Name: Tenzin
(Alias: No)
Gender: Male
Interview Age: 84
Date of Birth: 1923
Birthplace: Chuetun, Utsang, Tibet
Year Left Tibet: 1959
Profession: Dairy Farming
Monk/Nun: No
Political Prisoner: Yes
Interview No.: 66
Date: 2007-07-04
Language: Tibetan
Location: Lugsung Samdupling Settlement, Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India
Categories: Oppression and Imprisonment
Keywords: childhood memories, Chinese -- first appearance of, Chinese rule -- life under, escape experiences, forced labor, imprisonment, nomadic life, refugee in India -- life as, Utsang
Summary:
In Tibet Tenzin lived in Gye village in the Gyantse district. His family owned a small farm and 40 or 50 animals. He is proud to say that he had a contented life and never faced any hardships while he was young. When the Chinese came to his region, he and many others tried to escape in order to avoid pressure to send their children to China for education. Caught by the Chinese in his escape attempt, he was imprisoned and subjected to daily interrogation sessions and accused of organizing those who fled.
After over 5 months in prison, he was released and soon he escaped and was able to reach Sikkim where he joined his family, who had fled there earlier. Tenzin participated in the "Peace March" in India twice, first in 1972 and again in 1982, walking from Dharamsala to Delhi. He did so to express his sentiment against the Chinese government's occupation of Tibet.
Interview Team:
- Marcella Adamski (Interviewer)
- Tenzin Yangchen (Interpreter)
- Tsewang Dorjee (Videographer)
