CITIZENSHIP WOES & THE GREATER CAUSE: CRISIS OF TIBETANS IN EXILE
Dehradun, Uttarakhand: When 76-year-old Ngawang fled Tibet, and entered India in 1959, he had no inkling that he would never return to his motherland. The thought of languishing in exile through the rest of his life was almost revolting. He has been living in India as a refugee for over 60 years now. Painful memories have faded but love for the motherland remains deeply rooted.
Donning a mask and a thick Jacket with a cap, basking in the morning sunlight, he sits on a bench at the Dekyiling Tibetan settlement in Dehradun. Reminiscing about the past, he speaks in broken Hindi, ''I served in the Indian Army for around 4 years. I used to think that one day Tibet will be free and I will return to my land. Everything is fine in India, but I left my mother and sister in Tibet. My brother told me that the Chinese are aware that I served in the Indian Army, I will be put behind bars if I return. Now I will never see my family again.''
In 1959, an uprising against the Chinese rule erupted in Tibet. Large scale rebellion engulfed the Tibetan capital Lhasa, but it failed as the People's Republic of China brutally crushed the revolt. In March 1959, 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetans, fled Tibet and took refuge in India. He was given political asylum and a Tibetan Government in exile was set up in Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. Around 100,000 Tibetans followed the Dalai Lama into exile.
6 Decades have passed. A lot has changed. Now three generations of Tibetan refugees live in India. The first generation refugees fled Tibet and settled in India, the second generation refugees were born and brought up in India. The third generation comprises the small children who only have a vague idea of the past. Despite being eligible for Indian Citizenship, the majority of the second and third generation of refugees have chosen not to opt for it. The young educated Tibetan refugees are now paying the price for their statelessness.
NO
JOBS
DESPITE
GOOD
DEGREES
--------------------------------------------------
28-year-old
Tenzin
was
born
and
brought
up
in
India.
She
has
a
Masters
degree
in
Commerce,
but
despite
that
there
is
a
dearth
of
jobs.
She
has
no
other
option
but
to
work
at
the
Tibetan
Market
in
Dehradun,
a
favourite
spot
for
shopping
lovers
looking
for
the
latest
trend
at
a
reasonable
price,
run
by
Tibetan
refugees.
''I
tried
hard
to
find
a
job
in
accordance
with
my
qualifications
and
skills
but
without
an
Indian
citizenship,
it's
an
impossible
task.
When
nothing
worked
out,
I
decided
to
carry
on
with
the
family
profession
to
make
a
living.
India
is
also
like
my
country,
I
have
only
heard
about
the
picturesque
beauty
of
Tibet
from
my
parents.''
Tenzin is not alone. Majority of the well-educated Tibetan refugees are reeling under a similar plight. They have seen their elders in immense pain, yearning for their motherland, but they long for a suitable job. According to the Second Tibetan Demographic Survey, over 17 per cent of the total workforce population is unemployed or underemployed. Either running a small business or working with the Tibetan Government are the only two available options of employment.
30-Year-old Tenzin Wangmo travels to the Indian state of Gujarat every year to sell winter jackets . With Coronavirus Pandemic raging in the country, She couldn't travel this year. She could only set up a small stall at the refugee settlement, incurring heavy losses. ''What else should we do.
We don't have an Indian citizenship, we only have a registration certificate which is not enough to get a job. The job opportunities for the Tibetan youth in India are almost nil. Despite a college degree, I can only run a small business here. It is easier to find a well paying job abroad.''
CITIZENSHIP
HURDLE
FOR
JOB
SEEKERS
--------------------------------------------------------
Growing
discontent
among
the
Younger
Tibetan
refugees
has
become
a
grave
issue
for
the
Tibetan
Government
in
exile.
The
deep
dilemma
haunts
the
Tibetans
in
exile
in
India.
Without
the
Indian
citizenship,
well
educated
youth
are
forced
to
do
petty
jobs
to
earn
a
living
and
if
they
take
up
the
Indian
Citizenship
then
the
real
fight
for
a
free
Tibet
would
take
a
backseat.
There
is
an
eerie
calm
on
the
surface
but
the
tension
is
simmering
inside.
Mr Norbu, Tibetan Settlement officer, a Joint Secretary rank officer of the Central Tibetan Government says, ''If the Tibetan refugees in exile take up the Indian Citizenship, then our common cause for Tibet will vanish. Young Tibetan refugees in India, despite a good college degree aren't eligible for any of the Indian Government jobs. Most of the Private companies require Indian Citizenship. There are very limited jobs in the Central Tibetan Government. Many are now migrating to other countries.''
