The Tibetan Exodus
Historical Background
For more than 2,000 years, Tibet was an independent country ruled first by a succession of kings, and then by an incarnated lineage of Dalai Lamas. Immediately after the Communist Party took power in China in 1949, it began asserting its claim that Tibet was part of Chinese territory. The Tibetans endeavored to maintain their sovereignty, but the oppressive and brutal Chinese incursion spread unabated. And with Tibet lacking a strong military, the Dalai Lama's efforts to negotiate with the Chinese government were in not successful.
On March 17, 1959, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, two mortar shells exploded in front of the Norbulingkha Palace in Lhasa, where the Dalai Lama was in residence. Compelled by events and the deteriorating situation, the Dalai Lama made a painful decision to leave Tibet. At ten o'clock that night, wearing a soldier's uniform and carrying a gun over his shoulder, His Holiness slipped out of the palace and began the difficult journey towards safety.
When word spread of his escape, there was a mass exodus of over 100,000 Tibetans to sanctuary in the neighboring countries of India, Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhutan. As the news of the mass exodus traveled around the world, free people everywhere responded with expressions of sympathy. The Government of India granted political asylum, and assisted the refugees with resettlement in various parts of India.
Exhausted by an incredible journey over the snow-covered Himalayas, the Tibetan people were then challenged by the tropical climate and diseases of the Indian lowlands. With unwavering determination, they settled down amidst extremely harsh conditions. Destitute, lacking even basic amenities and medical care, thousands tragically lost their lives in the process. Many were employed in the hard labor of building roads, living in miserable conditions in makeshift tents in roadside camps.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama quickly formed the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and began relief and rehabilitation efforts for the refugees. The Indian government and various aid agencies provided assistance. Tsepon W. D. Shakabpa was appointed to lead these efforts as the Dalai Lama's official representative in New Delhi. As a historian, he also documented the diaspora in photographs and films.
These images portray the stoicism and endurance of those who survived the exodus across a vast wilderness to freedom in exile. Today, there are an estimated 200,000 Tibetan refugees struggling to preserve their traditional ways of life while hoping to regain their homeland. The indelible faith and firm resolve of the Tibetan people continues today.