I have more time for the cause of my country than for myself and I will make the best use of my only life to carry out the legacies of my forefathers and to fight for the rightful cause of my country is the dream to dream in every sleepless night of mine.
I was born and brought up in a beautiful region of Kham province in Tibet where the means of subsistence is strongly supported by farming and domesticating animals. When my parents were busy in bringing out a better production with works of winnowing, tilling and threshing. I was grown up under the great care of my great grandmother who was no longer there at my sight since then. As a naughty and snotty six-year-old boy I knew not more than me and my toys, the pebbles which I play with, Yaks and goats which I graze on the ground of great width. When I was grown up with enough strength to support my family, they taught me the tactics of tilling and shown me the greener side of grassland where I have to graze either goat or yaks with yelling and yowling. Thereby the idea beyond the boundaries of my village is out of my imagination and I knew not more than my domesticated animals. It was a time when the tales of tragedies were buried behind their fake smiles and sweets word, which were never narrated to their innocent kids. It was all about a Great Depression where the siblings suffered under the socialist suppression, my Father had endless tales to tell of how his father was tortured in the cell. My mother also had memories of how her mother was angered by enemies who drags dogs and domestics till to death and beat her till to her last breath. It was a time of black and blind where the violence in silence was taking place after every blows and boom. It was a time of black and blind where the red stars striking on the snowy mountains and the smells of blood stained streets hit hard on the nooks and noses. But I was born at a time when the dust was gone and debris was deserted to no man’s touch.
One day I was asked by my parents whether I wanted to go to India or not. Till then I have no idea where exactly it was located and the rough idea in me says that it was a place where my holy Guru is educating the children of my kind. Then I accepted their proposal with such excitement that what could be there beyond the boundary of my village. Then I was accompanied by one of my cousin brother who was ten years old with the same age of mine. And we were told by our parents that a man who is totally a new man in our new world would take care of us throughout the journey. Then we started our journey and it took almost thirty days to get to India. We beard each and every hardship that we had faced on our way and finally able to get to India. We slept under the sun when we think of the galvanized gun of Chinese. We step out like an owl at night when the enemies are not in our sight. When we think of far behind bars we crept and crawled like victims of war. We escaped through the crest of hills and through the winter wind chills. We crossed the rivers in its coldest stage and manage to cross the border by leaving behind the boundaries of the Great Wall. Our foods were finished in the last minute of our arrival at border areas and had to bang the doors and begged a bread to save our last breath. We exchanged our clothing for food and managed to reach in Nepal after crossing countless mountains and rivers.
Finally, we were received by the Tibetan Reception Centre in Nepal and send us to India from where We got the blessings of our great guru His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and got education under the guidance of TCV (Tibetan children’s village) and it has enlightened me from an uneducated nomad boy and truly transformed me into another human being. Since then I lived an exilic life and the saddest thing of being a refugee is that “there is nothing around you that you own and even the heart deep down under your chest choose to run away every now and then towards homeland”. We live a life of our own with such haste that we are always ready with our bags packed and ready to move from one place to another and that’s the challenge when you don’t have a place to call as a home in exile life. I lived so long single and solitary in an unknown place with unfamiliar faces, but I hardly remember a time where I was fallen in the illness of homesickness. It was not because that I have a heart as hard as stones but because of blessing in disguise which brought meaning in me. I realized the responsibility of being a voice for voiceless, voiceless Tibetans buried behind the boundaries of high standing Himalayas. Because of which I feel that I have more time for the cause of my country than for myself. I believe that each Tibetans like me is capable enough to contribute something to somewhere in this most difficult time of struggle for our common cause. And I know that its high time for us to put our potentials into performance and visions into action so as to see our snowy mountains before they melt out of mining and marketing.
I am too busy living with my dreams that one day we will see ourselves back to the land we dreamt for so long and I am hopeful enough to meet my parents whom I didn’t meet for fourteen years. I am hopeful enough to resolve our cause sooner than later and reunite with my countrymen and my families before they pass away one after another.
By: Sonsnow
I love words and find it extremely difficult to find the right ones for you now. That is an amazing sacrifice to leave your family for a better life so in turn you could help give not only your family but your country a better life. It breaks my heart you cannot and have not seen them. I am humbled that you shared your story with me. Thank you.
Glad that you have gone through all of it, everyone of us have a story to share and it will always helps us to understand and console overselves when we know that there are many others out there, who are undergoing the same situation.
Thanks for your words
stay healthy !
I have a big story to tell. I just have not had the time to put it out there yet. I could actually write a book. My childhood was very different. I wish so many people could have experienced what I did growing up. We were not rich financially, but we grew up in a very loving home. It was truly magical. This is why my heart is so broken. Since my father has died our once close family is divided and crumbling. They have always been my anchor when I’m spinning out of control. Now I just spin.
Ya it’s good to write them in the form of a book, so that it can be passed and shared with many generations to come, and they won’t feel lonely when things gone out of their control.
Thanks for sharing all these and hope you will take care of yourself in this difficult time.
I saw my counselor this morning and my daughter is in her appt now.
Do you stay in touch with your family? Is there a way for you to ever go back to visit?
