A growing archive of interviews that tell the personal stories of Tibetans who lived through the historic changes that took place 50 years ago in Tibet when the Chinese army marched into Tibet, displaced the Tibetan government in Lhasa, and forced political, economic and social changes throughout Tibet that roil the region even today. Listener emails and feedbacks are always welcome. Contact us at krinzin@voanews.com
Airdate:
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
The Fate of my Family after the Invasion - Jayang Tenzin
When Jayang's father decided to join one resistance group led by Markham Phurpapon, his family especially his mother was subjected to daily harassment and torture by the PLA's troops. Subsequently, his mother was imprisoned and family's wealth and house confiscated the by the occupying forces. In destitute, he struggled to find his way out of fear and helplessness. After almost 50 years from that time, he recollects those difficult bygone memories in this program.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Tamding Tsering: Orphaned by the Chinese Invasion
Tamding Tsering, born in 1948 in Rebkong, shares his experiences seeing the Chinese people for the first time as a child in 1958. He tells how he was orphaned by the PLA when his father was imprisoned and how grandmother and uncles died due to starvation under the PLA policy of redistribution of wealth.
In 1966, Tsering joined the Chinese Communist Party and later became a police Officer and in 1990, he escaped to India as political refugee. Since then, he has continued to work in the Central Tibetan Administration.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Tehor During the Midst of War and Resistance
By 1956, against the wishes of the local population, the PLA started tightening its grip on many parts of eastern Tibet by introducing land reform policies and arresting many influential leaders. As a result of these policy initiatives and also due to increasing show of force by the PLA troops, Tibetans in many parts of Kham and Amdo regions took up arms against the Chinese. Gunda Tenpo recollects the resistance stories of Kham Tehor area, which was led primarily by his father and how the mismatch of fire-power and numbers between two opposing parties finally led them to flee from their native land.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Phurpa Tsering Topgyal's: Life of a Chieftain's son (Part II)
Phurpa Tsering Topgyal tells how his father and Dakpa Lama started Gangchen Tenzung Dhanglag Mak by being able to join forces of Chieftains and 36 Monasteries in July 1956. He recollects numerous experiences battles with the People's Liberation Army starting from 1956, until his capture in 1961. Phurba Topgyal also shares about how his father and his brother were killed by the PLA in 1959 and 1961 respectively.
Airdate:
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Phurpa Tsering Topgyal's: Life of a Chieftain's son (Part I)
Phurpa Tsering Topgyal was born in 1944 into the family of Phurbatsang, one of the 18 chieftains of Markham. He recollects his life starting from Chinese invasion of his country from 1949 to 1955. Phurpa speaks about his childhood memories tarnished by the invasion of the PLA and how his life changed when he was sent to study at Chinese Merik School in 1951 in Markham. In 1955, he left the school and joined a secret group of revolution started by his Father called Gangchen Tenzung Dhanglang Mak.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Assault on Kham Thrinth - Thrinthupon Chemi Namgyal
In the Spring of 1958, the PLA troops invited all the local religious and civic leaders for a major meeting in Khegudo and Dringthu town. Although the reasons for the meeting were not announced in advance; the Tibetans knew that the Chinese were planning to detain all the local leaders during that time. Hence, this singular event triggered all the Tibetans to rise up in unison against the PLA troops. To defend the city's honor and people's faith, Thringthupon Chemi Namgyal led cavalry of Tibetan warriors to defeat the advancing PLA troops. The resulting events were one more death, destruction and bloodshed.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Journey from Fear to Freedom: Sonam - Tholong Gonpa, Nyari
After the Dalai Lama's miraculous escape from Lhasa, the PLA troops started a vicious crackdown all over Tibet by arresting all the influential figures in the society as well as by subjecting Tibetans to a series of politically charged meetings. Being the manager of Tholing Monastery, Sonam was also detained and subjected to interrogation for a number of days. Upon his unexpected release, Sonam, along with all the monks of Tholing Gonpa immediately made plans to escape. Sonam recalls how he first came to learn of the Dalai Lama's escape to India and how the monks and general Tibetan populace reacted to this news.
