Tibet Oral History Project: Interview with Lobsang Tashi on 7/3/2007

The interpreter's English translation provided during this interview is potentially incomplete and/or inaccurate. If you are not fluent in Tibetan, please refer to the interview transcript for the complete and correct English translation. Read the interview transcript in English at http://tibetoralhistory.org/Interview... ** This interview about life in Tibet was conducted by the Tibet Oral History Project. This non-profit organization aims to preserve the history and culture of the Tibetan people by interviewing elderly Tibetan refugees about life in Tibet before and after the Chinese invasion. Learn more at http://www.TibetOralHistory.org. ** Interview Summary: As prosperous nomads in the Ngari Dhargayling region of Tibet, Lobsang Tashi's family held the title Tsorpon because they owned the most cattle in the region. Lobsang Tashi describes his family's work of caring for their domestic animals and traveling to Jang Tsakha to gather salt, which they bartered for grains in Bhutan. Lobsang Tashi also explains the annual horse races that took place in his village, detailing how the Tibetans trained the horses to race and prepared them for the event. When Lobsang Tashi was only 16 his father died, making him responsible for the family, including tending the livestock and paying taxes. Living far from Lhasa, he and others in Ngari Dhargayling did not experience harsh treatment from the Chinese. Nonetheless, Lobsang Tashi was aware of the Chinese oppression in Lhasa and the subsequent escape of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to India. Anticipating hardships imposed by the Chinese to eventually reach his village, Lobsang Tashi and his family fled to India via Nepal. He describes his life as a refugee in Nepal and India.