Tattoos of Tibetan Ex-Political Prisoners: Ngawang
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Tattoos of Tibetan Refugees: Palbey
[VIDEO] Palbey is a ‘new arrival’ in Dharamsala, he only arrived from Tibet four months before he got this tattoo. He and his family are just one of the countless victims of the protests that swept Tibet in 2008, calling for freedom under Communist oppression. In his youth, Palbey was a nomadic farmer. Not fully […]
Tattoos of Tibetan Refugees: Moon
‘Moon’ came to India when he was only six. The only thing he remembers is he spent one year in the border town of Dam, and a local businesswoman walked across ‘Friendship Bridge’ with him (Border between China and Nepal), and he was sent to school. His family is all still in the Utsang region […]
Tattoos of Tibetan Ex-Political Prisoners: Lobsang
[VIDEO] Lobsang voiced his cry for independence, and was arrested. After his release, he was continuously harassed by the police — so much so he had to close his business, and flee to India. Here, he talks about his tattoo, divided between three friends, in the hopes they can one day stand together. Love0 Share […]
Tattoos of Tibetan Refugees: Kunchok
Kunchok was eight when he came to India. He came with an uncle, there were 18 people in their group, and it took them over two weeks or walking to reach Nepal, they crossed at Shagonpo La. In Tibet, he completed two years of school, his family wanted him to come to India for his […]
Tattoos of Tibetan Refugees: Jigme A.
Jigme is 23; he came from Kham when he was 18 years old. He had his tattoos done while he was in Tibet, they were done by hand – a needle wrapped in thread was dipped into calligraphy ink. On his upper arm he has a ‘yundon’ circled in flames, a “traditional old Buddhist symbol” […]
Tattoos of Tibetan Refugees: Jigme
Jigme came from Utsang. He got his tattoo as part of a healing process. Before he got it, he says that he was on the wrong path — he was doing a lot of drugs. Last year, he says he ‘saw the light’ in a way, and decided that he needed to have this tattoo, […]
Tattoos of Tibetan Ex-Political Prisoners: Dorjee
[VIDEO] Dorjee is 29 years old, he fled Tibet for India six years ago because there was “no freedom in Tibet”. He has “Bod Rangzen” (Freedom for Tibet) tattooed on his upper right arm. At first he tattooed both words in blue ink but it faded. Later he redid the tattoo in darker ink to […]
Tattoos of Tibetan Refugees: Dawa
Dawa is 26, she was born in exile in Delhi to Tibetan parents. She is now an American citizen. She chose not to show her face because she hopes to visit Tibet one day. Dawa has one tattoo, a chime gudril on her wrist. The modern meaning for this design is ‘freedom’ – it represents […]
Tattoos of Tibetan Refugees: Choedon
[VIDEO] At 24 years old, Choedon, a Tibetan refugee, tried to peacefully walk with hundreds of others back to Tibet. Here, she talks about her arrests, and her willingness to die for her homeland, which she has never seen. Her tattoos mark this journey. Love0 Share Tweet Share Pin