Airdate:
Monday, 10 October 2011
Nyarong Uprsing and the PLA Response: Nyarong Artring
In the winter of 1956, Nyarong people under the unified leadership of Gyari Dorjee Youdon rose up against the might of PLA troops in anticipation of China's planned democratic reforms. The ensuing battles were fierce and the stakes high for both sides but the Nyarong warriors fought until the situation tilted heavily against their side. Artring being one the first volunteer fighters from Nyarong, describes the conditions that forced the Nyarong people to rise up and how the rebellion was finally overpowered by the PLA troops.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
From working with the PLA to fighting with the PLA - Ngawang Losang , Markham (Part II)
Ngawang Lobsang was born in Markham into a semi-nomadic family. In his early 20s while living in Lhasa, he started working as a goods carrier for the Peopel's Liberation Army for four years. He speaks in detail about his life working with the PLA. After leaving his job with the PLA, Ngawang became a trader between Tibet and Bhutan nomads. However, in 1958, he joined the Chushi-Gangdruk when there was a national call to join and fight against the PLA.
Airdate:
Thursday, 22 September 2011
From working with the PLA to fighting with the PLA - Ngawang Losang , Markham
Ngawang Lobsang la was born in Markham into a semi-nomadic family. In his early 20s while living in Lhasa, he started working as a goods carrier for the Peopel's Liberation Army for four years. He speaks in detail about his life working with the PLA. After leaving his job with the PLA, Ngawang became a trader between Tibet and Bhutan nomads. However, in 1958, he joined the Chushi-Gangdruk when there was a national call to join and fight against the PLA.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Rembering Lungshar and Lhalu: Porong Jewoan Se, Kunsang Jampa
Tsepon Lungshar and Lhau Tsewang Dorjee were two of the most high profile figures in the making of modern Tibetan history. Both of them at different times held various prominent government positions of major influence and reach and both are still remembered for different reasons by people of all ages.Kunsang Jampa remembers the life, work and times of his brother (Lhalu) and stepfather (Lungshar) and he also recounts how he personally was affected by the events of 1959.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Armed Resistance and Revolt from Golog Sertha: Tehor Phuntsok
Beginning from 1957, thousands of Kham warriors from different parts of Kham have started gathering in Golog Sertha and began a series of brutal and daring assault on PLA troops well into the late 1959. Tehor Phuntsok was one of those few surviving fighters and he recollects the armed resistance campaigns they have launched and how finally PLA troops overwhelmed the once seemingly invincible Golog Sertha fighters.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 09 August 2011
Journey from Amdo to Lhasa: Aku Pema, Amdo Rebgong
Aku Pema lived through the times when people in Amdo region were terrorized by the Muslim warlord Ma Bufang's troops. In 1946, in the thick of winter, Aku Pema undertook a daring and dangerous journey to Lhasa which took almost three months. Upon his arrival in Lhasa, Aku Pema witnessed the political turmoil that roiled the Holy City as a result of Ratreng and Tagtra power struggle. In this program, he recounts the risk, danger and the hardships of that journey and the tension-gripped political climate of Lhasa.
