4 Rivers 6 Ranges
*Guest post by Olo Bayul, rapper and writer based in Boston*
Chushi Gangdruk (4 Rivers 6 Ranges) was a voluntary resistance army comprised mainly of Tibetans from the Kham region of Tibet. With assistance from the CIA, the army led an uprising against the invading People’s Liberation Army. June 16, 2014 marks the 56th Anniversary of the founding of Chushi Gangdruk. This video is a tribute to General Gompo Tashi Andrutsang and all the brave soldiers of Tibet who left fear behind and resisted Chinese rule courageously.
I wrote this song to honor their contributions. I wrote it to help remind each and every single one of us that a violent uprising did take place inside Tibet during and after the Chinese invasion, that Tibetans did rise up to protect the homeland. They didn’t just give up their rights to the Red Chinese. These resistance histories deserve to be told. I believe that their actions indirectly led to the Tibetan movement we are all part of today. As my friend Ugen said, “They fought and fell so that we could stand”.
Lyrics
1st Verse
4 Rivers yup, 6 Ranges, plenty heat
No tea in cups, just blood in the memory
Physically and mentally
Essentially exemplary
Never though of as a joke
But a model in my notes
Followed down the road,
Never hollow with their hopes
Rifles set, life’s a mess
But always in the mode
To protect and to serve
To collect what you earn
Freedom isn’t given
That’s the lesson that we learned
Heaven isn’t earth
They were ready for the birth
Liberation was a lie,
China was flirting with the word
So resistance, heavy!
Persistence, deadly!
Kham and Amdo with the vision of allegiance, ready!
Gliding through the sky, with the ammo and artillery
Fighting with our pride, training Rambos of the century
Landing was a specialty
Expanding our weaponry
Roger McCarthy of CIA
Handing down the lesson sheets
So don’t for a minute doubt the crazy truth of this
Chu-Shi Gang-Druk, 4 Rivers 6 Ranges!
2nd verse
From ’58 to the present day
Let me reiterate and set it straight
Men our age, every day
Taking risks for what they claim
No paper chase, no cake at stake
Paved the way for a better stage
Guns engaged, weapons sprayed
Sent from wakes to heaven gates
Passion was a strength and effort was the key
Slashes on the legs, no rolling on his knees
Gashes by the Reds yet the soldier holds and keeps
A boulder on his shoulder, but no folding in between
Cause they never quit
Even on the days they were pressured sick
Pressed and kicked
Their quest for freedom, stressed through allegiance
Blessed by the regions, kept them believing
In a chance to grow, legends of the land of snow
Blade leaking, safekeeping
Sewing every strand of hope
Their land, their homes
Their stand, their roles
To sacrifice, stab and slice
Cyanide capsules if captured by
A pair of Chinese eyes
So don’t for a minute doubt the crazy truth of this
Chu-Shi Gang-Druk, 4 Rivers 6 Ranges!