Survival of the Heart
Tibet’s Elders Recount Their History, Trauma, and Buddhist Beliefs
Guest blog by Marcella Adamski, Ph.D. Founder and Executive Director of the Tibet Oral History Project; see also ICT’s July 14, 2009 blog by Leslie Butterfield, Recording the Past to Shape the Future.
A team of six Americans and Tibetans from the Tibet Oral History Project traveled recently to Doeguling Tibetan Settlement in the remote town of Mundgod, India to videotape the oral histories of the settlement’s oldest members. The interviews of 53 elders captured memories rich in details of early childhood; livelihoods as farmers, herders and traders; monastic life; healing practices and cherished religious traditions. They also recounted how their peaceful lives were forever shattered beginning in 1950 by the Chinese invasion and occupation of Tibet.
In their interviews the elderly Tibetans described nomadic life, marriage customs, farming practices, trading journeys to other countries, and unusual events such as a small pox epidemic killing thousands of monks in Lhasa’s great monasteries. Following the Chinese “Liberation” the elders describe forced sterilizations of the men and women of entire villages; arrest and appalling torture of family members who were community leaders and shop owners; devastation of forests and killing of wildlife to feed invading forces; bombing of monasteries and attacks on monks who gave up their vows to protect His Holiness the Dalai Lama and defend their country.
These interviews were recorded by the Tibet Oral History Project (TOHP), a non-profit organization, which documents the extraordinary lives of exiled Tibetan elders—the last generation to live in a free, unoccupied Tibet—and preserves memories of their homeland for future generations. The organization was founded following a meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who requested interviews with the oldest Tibetans living in exile before they pass away and their memories are lost forever. Now at the ages of 70, 80, or 90, these refugees are the last generation who can describe the rich and ancient traditions of Tibet as an independent country. His Holiness suggested these accounts be posted on the Internet to educate current and future generations of Chinese, who have no accurate understanding of the true history and culture of their Tibetan neighbors.
In April, Tenzin Yangchen, TOHP Outreach Coordinator, invited elders in Mundgod, Karnataka, India to share their stories with our two interview teams. In just 10 days, 53 oral histories were videotaped by Pema Tashi and Ronny Novick, while I (a clinical psychologist from San Francisco) and Rebecca Novick, writer and Executive Producer of The Tibet Connection radio program, interviewed the elders. The work was funded by the International Campaign for Tibet/Rowell Fund, Firedoll Foundation, Isdell Foundation and individual donors.
TOHP has already videotaped 120 elders’ eyewitness accounts of life in Tibet before and during China’s invasion and occupation of their homeland. Now our biggest difficulty is the urgency in which we need to continue record these oral histories. Time is literally running out to capture these eye-witness accounts of 80 and 90 year-old Tibetans—one elderly monk passed away of natural causes the night before we were scheduled to interview him. We hope to return to India later this year to conduct interviews in Dharamsala. We cannot let the history of Tibet be hijacked by China while there is still time to record the truth.
These elders’ interviews will be translated, transcribed and published on TOHP’s website. Currently, two short films featuring oral history excerpts and 25 complete interview transcripts are posted online. This year Radio Free Asia’s Tibetan Service is broadcasting interview excerpts worldwide on the weekly Life in Exile radio show. The complete collection will be provided to the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, U.S. Library of Congress, and several research libraries.
“With my own eyes I have seen these things,” stated the elders when recounting their experiences. They were extremely grateful to know the history of their country and their people would not be forgotten. As 82-year old Sonam Gogyal declared, “I have been waiting my whole life to tell what happened in Tibet.”
For more information visit www.tibetoralhistory.org or contact info@tibetoralhistory.org.
PHOTO: Marcella Adamski, interviewer and Tenzin Yangchen, translator with Lhamo, a 75 year- old elder from Utsang whose oral history was videotaped by the Tibet Oral History Project.
32 Responses to “Survival of the Heart”
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This is indeed a great job and I am happy to go through.
I wish the Team get all the success and Blessings from the Senior citizen with whom they reaching out there in Mundgod and also other settlement in the future.” A stich in time saves nine” Wishing all the very best and Gods with you.
The work you are undertaking now is really commendable as it is pressingly urgent given that our elders, the bearers our our treasured customs, traditions, folklore,which are what makes us Tibetans different from the Chinese, are perishing.
Keep up the good work. I’m looking forward to reading more.
Dhondup, Tsering
I read at random many of the very moving oral histories and learned so much. Thank you for this valuable work. I hope to keep reading and learn more and am glad that the stories have been preserved before it is too late.
I have known about this project through my friend – TOHP regional head Mrs Tenzin Yangchen – for some time. I must say this project is truly a cultural treasure trove for future generations of Tibetans as well as for future Tibet scholars ! Obviously, this project has been carried out professionally and objectively, so that it leaves a true and authentic account of our history. I am so glad that the project came not too late to capture the voice of the last Tibet-born 1959 refugees in India. In particular, the social life of Tibetans in Tibet before the Chinese invasion has been rarely recorded so we extend our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to the TOHP team !