Airdate:
Monday, 01 August 2011
1958 Thrindu Resistance - Thupa la & Ngawang Kyinzom
In the year 1944, Thupa la became a monk at the age of 13 in Thrindu Labrang ( Eastern Tibet) and at age 22, he became Chatsoe ( treasurer) of Thrindu Tulku. He tells his experiences of the 1950 arrival of PLA via Chamdo and the hardship experienced under the Democratic Reform Policy in 1956. His wife Ngawang Lhamo (daughter of Thrindu Chieftan) spoke about how her father voiced his resistance and took up arms. In 1958, Thrindu was defeated and they escaped to Nagchu and later on to India.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Tsering Palden: The Life of a Doompa Nomad
Tsering Palden la was born in Doompa, Utsang region of Tibet where he was brought up into the life of a Tibetan nomad. Doompas since the time of His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama were assigned the responsibility of guarding the Yak la Mountain Pass of the Tibet-Bhutan Border. He speaks about the legends of Yak La and the intricacies of the Kagyu Doompa Monastery where Men and Women lived a monastic life together.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 05 July 2011
A Norbulingka Palace Security Guard - Amdo Tenzin, Amdo
At age 8, Amdo Tenzin became a monk at Jajung Monastery in Amdo Chungya. In 1958, he left for Lhasa and joined the Sera Monastery. On March 11th, 1959, he joined with other volunteers as security guard of the Norbulingka Palace. He is able to give a detailed recollection of the events that followed. Later on, he joined the Amdo regiment of the Chu-Shi-Gang-Druk headed by Amdo Jinpa Gyatso.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Arrest and Torture in Nyero - Tsering Yangdol, Tsang Nyero
During the height of Chinese repression, the PLA troops not only arrested all of Yangdoe’s three fathers but their whole house and all belongings were subsequently confiscated by the PLA work unit. Although she was a young and innocent girl at the time but she could still recollect that dark chapter of her life with vivid detail and hence stand as a poignant living witness to what happened some 50 years back in a small village in Tsang.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 07 June 2011
PLA’s Air and Ground Assault in Chang Damshung: Dhadak, Dhaje Zong
In the Spring of 1960, the CIA airdropped three plan-loads of weapons to Tibetan volunteer fighters in Chang Damshung. Almost immediately after that, employing seven fighter planes and nearly seventy thousands troops, the PLA launched a lethal offensive on some three thousand poorly trained yet determined Tibetan fighters stationed in Damshung. Dhadak la recounts the events leading up-to this all-out conflict and the human cost of this particular brutal assault.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Grain Collector of Sera - Lobsang Norbu, Lhasa
At the age of 15, Lobsang Norbu la was appointed as the grain collector of Sera Monastery in Zai Shega (Central Tibet). During his 10 year tenure as a grain collector, he brought about a number of changes. He was arrested by Chinese authorities on July 1959 and was imprisoned for 23 years.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Tingri During the Tumultuous Period of 1950s - Bhu Dhola, Tingri Rachu
Beginning from the early 1950s, China started a series of major highway network projects all over Tibet especially in the border region with the aim of ensuring their colonial ambition. By the middle of 1950s, numerous highway projects were already underway in many areas bordering India and Nepal. Bhu Dhola being the head of one such project in the Tingri region, recounts the trials and tribulations of Tibetan laborers at the time and how he tried to find a balance between the PLA’s demands and local laborers actual hardships.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Life of a Dob Dob - Lobsang Lungtok
Dob-Dobs are generally defined as a disciplinarian who can be defined through their physical fitness and their robes. Lobsang Lungtok became a monk at the age of 7 in Drepung Loseling Monastery in Tibet and at the age of 18, he joined the ranks of Dob Dob. Lobsang tells his story of the life of a Dob Dob.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Invasion of Amdo: Amdo Dhodar
By 1952, China has not only deployed a huge military and civilian presence in many parts of Amdo, but many of them were activity involved in cracking down on any semblance of Tibetan resistance . Amdo Dhodar recounts the historic changes taking place in his hometown during the tumultuous years of 1950s through his own personal experience.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Fall of the Last Khampa Stronghold- Gen Yidham Kyap, Kham Tihor
Outnumbered and outgunned, the Khampa rebels lost their last major stronghold of Sertha mountians to the Red Army in the Spring of 1959. Forced out of their base, a group of almost 200 fighters fled to U-Stang under difficult and tiring circumstances. Gen Yi Dham Kyap recollects the first part of that epic journey and the initial onslaughts by the PLA forces. After almost a year of enduring journey through many inhospitable terrains and 33 major battles with the Red Army, they finally reached the border.
