Lives in Exile: Exploring the Inner World of Tibetan Refugees

"This book explores the devastating consequences and psychological ruptures of refugeehood as it evocatively recounts the life histories of dislocated Tibetans expelled from their homes since 1959. Following the genre of a story, the book offers dynamic understandings of unconscious processes and the intergenerational transmission of trauma across generations of an exiled and internally displaced people. The book analyses the paradoxical spaces which Tibetans in exile occupy as they strive to preserve their cultural and spiritual heritage, rituals, religion, and language while also dynamically remoulding themselves to adapt to their living realities. Presenting a nuanced picture, it narrates stories of refugees, political prisoners and survivors of torture along with stories of loss and angst, cultural celebrations and political demonstrations. The author in this new edition highlights and explores the art, artists, and poetry in the exiled community. The volume also looks at the significance of Buddhism and the philosophy of the Dalai Lama for the people in exile and the personal and collective will of the community to connect their lost past to a living present and an imagined future. Rooted in the psychoanalytical tradition, this book will be of interest to psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, scholars of literature, and arts and aesthetics. It will also appeal to those interested in Sino-Tibetan relations, Buddhist studies, South Asian Studies, cultural and peace studies, and those working with refugees, and displaced persons"--

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction to the second edition -- Introduction to the first edition -- Part I Story of Tibet I -- 1 No time to bid adieu: life-stories from the generation that fled -- The elderly Tibetans -- The outsider -- The wanderer's return -- A second exile and a final return -- Across geographical and emotional terrains . . . -- 2 Children of exile: the second generation -- The lone struggler -- From exile's land: echoes of an activist -- From critiquing the past to envisaging the future: discussions with a writer -- Tibetan Children's Village: a metaphor for the Tibetan self -- 3 Divergent paths: predicaments of the Dalai Lama's youthful children -- Striking the chords of a unique song: the socialist lyric -- Autonomy vs independence: conversations with activists of the Tibetan Youth Congress -- Dialogues with Tibetan activists and creative artists -- Reflective strides: deep imprints -- Who am I? To whom do I belong? -- An after-thought: TYC to SFT -- Social orphans -- Samsung's story: 'my mother left, I cried uncontrollably' -- Emerging patterns . . . -- Part II Story of Tibet II -- 4 The life and times of young 'recent arrivals' -- Conversions and reconversions: the story of a young recent arrival -- Lingering shadows of the past -- In verse and prose: the lyrics of a young writer -- The present: ongoing emotional struggles of young 'recent arrivals' -- 5 Prisoners of conscience -- Listening to historical survivors: struggles, dilemmas and predicaments -- Life histories of two long-term ex-political prisoners -- From prison years: memories and recollections -- The present: in exile -- The life and times of Palden Gyatso -- The circle of protest: voices of young political activists -- A survivor's hunger: an insatiable void.

"This book explores the devastating consequences and psychological ruptures of refugeehood as it evocatively recounts the life histories of dislocated Tibetans expelled from their homes since 1959. Following the genre of a story, the book offers dynamic understandings of unconscious processes and the intergenerational transmission of trauma across generations of an exiled and internally displaced people. The book analyses the paradoxical spaces which Tibetans in exile occupy as they strive to preserve their cultural and spiritual heritage, rituals, religion, and language while also dynamically remoulding themselves to adapt to their living realities. Presenting a nuanced picture, it narrates stories of refugees, political prisoners and survivors of torture along with stories of loss and angst, cultural celebrations and political demonstrations. The author in this new edition highlights and explores the art, artists, and poetry in the exiled community. The volume also looks at the significance of Buddhism and the philosophy of the Dalai Lama for the people in exile and the personal and collective will of the community to connect their lost past to a living present and an imagined future. Rooted in the psychoanalytical tradition, this book will be of interest to psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, scholars of literature, and arts and aesthetics. It will also appeal to those interested in Sino-Tibetan relations, Buddhist studies, South Asian Studies, cultural and peace studies, and those working with refugees, and displaced persons"--