The Tibetan Diaspora in Kashmir -The Ignored Underbelly

• Author: Suheel Rasool Mir, Shameem Ahamad Ganayee & Towseef Ahmad Wani
• Published Date: 26th, Oct 2020
• Publisher: GRFDT
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The present study was carried out on Tibetan Diaspora in central Kashmir’s District Srinagar. They are ethnically and culturally quite distinct from rest of the valley. This community is easily distinguishable from the rest of Kashmiris. Speaking broken Kashmiri, carrying Mongoloid facial features, adorning a unique culture and dresses are their apparent personality traits.  More than 42,000 refugees left Tibet in January 1960 (Central Tibetan Administration). More than 140 Tibetan families fled together from Tibet to Srinagar. Tibetans are settled here at three places in Srinagar: Makhdoom Sahib, Badamwari and Eidgah. Tibetan refugees, who had fled China after their failed uprising against Chinese authorities during 1950s, had settled in Srinagar’s Eidgah area of district Srinagar. More than 60 families are residing in Tibetan colony set-up by the state government for Tibetan refugees. However, from employment to basic amenities they are facing plethora of pr