Airdate:
Monday, 04 April 2011
Daring Heroism of Sera Monks- Changtso Ngawang Tenpa, Lhasa
In just over 48 hours after the Dalai Lama’s escape from Norbulingka, the PLA troops launched a full-scale attack on Lhasa primarily targeting Norbulingka and Potalala. On the day of PLA’s assaults, braving heavy bombardment and shelling, a group of nearly one thousand monks from Sera went to obtain weapons from Potala armory. Changtso Ngawang Tenpa recounts how despite heavy odds, the group led by him were finally able to obtain the weapons and the story thereafter.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Memories of Jiuquan Prison: Tenpa Soepa
In 1959, a group of mostly former official prisoners were sent to a prison in Jiuquan, Gansu Province. After three years in Jiuquan, only a handful of frail and worn-out prisoners were able to return back to Lhasa while the majority of them have died due to starvation and extreme hardship. Tenpa Soepa was one of those prisoners who were able to return to Tibet and he recounts the Tibetan prisoners’ collective stories of pain, endurance and suffering in one of the most notorious prison in China at the time.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
“59” Lhasa Uprising and Its Impacts on Phenbo: Phenbo Gyaltsen
Phenbo Gyaltsen has not only witnessed but also participated in the Tibetan Women led demonstration which happened right after the March 10th Uprising. He recollects the major events surrounding the March 10 incident and its impacts on his hometown, Phenbo. He explains how the turn of events around that time have forced him to leave his entire family to join the resistance force led by Khampa warriors.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Tingri Under the Red Flag- Bhu Wangchuk, Toe Tingri
Around the time of Lhasa Uprising in 1959, thousands of armed PLA troops occupied Shelkar Zhong and seized government weapons stockpiled there. At that time, PLA troops detained a number of prominent personalities including Bhu Wangchuk and his father; who was a respected Tibetan army general. Bhu Wangchuk la recollects the events leading to their arrest and his father’s condition thereafter.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Restriction of Chamdo : Ama Dolkar
As the Chinese Government celebrates the 60th anniversary of "Peaceful Liberation" of Chamdo, Ama Dolkar la recalls the military invasion of Chamdo by People's Liberation Army in October,1950
Airdate:
Tuesday, 07 December 2010
17th Point Agreement and Dalai Lama’s China Trip : Sadhu Rinchen Dhondup
Sadhu Rinchen Dhondup was the English interpreter to the Tibetan delegation who was sent to negotiate peace with the Beijing authority. Dhondup remembers the anxieties, fears and the constant threats the delegation members endured, until the signing of the now infamous 17th Point Agreement. Dhondup also discusses his roles and responsibilities as one of the chief coordinator of Dalai Lama’s China trip in 1954.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
1952 Resistance Meeting - Changtsoe Ngawang Tenpa, Lhasa
Changtsoe Ngawang Tenpa’s teacher was one of the main organizers of the 1st people resistance meeting against the People’s Liberation Army in Lhasa in 1952. He was also part of the first tour group of Tibetans invited to Beijing in 1952 by the Chinese government.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Memories of My Great Teacher, Gedun Chophel-Rakra Tethong Rinpoche
Rakra Rinpoche reminisces the life and works of Gedun Chophel through his personal and academic relationship with the great Lotswa. He talks about how his initial admiration and respect for Gedun Chophel’s academic greatness has turned into a deep personal relationship that has endured many difficult times. Rinpoche also recounts his experience at Tagor’s University, Shantineketan where went to learn Sanskrit and Hindi.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 09 November 2010
Nyanan as a Lively and Dynamic Trade Center - Rinchen Dharlo, Nyanang Tsondue
Nyanang was a major trading center (pre 1959) and a dynamic frontier region situated near the foothills of Himalayan range. Throughout the years, many traders from Nepal, Lhasa and other regions of Tibet, greatly contributed to the region’s socio-economic advancement. Rinchen Dharlo recounts the daily livelihood of the inhabitants in the context of different variety of trade and exchanges that were prevalent in pre-59 Nyanang.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Resistance Years and More: Jedrung Jamphel Lekmon , Gyantse
By the late 1950s, as the Chinese presence in Tibet was every becoming more aggressive and ambitious, a group of Tibetans in Gyantse secretly established an underground resistance group. This group finally merged with the Chusi Gangdruk Resistance Force and together they waged a long and bitter arms struggle for Tibet. Jamphel Lekmon recounts his resistance years through his direct involvement with these two groups.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 05 October 2010
