The Intent of ‘A Modern Nomad’
Welcome to ‘A Modern Nomad’! The name is a tribute to my late mother, Gako—a name that charmingly translates to ‘Happiness’. She would regale me with tales of her nomadic childhood in free Tibet, filled with adventures and the occasional mischief. Even after coming into exile, our nomadic spirit refused to be tamed, just got a modern twist.
I was born in the apple-scented air of Manali, a place where the mountains seem to whisper ancient stories. My parents made the journey from Tibet in the 1960s, joining a band of refugees led by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They brought with them not just memories but a fierce determination that their children would have opportunities they never had. School was a must—no excuses. My mother, with her unstoppable grit and a knack for making things work, ensured I went further than we ever imagined.
Those snow-capped peaks of Manali were the starting point of my adventure. From there, I hopped between four Tibetan schools before eventually landing at an Indian university in Jalpaiguri—a place as remote as it is full of quirks. Fast forward a few decades, and life’s journey has brought me back to a spot not too far from where I started. Twenty-four years of service to the Tibetan & Indian community have been quite a nomadic journey, with stops at the Norbulingka Institute, the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and contributions to education & learning through Pallavan Learning Centre, the Centre of Escalation of Peace, Ritinjali, and Druk Gyalpo’s Institute.
This platform is my way of sharing stories, reflections, insights, and experiences of living in exile in today’s world. Think of it as a blend of ancient wisdom and modern musings, with a dash of nostalgia and a sprinkle of humour.
I aim to explore the rich intersections of tradition, culture, identity, philosophy, and learning, all while embarking on a journey of discovery and understanding. It’s taken a fair bit of courage (and a few pep talks) to step out and share these thoughts. My upbringing was all about humility and self-reflection, not exactly a recipe for shouting from the digital rooftops. But hey, times change, and so do we—thanks to the internet and social media.
So here I am, marking my presence in this vast digital landscape. Whether my ramblings make sense to you or not, here I am, sharing my story, one post at a time.
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An Overview of the Sections
Quotes:
This section, ‘Quotes,’ exists as an anchor—a guiding light to navigate the journey of life. For many of us, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has been that unyielding north star. Our parents followed his decision to seek refuge in India when our homeland was devastated by the People's Republic of China. Since the 1960s, India has not only been a haven but also a place where we’ve preserved and propagated our language, culture, and identity.
His Holiness’ unwavering strength, vision, and resilience have been instrumental in helping Tibetans survive and thrive in exile. His leadership extended beyond spiritual guidance; he took on the weighty dual responsibility of leading both the spiritual and political aspects of our struggle. This dual role continues to amaze and inspire many of us, especially those born in exile and exposed to diverse Indian and global contexts.
How could one person, a spiritual leader, bear the burden of such political intricacies while remaining deeply rooted in compassion and wisdom? It’s a question that has long fascinated me, as I know it has for many others.
This section is dedicated to his profound quotes—both from his speeches as a political leader and from his reflections as ‘a simple Buddhist monk.’ It’s an attempt to explore and share his unique approach to navigating these roles, offering insights that inspire daily. May these words motivate you as much as they have sustained me every single day.
Expressions:
This section is a window into the thoughts and emotions of a young Tibetan growing up in exile across various parts of India. Born in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, to parents who followed His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama into exile in the 1960s, their journey was one of resilience and adaptation. As teenagers, they found themselves in a new land, meeting each other and beginning what could only be described as a modern nomadic life.
Amid harsh conditions and countless challenges, they raised five children, but only two survived. My brother, 12 years my senior, joined the Tibetan army under the Indian establishment in Dehradun, while I stayed with my parents and attended regular schools. The Central Schools for Tibetans, jointly run by the Indian Government and the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, became my academic home.
The poems featured here were handwritten in a few notebooks that travelled with me through this journey of exile. From Tibetan schools in Manali, Dalhousie, Mussoorie, and Mundgod to adult life in Dharamsala, Delhi, Kolkata, and Siliguri, these notebooks somehow endured. Recently rediscovered, they stirred memories of that nomadic existence, encapsulating the emotions of a life lived in transition.
This section revisits those fragments of a younger self, reflecting on a past shaped by change, survival, and hope. It is also an opportunity to refine those words, preserving their essence while honouring the emotions they carry.
