Sense of belonging among Tibetan refugees in India: A case study of the Bylakuppe settlement in Karnataka State
Summary
This study examines the Tibetan refugee diaspora’s sense of belonging towards Indian society. A large number of Tibetans fled from Tibet after the Chinese People’s Liberation Army crushed a Tibetan uprising in the spring of 1959. The Tibetan refugee settlements were meant to be temporary and as such they were organised as separate from Indian society. However, as Tibetans have been living in exile for nearly 60 years, the dream of a free Tibet seems to be waning and an increasing number of Tibetans has been born in host country India. In this light, the question arises how Tibetan refugees perceive their own situation in India, specifically how they feel towards Indian society. This study examines this question by examining the Tibetan’s sense of belonging through four main topics, namely receiving society receptivity, social capital, economic integration and exposure to the host society. The study conducted thirty-nine in-depth interviews with refugees in the Bylakuppe settlement, in addition to participant observation and photography. The findings of this study indicate that Tibetan refugees arguably have developed a sense of belonging towards Indian society to some degree, for example through positive perceptions of the social climate and socio-economic success. However, obstacles such as perceived discrimination and a limited language proficiency in the local language Kannada prevent a feeling of complete belonging. In order to reduce these barriers, policy recommendations include creating awareness of Tibetans among Indian citizens and enhancing knowledge of Kannada.