TIBET BACKGROUND FOR JUDGES
History & Government
After nearly a decade of territorial dispute between China and Tibet, in 1959 the Dalai
Lama and many other Tibetans fled to India, beginning a pattern of Tibetan emigration
to neighboring countries that continues to the present day.
Over 150,000 Tibetan refugees live outside Tibet, primarily in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
The Tibetan “government-in-exile,” known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)
operates out of Dharamsala, India, where democratically elected officials run schools,
hospitals, economic development programs, cultural activities and reception centers for
new refugees from Tibet.
Economy & Industries
There is a shortage of jobs in Tibetan communities, and Tibetans have limited access to
loans, investors and business expertise, so many Tibetan youths leave their settlements
in search of gainful employment. The CTA’s Department of Home runs several programs
to promote self-employment through skill development and better access to capital.
Most Tibetan businesses are small-scale and limited to their owners’ immediate
geographical areas. The most common occupations among Tibetan refugees in India are
traditional agriculture and seasonal sweater selling. A small number of households
engage in jobs outside the settlements and in individual businesses. Most businesses are
seasonal, unorganized, or unregistered entities. The average annual income per Tibetan
refugee household is approximately 80,000 INR (Indian rupees) per year (about $1,300
USD) with moderate variation across regions.
Education
There are approximately 76 Tibetan schools in India and Nepal, where both traditional
and modern subjects are taught. Every Tibetan refugee child has access to free education
up to the senior secondary level. There are no legal restrictions on Tibetan students
pursuing any kind of education in India. Tibetans pursue higher education in colleges
and universities in India on par with Indian students. Tibetan students have earned
professional degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorates in various
fields of study.
Health
The CTA’s Department of Health runs hospitals, health centers, and clinics across India
and Nepal, providing primary health care services (both preventive and curative) to
Tibetans. Traditional Tibetan medicine is still widely practiced among Tibetans,
incorporating centuries-old traditions based on Buddhist principles alongside more
modern Western methods and treatments. Notable public health issues among Tibetan
refugees include tuberculosis and Hepatitis B, both of which are prevalent at high rates
in refugee communities, and chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer,
and heart disease, which have increased in recent years.
Infrastructure & Transportation
Infrastructure quality and access to transportation vary depending on region. The most
common complaints are poor road conditions within settlements, poor maintenance of
housing, lack of a proper waste management system, and poor lighting in public spaces.
Basic requirements in schools are satisfactory, but there is opportunity to improve
technology-based teaching and learning aids. Tibetan refugees in India are affected by
some of India’s persistent infrastructural challenges and shortcomings, including limited
or unreliable electricity services, water supplies, sanitation, and internet access.
Legal Considerations
In October 2014, not long after granting Tibetan refugees the right to vote in Indian
elections, the government of India approved the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy, which set
a uniform policy across all Indian states regarding the rights of Tibetan refugees. In part,
it specifies that Tibetans are allowed to undertake any economic activity, including
starting enterprises, and are entitled to all associated permits and licenses. The policy
states that Tibetans can pursue and take any jobs for which they are professionally
qualified.
Tibetan refugees in India are unable to own land; however, federal and state
governments in India have leased out thousands of acres of land for refugees to live in
self-sufficient compact communities, where they may legally own and operate their own
businesses. Effectively there are no legal barriers to Tibetan refugees starting businesses
in India.
Social Atmosphere
Relations are good between Tibetans and Indians, although the two groups generally
maintain their separate identities. Most Tibetans do not seek Indian citizenship or
intermarry with Indians. There are some generational differences among the social
attitudes of Tibetans. Many younger Tibetans were either born outside of Tibet, or left
Tibet when they were very young, and thus have grown up under the influence of
outside cultures. Many Tibetan youth speak English, use the internet, enjoy western
entertainment, and leave their communities in search of employment. The older
generation of Tibetans worries that their traditional culture is being diluted.
Political Atmosphere
The relationship between the CTA and the government of India is excellent. Successive
Indian governments have permitted the Dalai Lama to live in India since 1959, and the
Indian government has allowed the CTA to operate schools, health clinics, and other
community amenities. Federal and state governments in India have leased out
thousands of acres of land for refugees to live in self-sufficient compact communities, as
well as for the establishment of Buddhist monasteries.
Tibetan Culture
The geographical isolation imposed by the Himalayas allowed Tibetans, over a long
period of time, to develop a unique culture separate from those of other peoples in
central Asia. Tibetans have their own distinct language, art, music, dances, literature,
architecture, cuisine, calendar, and cultural traditions. Much of Tibetan culture is
influenced by Tibetans’ Buddhist beliefs; music, literature and artwork often feature
religious themes. Tibetans both in Tibet and in the rest of the world are committed to
preserving the traditional elements of their culture.
Importance of Religion
The overwhelming majority of Tibetans practice Tibetan Buddhism. The government of
India has allowed Tibetan refugees to establish Buddhist monasteries to educate monks
in Buddhism and Tibetan culture. The emigration of Tibetans to other parts of the world
in recent decades has helped popularize Tibetan Buddhism throughout the globe.
Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. For several centuries, successive Dalai
Lamas served as both the spiritual and political leaders of the Tibetan people. In 2011,
the 14th Dalai Lama initiated a process of transferring his political authority to the
democratically elected head of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.