Taboo

“There’s no greater pain than the loss of one’s own country”

It’s my saddest part that I have never been to Tibet; I was born in northern part of India and my parents were forced to flee Tibet, my father was a very brave person but alas! when I was in 7th grade, my father passed away like a blowing wind without leaving any further address.

In India, we live in a very small house and we are eight children and I know how hard it was for my mother to look after us but I guess she is a strong women as she faced many obstacles on her way from Tibet to India….but I used to imagine myself in Tibet with green grass, high mountains and yaks….and I was happy in that world of mine but as I grew up I faced the real world and the real Tibet, that makes my heart break into pieces…

I have lived a life of a refugee and we have to renew our passport every year in the Indian registration office with a smile….I know how hard it is for us to go through that situation and I have my father’s family in Tibet whom we have never seen and I remember many years back that we were told that our father’s sister’s son died…but its sad for us, at least for me to react on that situation, of course there is a feeling of sadness but it hurts more knowing that we had not met each other….and what is left for us to do is except some prayers….and the worst part is that you’ve never met your relatives.

Honestly speaking, even though I was born in India and we have no country I' m still proud to be a Tibetan, proud to be a follower of H.H.THE DALAI LAMA, MAY HE LIVE LONG.

Now, the situation in Tibet is getting worse every second. In Tibet the Tibetans are not allowed to speak our language and most of the teenage girls are working as prostitutes…..they are forced to do this to survive and to feed their families….how could we blame them? In Tibet they are living a life of threat under Chinese regime….and I want to make it clear that when I say Chinese I don't mean the chinese people, it is the government and we are not against Chinese people.

Now, what I am afraid of is Tibet becoming a taboo….and gradually Tibet will remain as just a name….I'm afraid of losing myself and the rich culture of Tibet.

Sonam tsomo (chashutsang)