Oh that’s good, ya I am in debted to technology for keeping me stay touch with family, as of now I am not finding any way out to get there, but I will surely get back oneday and hopefully they will stay happy and healthy till then.
I am not trying to be nosey or too personal by any of my questions, but is it finances that keep you from going or you will not be able to get back out.
It’s the political reason which didn’t allows me to go back, the visa problems etc.
That makes me so sad for you. I could and would have been so willing to help you financially to get a flight there and back
That’s so kind of you! Thank you for your kind gesture, it means a lot to me.
It’s only the political problem which parted me out of my homeland. My only hope of getting back to a free homeland keeps me active and alive.
I want to extend my sincere thanks once again for your kind motivation of helping others.
I have suffered my losses. The positive is it has made me more loving, compassionate, I feel things deeper now. I have been lucky to make a good living the last year, and I have been paying that forward. I wanted to help you see your family if I could. Are they able to communicate with you with a computer, facetime, etc?
Sorry to hear your losses and my prayers and condolences are awlays with you. There isn’t any better gift than loving and kindness, which we can give to anyone else around us, and I am glad that you got those treasures which can’t be hunted by anyone else.
Ya I am fortunate enough to get a glimpse of them through video chat, which we do once or twice after every three months.
We do send each other voice messages quite frequently.
If I get back sooner or later by means of any fortune, you will be one of the first persons I would share my success story.
My personal email address is lisaricard227@gmail.com if you would like to chat there anytime. It humbles me to know your sacrifices. I have never had to make a choice to leave my family and country to hopefully one day set them free.
Thanks, so good to know you and will surely catch you through your address.
I look forward to sharing our stories and truths.
It is 2am in South Carolina. I am going to sleep. Blessings to you my friend.
Good night my good friend!
I hope you go back and meet you family, your homeland. 14 years is too long… Hope all your dreams come true Sonam… And I know it’s belated.. but welcome to India…
Thank You so much! I am grateful to India for the kind gesture we have received in the last 60 years. It has been a home away from home to me and many others, for which we will remain indebted to this great nation.
Wow! felt warm and fuzzy, reading your comment. Stay happy buddy!!
What powerful, powerful writing Sonsnow. You are an astounding human being. I stand with you in your struggle. Stand your ground and fight your fight. Your words are a powerful sword and touch the hearts of many around the world. May God continue to use and bless you and your people. We are all pilgrims and refugees on this earth…
Thank You,
“We are the pilgrims and refugees on this earth”, so true.
I am not sure what drew you to my blog, but I welcome you heartily and am now following yours as well. I am grateful to have virtually made your acquaintance and wish you peace and strength in your important work. I look forward to supporting you on your journey to find the equity and justness that you seek and deserve. I see so much promise in your intelligent dedication to the path you have set for yourself.
All good wishes,
Annie
I follow everyone whose words of wisdom enlightens me. So, thank you for your encouraging words and I will definitely keep your words in strengthening my spirit.
Reblogged this on Stories of Hope and commented:
http://www.journalistandwriter.wordpress.com
Hi Sonam
Thanks for the follow and likes.
if you want to follow me, go to
https://craigsbooks.wordpress.com/2019/09/18/craigs-list-of-blogs-about-300-of-them-at-wordpress/
(to find one or two of interest…perhaps)
and/or https://www.facebook.com/craig.lock.31
+
https://www.facebook.com/Uplift-Encourage-and-Inspire-479972392393133/
# Though my family and close friends say it would be far more entertaining with a video-camera* in the “real world”, rather than in cyberspace!)
* By the way, do they still make them in today’s ever-faster changing world..or is it all done with mobile phones?
(get with the times now,”luddite”* c – it should be a smart phone)
* or so I was often called by my “my techno-geek” friend, Bill (“the gonk”)
“total non-techno” c (who doesn’t possess a mobile phone, after a rather eventful’ experience some years back, whilst trying to walk, talk and chew gum at the same time) #
The impossible we do immediately; however miracles take a little longer!
* (You may think I’m joking, but just ask my friends!)
Who says men can’t multi-task!
Men…Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em!
“You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.”
– Colette (nice name for a girl, btw)
http://www.craigsquotes.woespress.com
All the best with your blog
Shared by “early bird” (very) * craig
* my “best” time (by far)
“Information and Inspiration Distributer, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder” *
* not bridges (thank goodness)!
Well my family and friends say I’m “safest” just writing and sharing
Still
Driven to share, uplift, encourage and (perhaps even) inspire
PPS
“Live each day as if it’s your last…
and one day you’ll be right!
Don’t worry about the world ending today…
it’s already tomorrow in scenic and tranquil ‘little’ New Zealand
I read your story and I felt like you very much. Very good young man you are now. By you with your friend, escaped from Tibet to India at teenage, challenged all of the hardships and dangerous to such a successfully. I am also escaped from Vietnam to Australia with my three children by boat… In 1977. I miss my country very much, but, I only come back there when there are no more communist in there. I wish you well and do all the things you like. DTQT.
Thank You for your kind words, wishing you a happy and healthy year ahead. Stay safe in the midst of the outbreak of Coronavirus. I am also hoping to see my home (snowy mountain) one day when the Chinese communist party ends its occupation of Tibet.