Tibetans In Diaspora #139 | FT: Dolkar Lhamo Stories of Tibetans #218

Tibet is our homeland — a home in our hearts, though one we can no longer return to. I was born in Ladakh, and I feel deeply fortunate for that. Ladakh reminds me so much of Tibet — the land, the culture, the people. It feels like a piece of Tibet lives on here. My father used to be a nomad in Tibet. Growing up, he would share many stories from his past. What I remember most vividly is how he escaped Tibet — a memory filled with pain, courage, and resilience. Even though I was born in India, I’ve always felt a strong Tibetan identity. I feel it especially when I wear my traditional clothes. I believe traditional dress has a unique beauty — one that connects us to our roots more than Western clothes ever could. When I wear my Chupa, I feel fully Tibetan. Ladakh is very different from the rest of India. Its culture, traditions, and religion are closely tied to Tibet. It even reminds me of Toe Ngari, the region my family came from. The houses, the environment, and the many pilgrimage sites make this land feel like a reflection of Tibet. Sometimes, even though I’m in India, it truly feels like I’m in Tibet. At the same time, I’ve grown to love many things about India. Like most Indians, I enjoy dal and rice. I watch Bollywood and Tollywood movies too. But my identity as a refugee has always been part of me. Since I was young, our parents and teachers reminded us of it. I didn’t fully feel it until I went to college. When people asked where I was from, I had to explain Tibet, our history, our exile — things many had never heard about. Within the Tibetan community, I often forget that I’m a refugee. But once I step out, that reality becomes clearer — especially when we compete for opportunities and have to explain our background again and again. That said, I feel incredibly grateful to the Indian government and its people. Tibetans in exile enjoy a great degree of freedom. We have schools, settlements, hospitals, and the right to run businesses. What more could we ask for? And we have given back too. Three members of my family serve in the Indian Army. Tibetans have fought in the Kargil and Bangladesh wars — some even gave their lives for this country. We are proud to contribute to the community that has given us so much. It has been over 60 years since we lost Tibet. But we have preserved our culture, our language, and our traditions. And we have done it well. When His Holiness the Dalai Lama visits Ladakh, I am sure he feels a sense of comfort here — because this land, like us, carries the soul of Tibet. Tibet may not be within our reach today, but it is alive — in our hearts, in our stories, and in places like Ladakh. . . . . . . . . . . . #TibetanInExile #TibetLives #Ladakh #LittleTibet #TibetanCulture #TibetanRefugee #ThankYouIndia #TibetIndiaBond #LadakhDiaries #TibetanVoices #RefugeeVoices #ChupaPride #PreserveOurCulture #FreeTibet #LadakhHeritage #TibetansInIndia #SpiritualLand #HimalayanCulture #NomadicStories #TibetanYouth #IndiaTibetFriendship #LadakhLife #LadakhBeauty #TibetanTradition #DalaiLama #PilgrimageSites #TibetanIdentity #BornInLadakh #BuddhistCulture #MountainCulture