The first book of its kind, this community oral history documents the stories of the first Tibetans who immigrated to the Boston area after the passage of the Immigration Act of 1990, an unprecedented piece of legislature that enabled 1000 Tibetan refugees from India and Nepal to resettle in the United States. Within these pages, our narrators recount the various journeys they have taken: from leaving their beloved homeland Tibet as they escaped into exile, to rebuilding new foundations for life in India and Nepal, and later leaving everything behind to start anew in America with only their hopes for a better future for their families and Tibet. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of this remarkable feat of human effort to mobilize and bring social change, a team primarily consisting of second-generation Tibetan Americans gathered from 2014 onwards to work on this project and produced this book in 2019. Highly praised by scholars and activists alike, the creators of this book believe it will foster greater understanding of the Tibet issue, from past histories to present conditions.
“I read the first story in this book through my tears. What a precious gift this book is for all who care about our stories and our struggle for freedom. By capturing the voices of people who might otherwise not be heard, and documenting this important part of Tibetan history so authentically, the Tibetan Resettlement Stories project has done an incredible service to the Tibetan people and nation.” —Lhadon Tethong, Director, Tibet Action Institute
“Today, because of our volatile diaspora situation, preserving the oral history of Tibet is extremely important. With the passing away of one elder, the experience and life story of that person is completely lost, and so it is essential to preserve these stories before it is too late.” —Geshe Lhakdor, Director, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
“Through close, indeed loving, attention to the lives of individuals, a team of second-generation Tibetan Americans has created not only an important historical record but also a book that is itself an act of collective agency. Arising from a shattered history of dispossession, this new parable of resilience shows how links between past and present are propelling the Tibetan people into a determinedly transformative future.” —Tashi Rabgey, Cofounder, Machik, and Research Professor of International Affairs, George Washington University
“The cumulative effect of this lovingly curated and engaging collection of stories is a powerful meditation on the meaning of ‘home.’ It is a must-have book for Tibetans everywhere, and for readers wanting to gain a more nuanced understanding of exile and displacement.” —Cliff Mayotte, Education Program Director, Voice of Witness
“How does one maintain hope and faith in a time of loss? These are stories of family and country, of animals and friends, but also of unthinkable abuse and cruelty experienced in the Chinese takeover of Tibet. Through it all, the indomitable Tibetan spirit is clear. May these stories one day be read and known by people around the world, including by Tibetans inside Tibet.” —Professor Carole McGranahan, University of Colorado
“This amazing compilation tells extraordinary stories of the plight of the Tibetan people and brings to life unique stories of some forty hardworking immigrants, most of whom have escaped torture in Tibet, struggled to preserve their national identity living as displaced people in neighboring countries, and subsequently made it to the land of opportunity.” —Rinchen Dharlo, Former Representative of the Dalai Lama to the Americas
“The cumulative effect of this lovingly curated and engaging collection of stories is a powerful meditation on the meaning of ‘home.’ It is a must-have book for Tibetans everywhere and for readers wanting to gain a more nuanced understanding of exile and displacement.” — Cliff Mayotte, Education Program Director, Voices of Witness
