
People gathered to celebrate the 17th Founding Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Lhasa, 1966. Portraits of Mao adorned with Tibetan khatag or the Little Red Books had to be held aloft diligently or else it was construed as an act of ingratitude towards Mao and the motherland.

With Mao Zedong’s portrait held high, men, women and children of Lhasa parade in front of Communist party o cials (on the stage) to commemorate the 17th Founding Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, 1966. A huge replica of the Little Red Book is also seen paraded as people carrying the five-starred red flag and banners follow behind.

Two factions, the Revolutionary Rebels and the Alliance, each claiming to be proponent of Mao’s ideology of revolution, frequently arranged mass gatherings to indoctrinate people in Mao’s thoughts and persuaded them to join their faction.

A giant portrait of Mao Zedong was installed in front of “the Proletarian Cultural Palace” near the Potala Palace, Lhasa, during the establishment of “Revolutionary Committee.“

A Communist Propaganda Work Group engaged in spreading Mao’s ideology among Tibetan farmers and peasants. The work group of more than 30 members can be seen looking down at the small booklet of “Mao’s thoughts” in their hands.

Peasants and farmers were compelled to study Mao’s ideological book, and even nomads from places as remote as Jhangthang were not immune to the effects and scale of this propaganda campaign.

This carefully orchestrated photograph of Tibetan peasants smiling in their nest aprons and headscarves, each holding a portrait of Mao, was taken during the opening of the first People’s Commune

Portrait of Mao Zedong and Chinese communist propaganda placards and banners around the agricultural lands of a village in Tibet. Mao’s portrait and communist flags adorning villages were a common sight during the Cultural Revolution.