State of the World from NPR In Dharamshala, Tibetans Worry About Preserving Their Identity
Nov 6, 2025
Dia Hadid, an NPR correspondent focused on Tibetan refugees, dives into the heart of Dharamshala, where the Tibetan community grapples with identity preservation. She highlights the vital role of the Tibetan Children's Village in teaching culture and language amidst declining enrollment due to migration barriers. Stories like that of Namki, who escaped imprisonment, reveal the harsh realities new arrivals face. As many Tibetans look to the West for opportunities, tensions over the future of the Dalai Lama and external support raise serious concerns for this dwindling community.
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School That Raised a Generation
- Tenzin Norder leads children in Tibetan songs and traditions at the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamshala.
- The school raised Tindap Galpo after his father returned to Tibet and now Galpo cares for boarding students as a teacher.
Shrinking Schools Signal Cultural Risk
- The Tibetan Children's Village has capacity for 9,000 but enrolls only about half that number today due to fewer births and tighter Chinese borders.
- Dharamshala's institutions are seen as central to preserving Tibetan identity, making diaspora dispersion worrying.
Escape, Exile, And Youth Aspirations
- Namki fled Tibet after imprisonment for showing a picture of the Dalai Lama and reached Dharamshala after nine years of trying to escape.
- Young students like Gawa speak multiple languages and seek opportunities abroad, citing better futures in the West.