Interviewee Profile

Name: Nangpa Kyipa
(Alias: No)

Gender: Female

Interview Age: 86

Date of Birth: 1921

Birthplace: Phari Khambu, Utsang, Tibet

Year Left Tibet: 1959

Profession: Agriculture, Dairy Farming

Monk/Nun: No

Political Prisoner: No

Interview Details

Interview No.: 43

Date: 2007-06-25

Language: Tibetan

Location: Lugsung Samdupling Settlement, Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India

Categories: Oppression and Imprisonment

Keywords: Bylakuppe -- early life in , Chinese -- oppression under, Chinese rule -- life under, forced labor, imprisonment, refugee in India -- life as, trade, Utsang

Summary:

Nangpa Kyipa grew up near Phari in a place where abundant hot springs cured illnesses. Her family members were farmers and there was plenty of food to eat. With hundreds of cattle, they had enough butter and cheese to trade in nearby Bhutan for bags of rice.

Nangpa Kyipa recalls the Chinese telling the villagers that they would eradicate poverty by taking from the rich and giving it to the poor. She was told to give away half of her possessions. Her husband and brother were imprisoned by the Chinese. They were educated and the people from the village looked up to them so they were falsely accused of having ill-treated the villagers. Both were subjected to hard labor and many prisoners died from starvation.

Nangpa Kyipa's husband was fortunate enough to escape, but her brother remained imprisoned for years. Nangpa Kyipa then recounts her early days in Bylakuppe, India, and how they built the settlement to its present status. About Tibet, she says, "I can see the snow capped mountains. It's okay to even die on the mountain pass if I could see Tibet from there. My heart will feel that I am in Tibet."

Interview Team:

  • Martin Newman (Interviewer)
  • Lhakpa Tsering (Interpreter)
  • Tsewang Dorjee (Videographer)
Interview Video

Link: Watch On Youtube

Topic: Interview with Nangpa Kyipa on 6/25/2007

Length: 00:47:21


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