Born in India, but 39 year old Yeshi Choephel is desperate to return home in 'free Tibet' – the 'country' always haunts his mind and soul. 76 year old Tasok Choepherl was born in Tibet and fear he might die in India before he could see his country liberated.

They are of 75percent Tibetan refugees across India engaged in trading and retailing winter garments. Their great exodus, pain and sorrow tail disparity toil of being refugees, and continued struggle grow fainter by the affection and blessing of Dalai Lama. Tibetans started inflowing India in 1959, after Communist China's invasion of Tibet and its violent repression of a rebellion forcing the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, to flee across the Indian frontier. 85,000 Tibetan refugees followed the Dalai Lama when China annexed Tibet in 1959. More came in following years.

The head of Tibetan government in exile Dalai Lama is slated to pay a visit for three days starting on January 16 next. The occasion would be touching and historic for the small group of Tibetan garment traders besides some one lakh Buddhist tribe men and women in Tripura.

"It's a great feeling to have a great man here. He is our leader…everything", Yeshi utters. He saw Dalai Lama before from a distance as they attended religious programmes at Dharmashala – the headquarters of the government in exile. "Even through I started crying – the affection is such an immense".

The man born at Shimla, grew in Delhi and now in trade at Agartala – but with one hope with intense belief that haunts his mind everyday has been return to the motherland now under 'Chinese occupation'.

Tasok Choepherl was in the 'resistance force' that unsuccessfully fought Chinese forces in 1959. "I lost two brothers in the fight and even could not perform their last rights in such a conflict situaion", injured Tasok, then 25, along with family members walked for six days to reach India from  Kham in Tibet's remote Dherung district.

Men and women of Kham region sacrificed life in the fateful year for countrymen's 'better tomorrow'. Tasok is member of Tibetan group called " Four Rivers Six Ranges " (translated in English) as symbolises rivers and ranges in Kham region as for all time to remember they are in a home away from home.

"We are compelled to fight, but now we want to get back our country through peaceful and nonviolent means", Tasok says adding "like British left Indian after 200 years – China would vacate Tibet ".

A graduate from Delhi University , Tenzing Pema (25), sees Tibetan issue not only political and more complicated. "Chinese are working with a vested design to destroy tradition, culture and heritage of Tibetans. They have specially targeted the new generation".

Tenzing opines China in one hand suppressing upsurge of Tibetans and in another unleashed all measures through wrongful education and cultural invasion to dissociate Tibetan youths from feeling of nationalism. This is now a complex situation.

Despite differences how the old and new generation of Tibetans see attribute the problem - for them Dalai Lama is 'everything' and they would abide by his directive always. They are encouraged, moved and enthusiastic over His Holiness's forthcoming visit. "We would make a gate in line with Tibetan tradition outside historic Buddha Bihar (temple) in Agartala to mark his visit", Yeshi states.

The noble laureate during his stay would visit remote Manu Bankul area in south Tripura to attend a series of rituals including blessing anniversary function of a Buddhist Dhamma Dipa residential school. In Agartala he would address a religious gathering at Buddha Bihar and would attend an interactive session at the Town Hall.