Tibetan Cultural Identity in Nepal: Change, Preservation, Prospects

Abstract

In the difficult circumstances of institutional discrimination and political pressure, the Tibetan minority in Nepal negotiate their identity with utmost communicative resourcefulness, tying their values to universal ethics. They resort to their spiritual heritage in their daily intercultural encounters, seeing it mostly as an essential mindset. Developing intercultural personhood through universalization does not challenge identity salience, if one’s culture is adhered to consciously. The respondents are optimistic about preserving their culture, provided the positive factors, such as community living and cultural education, persist. The obstacles are seen in materialistic influences, globalization and lack of interest among the young generation.

Keywords:

• Tibetans
• refugees
• cultural identity
• identity negotiation
• intercultural personhood
• identity preservation

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the Tibetan activists and settlement leaders for their trust and cooperation, as well as Dr Tenzin Dorjee, California State University Fullerton, for his helpful comments and suggestions.

Notes

1. An act of setting oneself on fire in order to express protest, practiced in some Buddhist cultures, particularly by modern Tibetans, both in the PRC and in exile. As of December 2015, 143 Tibetans have committed self-immolations.