ATLANTA, GA: Dr Harcharan Singh Ranu, President, American Orthopaedic Biomechanics Research Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, became the first Indian to travel to Lhasa, Tibet (roof of the world) by train from Beijing. The Train journey took over 47 hours.

According to Ranu, the train was supplied with oxygen at Golmud station early hours of the morning to take care of the high altitude demand of oxygen all the way to Lhasa (an altitude of over 13000 feet). While in Lhasa, Dr Ranu visited the Potala Palace, Center of Religion and Politics for centuries and one time seat of the present Dalai Lama. At the top of the Palace one can see the Buddha in 1000 and one different poses and moods.

All around the Palace one can see the devotion and dedication of Tibetans to their religion. It is like going to Golden Temple, Amritsar (for Sikhs), Shankar Archaria Muth (for Hindus), and Mecca (for Muslims). Another fact which Dr Ranu says he came across while talking to the Chinese in Lhasa was that they have no knowledge of their religion or other religions, for that matter. At every corner of Lhasa and other worship shrines one can see the heavy presence of Chinese police.

While in Lhasa, Dr Ranu also visited and met the President of the Tibet University Medical College Professor (Dr) Ouzhu Luobu, Professor of Surgery and both agreed to carry out mutual research in Orthopaedic Biomechanics related to high altitude.In Beijing, Dr Ranu gave an invited lecture on his research at the Tsinghua University, Department of Intelligence and Biosystems.