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There is definitely a disparity of thought between generations
— not just between parents and children but also between
Migyul and Youth and most of all amongst the youth themselves.
The interview thus reflects. |
Since Migyul Youth has just come out, we the editors decided
to keep it very general with this interview. And since this
is our first interview, we thought it would make sense to start
off with views from our youth. There is definitely a disparity
of thought between generations – not just between parents
and children but also between Migyul and Youth and most of all
amongst the youth themselves. The interview thus reflects.
We would like to add that we tried our level best in trying
to involve all youths of the Himalayan community but there was
a lack of participation. For the time being, here are three
of our participants. We hope their opinions will get your thinking
juices going a little more and we cross our fingers and hope
that more of the Himalayan Youth will join us in expressing
their ideas in the near future.
- Tenzin Yeshi is a high school senior from New York.
- Tenzin Lhundup is a second-year student at Stony Brook University.
- And lastly, Rinzin Wangmo is a first-year college student
in Delhi.
MY: Define culture in your terms of understanding.
TY: I define culture as a customary belief and social forms,
which has a variety of traits that reflects racial, religious
and social groups.
TL: I believe culture is something that defines us —
the way we dress, eat, live, think and react with other people
from different societies. It is also something that is passed
on from one generation to another.
RW: Culture to me is the basic human values, the virtues, the
traditions, heritage, religion and the fashion in which our
day to day life flows. Or say how we let it flow.
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There is a huge advantage for us to retain the threads of
our culture within our society and the nation. We can be
proud of being Tibetan and having a unique culture; also
we can significantly prove the world that “Tibet was
an independent nation” invaded by Chinese. |
MY: How do you feel about our culture in exile today?
TY: Basically, culture had changed a lot in these 50 years
after our country was invaded by the Chinese. As compared to
early cultures and the modern culture of the Tibetans, it had
changed in both ways, negatively as well as positively. From
the positive aspect, we (Tibetans) have learned the strategy
of developing our ethnic culture and put in a new version, to
make it more entertaining and aesthetic, so that new coming
generations will find an interest in our culture, in which the
culture remains to flow through to the following generations.
There is a huge advantage for us to retain the threads of our
culture within our society and the nation. We can be proud of
being Tibetan and having a unique culture; also we can significantly
prove the world that “Tibet was an independent nation”
invaded by Chinese. Unfortunately we had also lost our abundance
of regional culture in these years. Obviously, most cultures
were destroyed by Chinese, after invasion of our country. I
believe that it is not that our people are ignorant and unwilling,
but owing to desperate situations and harsh livelihood in Tibetan’s
settlement at the periods of time culture has taken a back seat.
Since from the repression and the losing of our country, and
being a refugee in these years, Tibetans had advanced greatly
in many fields, like finance, education, politics and religion
… From that view, I feel that Tibetan culture that is
lost or became invisible for a moment, is being revived, even
further developed. I believed that Tibetan culture will be develop
to a level as earlier when it was unique and rich.
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In exile, I think we are not preserving our culture enough
which I believe is due to a lack of communication between
our elders and younger generation. |
TL: In exile, I think we are not preserving our culture enough
which I believe is due to a lack of communication between our
elders and younger generation. Our youth are very eager to cope
with present advancement in our culture with very little effort.
There are more youths at a party compared to other age groups
in any Tibetan function.
RW: Our culture in exile is a contaminated version of what
I have read in books and heard from my elders about it. Example:
A. I feel, much has degraded in terms of values and morality,
in the younger generation. B. It is certainly not right environmentally
to wear all the traditional dress we know in Tibet. So it is
of no point to argue what we wear. But we do a lot to maintain
what we had and have.
MY: What do you feel of the importance to maintain and
preserve our culture?
TY: Culture plays an important role in representing one’s
diverse nation; for an individual, it represents nationality
and that part of a particular nation he/she belongs to.Without
culture is without identity, culture defines nationally, identity
and ethnic backgrounds. It gives you a voice and defines who
you are and what is your right. Speaking through my experience,
being a Tibetan, our strong inheritance culture defines my identity,
who I am and what my ethnicity and nationally is. Chinese government
had already separate propaganda that Tibet is a part of China.
In this abstract situation of defending our nation, our unique
culture has helped to differentiate and prove that Tibet was
a separate independent nation. It is very important to show
to the world and let them know that we are totally different
from Chinese.