Livelihood & Socio-Cultural Situation of Muslims in Lhasa before ‘59’: Abdul Majid Rabsal, Lhasa
There was a small population of Muslims in Tibet prior to 1959; most of whom were originally from Kashmir (India) or China. Abdul Majid Rabsal recounts the livelihood, cultural traditions and social relationship especially with the majority community and the special privileges the Tibetan Muslims enjoyed in Tibet
Airdate:
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
PLA’s Air and Ground Attack and Its Impact: Jangchup Pema, Chang Namru
After the fall of Lhasa and Dalai Lama’s departure from Lhasa, hordes of nomadic communities from Chang Namru started escaping Tibet. Jangchup Pema recounts the number of casualties including that of her own father when the Namru people led by her father fought heroically with the PLA troops on their escape to India. She also remembers how the PLA’s air and ground attack drove many innocent Tibetans to Namtsok Lake in the Spring of 1959.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Exodus over the Himalayas- Jigme Tashi, Ravang (Toe Ngari)
Jigme Tashi recounts how upon hearing about the Dalai Lama’s escape, some two hundred families from Ravang (Toe Ngari) set-out a dangerous crossing over the Himalayas along with their possessions and livestock. Upon arrival on the Indian soil, he reminisces the mounting challenges and unrelenting difficulties the Tibetans faced in the initial years.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 07 September 2010
Return to Tibet in 1958 - Tinley Gyamtso
Tinley Gyamtso fled Tibet in 1956 but returned to Tibet to join Tibetan resistance army Chu Shi Gang Druk in 1958 at the behest of his countrymen to fight for Tibet.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Mission to Acquire Weapons from Potala Arsenal - Thupten Tharpa, Lhasa
After the Dalai Lama's flight from Lhasa, hundreds of Gaden Monastery's monks undertook a mission to obtain weapons from the Potala armory. Thupten Tharpa recounts that the monks successfully accomplished their mission but also how they became a helpless witness to People's Liberation Army's relentless bombing campaign on Lhasa.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Enforced Construction Project & Escape to Freedom - Tsering Lhakpa, Shelkar (Yongdhong)
With the aim of securing Tibet's vast restive frontier regions, China started building a series of major highways on the high Tibetan plateau in the late 1950s. Tsering Lakpa recounts his experience with one such highway construction projects. He also talks about how he and his family members managed to escape to Nepal and the initial challenges faced by the refugees settling in Khumbu.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
1959 Potala Bombings - Kusho Dhodar, Lhasa
The Chinese troops started a series of bombing campaign in and around Lhasa primarily targeting Norbulingka and Potala after the Dalai Lama’s escape from Lhasa in the spring of 1959. As one of the few living witness to the death and destruction wrought by the Chinese forces at that time, Kusho Dhodar recounts the impacts of the bombings.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 03 August 2010
Roles & Responsibilities of Tantric Practitioners - Gonpo Dorjee, Sakya
Gonpo Dorjee is from a family of Tantric Practioner (Ngakpa) from the Sakya region of Tibet. He describes the roles, duties and religious training of Nagkpas in general and his family in particular in today's show. Dorjee also recounts the administrative reach and religious influence of Sakya before 1959 in Tibet.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
1952 Beijing Tour - Gen Tenzin, Shigatse
Gen Tenzin was part of a tour group of Tibetan influential figures invited to Beijing in 1952 by the Chinese government. Gen Tenzin recounts the places he visited and the royal treatment he received upon arrival in every town and cities in China.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
1958 Amdo Golok Uprising - Damchoe Palsang, Amdo Golok
Venerable Damchoe Palsang was eleven years old when he witnessed a wide uprising against the Chinese army in Amdo Golok. Ven Palsang talks about the decline of Golok population from 1,30,000 in 1957 to 60,000 in 1964. He said that many died due to starvation and many were killed by the People’s Liberation army. Venerable Palsang shares his personal story of how he himself suffered under the Chinese and almost died due to starvation.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 06 July 2010
Major Events in Dalai Lama's Life - Tenpa Soepa, Lhasa
To mark the 75th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, host Kunsang Rinzin invites Tenpa Soepa, a former government official in Tibet and a long time confidant of the Dalai Lama to share major historical events of the Dalai Lama’s life. Tenpa describes the Dalai Lama’s enthronement ceremony in 1940 and his assumption of temporal power in Tibet. Tenpa also recounts the Dalai Lama’s first Kalachakra initiation in Lhasa, his trip to China in 1954 and India in 1956, and finally his escape to India in 1959.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Tibetan Muslim Community - Aman Abdullah, Shigatse