Articles:
Growing up in the 80s and 90s, many of us, I believe, were not raised to be as expressive or bold as the generations today. I vividly remember the dread of elocution or speech selections in school, hiding in the hope of avoiding the spotlight. Times have certainly changed. My nine-year-old, for instance, is always eager to showcase her talents, whether it’s dancing, singing, or excelling in sports—a shift I am incredibly grateful for.
Life, however, has a way of nudging us out of our shells. As we step into our careers and responsibilities, we often find ourselves adapting, sometimes in ways that feel unrecognisable when compared to our past selves. This transformation has been true for me as well. My work, particularly in education, has pushed me to articulate my ideas and express my thoughts through writing—something I never imagined doing as a child.
This section of the Substack is a collection of articles born from various assignments and moments where I felt compelled to share my perspective. It is a space to refine ideas, clarify views, and, most importantly, invite dialogue. Your comments and reflections are a vital part of this journey, feeding into the ongoing process of learning and growth.
Thank you for being here and for engaging with these thoughts.
Stories:
In the ‘Expressions’ section of this Substack, I explored the thoughts and emotions of my school days through the creative medium of poetry. This section, however, is dedicated to prose and narratives shaped by the experiences of living in exile and embodying the modern nomadic lifestyle.
What does it mean to be born in India as a Tibetan in exile? From childhood to the present, this journey offers narratives that deserve to be shared. As reflected in the ‘Quotes’, ‘Expressions’, and ‘Articles’ sections, I have found the courage to share my voice on platforms like this, raising awareness about my existence as a Tibetan while offering insights into the collective story of our people.
While many modern nomads like me might share similar experiences, the nuances of each journey are unique. These subtle differences often shape us in profound ways, becoming defining moments in our lives. And it’s these intricacies—sometimes small, sometimes life-changing—that I find worth exploring.
Being Tibetan itself signifies a struggle for a cause that we all strive for collectively. This section offers stories drawn from my life: born in Manali, educated in Dalhousie, Mussoorie, and Mundgod, and later stepping into professional life, navigating through places like Dharamsala, Delhi, Kolkata, and Siliguri. It reflects on exploring India’s vast diversity, experiencing its richness firsthand, and venturing beyond to England and a few other countries. It’s peculiar to use the word “foreign” here—Tibetans often refer to it as Chi-gyal, typically when leaving or going out of India. Ironically, we are already in Chi-gyal. These are the stories of that journey. I hope you enjoy the read!
Adventures:
As outlined in other sections of this Substack, this space was initially dedicated to childhood stories from Manali, Himachal Pradesh. However, an idea evolved along the way, leading to a semi-fictional genre for the stories of my early years. Before writing these episodes, I would often tell bedtime stories to my eight-year-old daughter. The characters of Attu and Rattu are real—Attu, my childhood nickname, and Rattu, my dog from those years in Manali. My daughter and I would improvise the stories, weaving in imaginative scenarios, and she grew to love them.
This sparked the idea for a storytelling platform where the characters and settings exist in real places in Manali, but the stories themselves blend fact with folklore and imagination, capturing the curiosity and adventure of childhood. Not only does my daughter eagerly await each new episode, but she’s also excited to contribute as the illustrator for each one. Her illustrations add a special touch to the stories, making the adventure come alive in even more vivid ways.
While Attu and Rattu are real, so too are the other characters in each episode—they are family friends and acquaintances. The places mentioned are also real, but the stories within the stories are woven with imagination and folklore. Like many children, Attu and Rattu have a keen love for adventure stories.
The goal of this section, Adventures, is to share tales of exile and the making of a modern nomad through the eyes of a child, embracing the daily adventures of life. It’s a way to convey the complexities of exile while invoking the wonder and curiosity that come with the journey. I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I have enjoyed creating them.
Visuals:
This section is the newest addition to my Substack blog. As you may have gathered from the other sections, each serves a specific purpose in telling a larger story. However, I felt something was missing to complete this story-telling platform, something that would unite all the elements. Hence, the ‘Visuals’ section, where I share photos and images that have been part of my life as ‘A Modern Nomad’.
While there are many other photo-sharing platforms, I believe combining both narrative and visuals on one platform offers a more ‘w’holistic experience. I hope it resonates with you as much as it did with me when I first envisioned it. Enjoy the pictures!
