Tibet has its own culture, its own religion, its own people – it is a country on its own right. China invaded Tibet in the 1950’s and since then Tibetans have had their human rights violated in their own territory. China claims that Tibet is part of its nation and the international community shamefully accepts it on the grounds of its ‘economic dependency’ to the largest economy in the world.
Not only did China invade Tibet, it has also been exterminating Tibetan culture and people in the past decades. This has been taking place in different ways, but all very systematic. In the name of ‘development’ Tibetan way of living has been sidelined. Also national policies have been providing huge incentives for Chinese to move to Tibet, in a clear effort from Chinese authorities to populate Tibet with Chinese.
Thousands of Tibetans have had no other option, but to leave their country. Many now live in India and Nepal and that’s where I met them. In a way the ‘Tibet’ that remains is not Tibet anymore – it is more a museum for Chinese to earn money from tourists than anything else - and you may find more authenticity in places such as Bodhgaya, Tashi Palkhel, Sikkim, and the Himalayas. In these places Tibetans are free to express their religion, culture and themselves.
Tsewang Norbu, 69. Came to Darjeeling, India, in 1959.