Wonderful,Wonderful! Like the Tibetan tradition and culuture has to be passed on to the next generation through the older generation so likewise I think Tibet History can be best kept on through this Tibet Oral history documantation. Its like a story telling. This remind me of my father with whom I grew up hearing his struggling story of his life IN and OUT of Tibet.I wish if he could have also been a part of this wonderful project. Thank you.
TOHP Team members
Thanks for the fact finding mission that you doing today will open the eyes of many peace loving people in the world.Your non profit mission has done in right time before vanishing eye witness survivor Tibetans.
Thumbs up to the TOHP members for doing an incredible job to pursue and to keep an eye on Tibet’s history.
Special shoutout to my stepmom, Tenzin Yangchen (TOHP Outreach Coordinator) for her excellent job of recruiting Tibetan elderly and to help bring out legit info and their memoirs of Tibet to the world.
You all deserve a pat on the back.
Truly, his holiness will be proud of your work. Keep going…
m think that, this project is very inportant for future tibet. it teach them his ststus, most of Tibetan oral history is very sad, but it also give you such courage.
so thank you such great work.
Hi Marcy and team.
i wisho to thank for the good things you r carring out. I really appreciate it and find it as a great inspiration for the Younger generation to know about our history. wish you good luck for your continution of your activities..
regards
Dorjee
The team of Tibetan Oral History Project has done a fabulous job. There are many histories and life experiences of our elders which we are not aware of. Through this project, the life and memories of our elder generation can be shared especially for the younger generation of Tibet in effective way. I believe such a project help contribute toward the cause of Tibet. I appreciate the work done by the team of Tibetan Oral History Project and pray for the success of this project.
Long Live His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Tenzin Yega
Bangalore
The Tibet Oral History Project you guys are doing wonderful job for future tibetans and i am happy to know about these kind of project. its like a living proof of Tibet,the culture and tradition. keep up the good works and many many good luck.
tashi delek to team of Tibet Oral History Project. I really appreciate the fantastic work done by you all. so far what ever your team has done is appreciable in this very short period of time with a great result.thank you so much on behalf of whole Tibetans, specially from younger generation.
good luck for your every new step.
thank you again.
Sonam
Dear Marcy and team
Thank you all for the wonderful work that you people are doing.
I am sure it is very useful not only for the researchers but also to the general public who wish to know more about Tibet.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks again
Tashi Wangdu
Bylakuppe
Well, its quite difficult for me to measure the effort you’ve put to gather the History of Tibet through this project. I heartfully appreciate for your genuine and noble gesture…This project will somehow enrich the knowledge totally apart from books to a great extent and I am looking forward to learn more from this project.
with best wishes…
Tashi TENZIN
Dear Marcy & Team,
I happen to be one of the few lucky Tibetan who got a chance to experience this amazing documentary which you and your team has made it on older generation of Tibet.
The documentary stands out of its simplicity covering the great details on the lives of an ordinary Tibetan people who lived in Tibet before and during the occupation of Tibet. It is amazing to see and hear the voices of people who narrated their stories to younger generation who practically grew up in foreign land. I personally believe that history is not just about reading fat thick books in school but also knowing and understanding our older generation and their lives in Tibet. I feel this is the best gift produced to the new generation.
On behalf of new generation, I would like to Thank you and your team for the fantastic work!
SAVE TIBET!
Best Wishes,
Yeshi
Thank you very much for this wonderful work!!
First and foremost I would like to commend the Tibet Oral History Project for coming up with such a project of great historical and cultural importance. On a sentimental note, I feel fortunate to have my father, a part of this project in relating the account of his life that has eventful episodes of religion, politics, society, etc. Although for a long time, I had thought of writing his life story, for some reasons, this never materialized. However, Tibet Oral History Project had been a boon for me and my family. We have a family history on record and we value that as a family heritage or legacy for that matter. My father’s tale may be very similar to other TIbetans. However, many things have become very transparent to me for analysis. From his story, I could decipher without a doubt my identity as a Tibetan, unique from our Chinese counterpart. I am definitely proud of my father for withstanding all the struggles and strife. More so, I am proud of the fact that he did his share of resistance to the Chinese Oppression.
Today, my father is 75, and his physical and mental state is such that it’s quite impossible to record his tale. Had it not for TOHP, I would not have my parent’s story to pass on to my children.
GOOD LUCK WITH THIS NOVEL PROJECT!!!
Regards.
Passang Lhamo
I really appreciate the fantastic work done by the Tibet Oral History Project. It’s very important to document the life and experiences of the elders who’ve witnessed two different worlds in their lifetime.
These accounts will be a treasure of information for the future generations of Tibetans.
Dear Marcy:
The Dali Lama must be so very happy with what The Tibet Oral History Project has have accomplished; the preservation of memories of Tibetan culture to be passed onto future generations. I’m so proud to know you, Marcy.
Nameste and loving abrazos to you and all your team.
sallie
[...] Tibet’s Elders Recount Their History, Trauma, and Buddhist Beliefs. “A team of six Americans and Tibetans from the Tibet Oral History Project traveled recently to Doeguling Tibetan Settlement in the remote town of Mundgod, India to videotape the oral histories of the settlement’s oldest members.” [...]