Muslim migrants from Kashmir and Ladakh areas first entered Tibet around 12th century. Gradually, marriages and social interaction led to an increase in the population until a sizable Muslim community came up around Lhasa and Shigatse. Before 1959, Shigatse had the second highest Muslim population after Lhasa. Aman Abdullah from Shigatse who is now in his late 80s discusses the first movie hall in Tibet, owned and run by one of his uncles and the impact of China's annexation on the Tibetan Muslims in Shigatse and their subsequent flight to India.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Construction of Roads - Ama Chokey, Painang
Ama Chokey was born in 1935 into a family of farmers in Painag of U-Tsang region in Tibet. In the year 1951, she and her family were involved in Painag to Shigatse road construction work under the People Liberation Army (PLA). Ama Chokey gives a detail account of the hardship involved in the construction and also about her life before 1959. After coming to exile in 1962, she married the late Rupon Sonam Tashi.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Art of Sculpture Making - Chenmo Pema Dorjee, Sakya (Tsedhong)
Chenmo Pemba Dorjee was born in 1930, and began his training in the sacred art of sculpture-making at the age of 14 in Tsedhong. He recounts how in Tsedhong, unlike other schools of training like those prevalent those in Lhasa and Shigatse, each trainee learned every part of the process of making statues, from drawing to hammering copper into shape and finally gilding and assembling the completed pieces. After an intensive training for some 14 years under some of the most accomplished masters at the time, he fled Tibet in the year 1963.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 01 June 2010
Tibetan Folk Opera - Kundeling Thupten, Lhasa (Kundeling Monastery)
Folk Opera (Lhamo), a major source of entertainment in pre 1959 Tibet has survived and remolded with the changing times in Tibet over many centuries. Kundeling Thupten, an “Ache Lhamo” performer in Tibet, remembers how during opera festival (Shoton), different cultural groups from all over Tibet entertained the rank and file Lhasa community. "Because of their artistry and elegance, amongst all the Lhamo groups in Tibet, Lhasa residents loved Khurmo Lung Lhamo Tsokpa the most,” said Thupten la.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Chushi Gandruk - Ratu Ngawang, Kham (Lithang)
After the establishment of Chushi Gangdruk, Andruk Gompo Tashi led a group of thousand guerrilla fighters and raided the Tibetan government arms depot in Shang Gaden Chokor. Ratu Ngawang, a member of the group describes how despite heavy PLA attacks, Gompo Tashi and his men were able to collect a huge cache of arms and ammunitions from Shang arms depot and how Lokha Gompo Tashi (the Supreme Commander of Chushi Gangdruk) got injured on their return journey back. Ratu Ngawang also recounts the heroic sacrifices of the volunteer forces during that grueling mission.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Salt Trade System Before 1959 (II)- Lhawa Tsering Dakpa, Toe Ngari
Little is known about how the Tibetan nomads in the fringes conduct the traditional salt trade in pre 1959. Lhawoe Tsering Dakpa who comes from a nomadic family from Toe Ngari explains the traditional methods of salt trade system before 1959. He describes how salt, a principal commodity acquired in western Tibet is mined by Tibetan nomads who then sell it to farmers inhabiting the border areas of India and Nepal.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 04 May 2010
Fighting People’s Liberation Army - Abo Tazo, Kharze
Abo Tazo recounts how in the spring of 1958, the people of Kham Derong after months of deliberation, formed powerful militias composing of 500 monks and 500 laypeople to ward off People’s Liberation Army threats. Through his own involvement in the militia group, he recollects how he and other Tibetan fighters survived despite heavy odds.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Assembly of Tibetans - Barshi Jedrung, Lhasa
Barshi Jedrung played an instrumental role in mobilizing the inhabitants of Lhasa on March 10, 1959, who surrounded the Norbulingka palace urging the Dalai Lama to turn down the Chinese army leader's invitation to a theatrical performance at the Chinese military headquarters outside Lhasa.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Hardships during the 1950s - Abdul Majid Rabsal, Lhasa
Abdul Majid Rabsal's father was a radio operator in Tibet along with Robert Ford, a radio operator and British diplomat who worked in Tibet in the 1950s. During the invasion of Chamdo, a major town in Eastern Tibet, by People's Liberation Army, Majid's father was imprisoned for facilitating the Dalai Lama's escape to India. Majid describes the hardship his family and the Tibetan Muslim community faced during the 1950s.