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It is important to maintain what our culture is consisted
of because, our culture will show the differences between
us and the Chinese. |
TL: It is important to maintain what our culture is consisted
of because, our culture will show the differences between us
and the Chinese. If we constantly, try to cope with other cultures
then one day, we will have a mixed culture which is clearly
shown in the way we speak. I have noticed that people over here
in USA constantly speak Tibetan mixing the English words (there
must be a reason behind this).
RW: It is appealing to hear the cliché ‘we
have to preserve our culture’. I think it is very important
to maintain what is very little left of our rich heritage. We as
refugees need something to relate to. It is not as if a
refugee has no identity less. God knows when we have to return
back.
MY: What about the importance in finding a medium between
what “our” culture was, is and what “we”
aspire it to be?
TY: Sorry Migyul Youth, I don’t know how to answer this
Q.. or may be I don’t like this Q..
TL: What do we mean by a “medium”, is it that we
are trying to make a new kind of Tibetan culture which is composed
of both previous and the cultures which we get by living here
in USA or in other countries. I think, we should preserve and
keep our old culture which is passed down by our elders.
RW: This is important and I believe Migyul Youth is a very
good medium.
MY: How do you feel about the elder generation? And their
opinion towards the younger generation? Whether if they are
in tune with younger generation?
TY: I believe that elderly generations are representing an
ideal for the younger generation. I absolutely appreciate and
respect those elder generation for showing us the right path.
I can’t comment on how the previous generation’s
view the younger generation. But for the moment through my experiences
with the elderly, especially my parents; I think they hope for
us to sustain our culture and traditions and want us be concerned
for our country. I think many elderly are in tune with the younger
people but it depends on the individual. Those elderly generations,
who are educated and conscious about modernity are more likely
to adjust with the younger generation. For elderly generation
that are orthodox and unaware in academic fields, are less likely
to link with younger generation. I think it is based on modern
education.
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Every household should try to preserve our culture starting
with speaking clear Tibetan, eating Tibetan food and respecting
each other. |
TL: I think, our elder generation have to take the responsibility
to teach and pass our culture to their children. They also have
to understand the present necessities of our youth like not
judging us by the way we dress or behave (these things can change)
and have to find a way to pass our culture on us (youth). Every
household should try to preserve our culture starting with speaking
clear Tibetan, eating Tibetan food and respecting each other.
RW: I strongly feel that the elder generation has a lot
to do with what we accept as culture, they are the roots from
whom we absorb information of our culture. I must say that their
opinion towards the younger generation other than the
metaphor ‘Future seed of Tibet’ is little less of
hope and more of agitation. Of course they are not in tune with
the younger generation. It is because they have come in contact
with the major culture shock, ever. The transition from Tibet to
the rest of the world was so abrupt and quick and shocking.
MY: Do you feel a need to prove yourself to the elder generation?
TY: I think that, it is not always necessary always that the
elderly show the way first but younger generations can teach
lessons to the elderly. Some people are better in one field
than others.
TL: I think there is no need to prove anything to anybody but
our Tibetan youth have to listen to what our elder generation.
RW: There is the need. In my case, I need to show them that
I am more than just a confused refugee girl. That I
need to relate somewhere to something. That I can play
the parts in the bigger cultural circle, and that even I care.
MY: Is there a need for a magazine, like the Migyul youth?
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I think we need “Migyul Youth” magazine, I totally
agree with it. It is really a good idea of having our own
magazine. For me, a magazine symbolizes an inspiration and
expression of one’s opinions and ideas. |
TY: I think we need “Migyul Youth” magazine, I
totally agree with it. It is really a good idea of having our
own magazine. For me, a magazine symbolizes an inspiration and
expression of one’s opinions and ideas. To participate
in a magazine, gain education in variety of fields , writing,
journalism, communication, dealing with the people and etc..
We definitely need a magazine; it’s not only to teach
ourselves to write in the magazine but it also encourages and
invites other readers to participate in our magazine, which
will expand our group. So let us start! fellow people...
TL: I think it is really a good idea to create a Migyul youth
where we can express our thoughts about our current situation
and to listen to what other youths think about our culture and
about Tibet.
RW: I consider Migyul Youth as a very very important platform
to introduce our culture who understand ‘the something’
we are missing not having a genuine nationality to relate to.