Tibetans
are
considered
as
one
of
the
most
successful
refugee
communities
across
the
world.
Earlier,
it
was
a
battle
for
survival
but
now
they
want
a
better
lifestyle.
There
is
a
palpable
shift
in
the
focus
of
the
young
Tibetan
refugees,
from
a
quest
for
motherland
to
a
successful
life
in
India
or
abroad.
The
Tibetan
refugees
in
India
have
dropped
by
44
per
cent
over
the
last
seven
years
according
to
the
Indian
Government
data.
The
population
has
reduced
to
around
85,000
from
150,000
in
2011.
WHY
YOUNG
TIBETANS
ARE
MIGRATING
------------------------------------------------------------
Moving
to
other
countries
is
now
the
way
forward
for
many
young
Tibetan
refugees.
Facing
too
many
challenges
to
secure
a
bright
future
in
India,
now
more
and
more
Tibetan
youths
are
migrating
to
Countries
like
Canada,
France,
UK
and
US.
36-year-old
Tenzin
who
looks
after
the
management
at
the
Tibetan
settlement,
has
a
younger
brother
who
migrated
to
France
a
few
years
back.
He
says
other
than
better
employment
opportunities,
there
is
another
reason
why
the
young
Tibetans
prefer
to
move
out
of
India.
''Tibetan refugees abroad find it easier to protest without too many restrictions imposed. Here in India, we have to submit an application for every protest and take clearance from all the concerned authorities. It is a tedious process. Here we only get small circles and less time for protest. While in other countries, everyone can unite and carry out a protest. There is comparatively greater freedom of speech in other countries than in India.''
Tenzin says, ''There is a visible gap between the older and the younger generation. Our parents thought that they would return to Tibet soon but it has been 60 years, now there is a fear in the community that we won't be able to go back, so the focus has shifted to a better source of employment. So there is now a lack of attention towards the Tibetan cause.''
CAN'T
BUY
PROPERTY
IN
INDIA
WITHOUT
CITIZENSHIP
-----------------------------------------------
Not
just
the
Young,
but
some
of
the
older
Tibetan
refugees
believe
that
statelessness
has
also
hit
them.
Tibetan
refugees
are
not
considered
refugees
under
the
Indian
law,
but
foreigners.
58-Year-old
Pema
Gelek
was
born
in
Bhutan
and
moved
to
India
in
1980.
He
once
chose
to
remain
a
refugee
but
now
it
hurts
him.
Like
majority
of
the
refugees,
he
too
has
no
links
now
in
Tibet.''Citizenship
woes
have
added
to
my
misery.
Since
I
don't
have
an
Indian
Citizenship,
I
can't
buy
any
property
in
India.
I
pay
all
my
taxes,
yet
I
can't
have
anything
in
my
name.
I
didn't
take
the
Citizenship
as
that
would
end
a
lot
of
benefits
I
get
from
the
Tibetan
Government
in
Exile
and
also
some
conditions
put
forth
by
the
Indian
Government.''
Despite
being
born
and
brought
up
in
India,
many
lament
the
lack
of
awareness
about
the
Tibetan
Cause.
Many
even
face
identity
issues.
Tsamchoe
speaks
Hindi
fluently
and
often
prefers
Indian
food
over
Tibetan.
''It
feels
really
bad
when
people
who
come
to
my
shop
just
assume
me
for
someone
from
any
of
the
North-Eastern
states
of
India
or
Nepal.
They
often
have
no
idea
about
why
we
Tibetans
are
living
in
exile.
I
have
to
explain
it
to
them
that
our
country
is
under
Chinese
rule.
It
really
hurts
sometimes.''
While the first generation Tibetan refugees are striving hard to preserve their culture and the Tibetan cause in exile, the second generation born and brought up in India strive for a better living, almost impossible without an Indian Citizenship. A deep dilemma engulfs the community.
A constant pressure to preserve their Tibetan identity, dearth of Job opportunities despite good degrees, no property rights and staying loyal to the Tibetan cause, has frustrated the young generation of Tibetan refugees living in India. The question remains, how to pass on the spirit of free Tibet onto the younger generations when the priorities have shifted, struggles and aspirations have evolved. Many wonder if it's time to let go of the past.