Airdate:
Friday, 23 April 2010
Leading Resistance Movement - Dawupon Tsering, Kyegudo
Dawupon Rinchen Tsering was born into a well-known Khampa Chieftain family. His father was the Chieftain (tib: pon) of Jyekundo, which was formerly under the administration of Nangchen King. Dawupon describes how in the Spring of 1958, the people of Jyenkudo and the surrounding areas rose simultaneously against the PLA forces and how he personally spearheading the resistance movement in its final battles for dignity and survival.
When Dawupon's men shot down a PLA plane, he describes how the PLA
troops outwitted the Khampa resistance groups from all directions, which resulted in deaths of thousands of Tibetans in a matter of few hours.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 06 April 2010
Dismantle of Shelkar Chode Monastery - Sangey Wangchuk, Toe Shelkar
Sangey Wanchuk, a former monk at Shelkar Chode Monastery describes how the People’s Liberation Army troops assaulted and finally overran the monastery. Before 1959, Shelkar not only served as the administrative headquarter of Lhasa appointed major (Dzongpon) but also as the safe repository of Tingri army unit's weapons. Sangey Wangchuk served many years of prison including a year in solitary confinement in Lhasa’s Drapchi prison. While in Drapchi, he was given death sentence but he escaped through a mastery ploy (This part will be broadcast later).
Airdate:
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Chieftain Role, Responsibilities & Power - Tenpa Gyaltsen, Kharze (Sheezi)
Tenpa Gyaltsen who now resides in Switzerland comes from a family of well-known Khampa Chieftain (tib: Pon) from Kham Karze. He discusses the responsibilities, power and rights of local Khampa chieftains as well as the relationship between the chieftain, his subjects and with that of other chieftains. Tenpa Gyaltsen also talks about how under difficult odds and circumstances, they were finally able to invite the Dalai Lama to Sheezi town on his maiden visit to China in 1954.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Traditional Tibetan Shoe Making - Phurbu Dhondup, Shigatse
Phurbu Dhondup was born in 1928 in Shigatse into a family of traditional Tibetan shoe makers. At the age of 20 (1948), he joined the Tibetan army in Lhasa and made shoes for them. Since 1952, Phurbu Dhondup has been making traditional Tibetan shoes in Kalimpong, India to this day. In exile, he has passed on his skills of traditional shoe making to his son Sonam.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Sakya before 1959 - Tsultrim Gyatso, Sakya
Tsultrim Gyatso discusses the Sakya lineage holder, Dolma Phodrang and Phuntsok Phodrang. He also describes the flight of Sakya Gongma Rinpoche from Sakya in the spring of 1959.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 09 February 2010
Chushi Gangdruk - Tenzin Tsultrim, Kham (Chatreng)
Chating Tenzin Tsultrim talks about Chating people's contribution and his involvement in the formation of Chushi Gangdruk Volunteer Force in the early 1950s. Tsultrim discusses how his house in Lhasa served as the secret meeting ground of Chushi Gangdruk leaders and a hiding place for many refugees from eastern Tibet.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 02 February 2010
Life in Phari - Tsering Sangpo, Phari
Tsering Sanpo, 68, was born into a family of farmers in Phari, a village in Tsang province of southern Tibet. He talks about his life in Phari in the 1950s and describes the education system in his school in Phari, which was set up by the local people.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 02 February 2010
Events of 1959 - Rabgang Sonam Paljor, Gyantse
Rabgang S.Paljor describes how the events of 1959 Lhasa Uprising was received by the people in Gyantse and how he escaped from being arrested in the events following the Lhasa protest.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
1959 Tradegy - Kelsang Phuntsok, Lhasa
Kelsang Phuntsok recounts the 1959 Tibetan Uprising against China he witnessed as a 19 year old young boy in Norbulingka, the summer place of the Dalai Lama. Kelsang fled Tibet two days following the Dalai Lama's escape to India and served in the Tibetan community in exile before his immigration to Canada.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Toe Ngari in Late 1950s (I) - Lhawa Tsering Dakpa, Toe Ngari
Tsering Dakpa describes how the people from Toe Ngari heard about the 1959 Uprising in Lhasa and the Dalai Lama's escape to India. He also shares his story of how many people from Toe Ngari managed to escape to India in the early 1960s.
