetanUprisingDay, which became the top trending topic in India.
Thousands of users, including activists, members of the Tibetan diaspora, and retired Indian military personnel expressed solidarity with the demonstrators.
Tibetan national uprising day
Tibetan National Uprising Day marks the anniversary of the 1959 rebellion when thousands of Tibetans took to the streets of Lhasa to resist Chinese military occupation. The uprising was brutally suppressed, resulting in the deaths of thousands and leading to the Dalai Lama’s exile to India.
Since then, March 10 has become a symbolic day of protest for Tibetans worldwide, calling for self-determination and an end to Beijing’s control over Tibet.
Tibetan exile communities, particularly in India and Nepal, organise protests annually, often facing restrictions from local authorities due to diplomatic sensitivities with China.
The Tibetan Youth Congress, one of the largest Tibetan activist organisation advocating full independence from China, regularly holds demonstrations on this day. The group has accused Beijing of suppressing Tibetan culture, religious freedoms, and human rights.
China has consistently maintained that Tibet is an integral part of its territory and denounces any pro-Tibet movements as separatist activities. Beijing has previously pressured countries, including India, to curb Tibetan activism, viewing it as a challenge to its sovereignty.