Nomadic Herds and Himalayan Nerds
Tech reporter for NPR and co-editor of BoingBoing, Xeni Jardin, recently published a radio documentary series on wireless connectivity among the Tibetan exile community in Dharmsala. She travels from Delhi to Himachel Pradesh and eventually into Tibet itself in an exploration of how this relatively powerless refugee community is using technology to connect the diaspora and perhaps fight back against China.She begins her story by focusing on the original inhabitants of the area, the Gaddi and explains how written Gaddi is now virtually extinct and the culture teeters on the verge assimilation into a generic North Indian mish-mash. In her stories (only two are online at the time of my writing) she argues that technology has virtually saved Tibetans.
Besides Israel, the Tibetan exile community is by far the most successful refugee movement in the world, and perhaps it is fitting that Yahel Ben-David, an Israeli tech-nerd and former soldier, is helping to set up a wireless mesh network with the Tibetan Technology Center that will blanket Dharmsala in a fine sheet of bandwidth.
The success of the Tibetan movement, however, is only its ability to adapt to technology, but, as in the case of Israel, depends on huge amounts of foreign aid and sympathy that individuals and governments donate to the cause. Even the Principality of Sealand, a questionably legal micro-nation off the coast of England whose only business is to provide secure web hosting, has chipped in and offered to support the Tibetan Government's web presence.
Over the years Tibetans have become so successful in propagating their story of victimization from an aggressive Chinese opponent, that the whole of McLeod Ganj (the actual site of the Tibetan Government) has skyrocketed down the flight path to modernization, while the surrounding community of mainstream North Indians and tribal Gaddi have moved forward as a much more sluggish clip.
The disparity in wealth between Indians and Tibetans is something of a problem in Dharmsala. There were riots a few years ago where Indian shopkeepers and youths savaged Tibetan establishments and every year the celebration of Holi is unusually tense on McLeod Ganj.
The struggle of the Tibetans surely deserves worldwide attention, yet the disparities in Technological advancement and adaptability highlight inequalities between successful refugee movements, and movements that never quite got off the ground.
posted by Scott Carney @ 9:39 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Besides Israel, the Tibetan exile community is by far the most successful refugee movement in the world
Israel, a refugee country/community movement? that's a new one.
Comparing the Israelis to the Tibetans is a stretch; The latter were given (unwillingly, grudgingly but still GIVEN) land while the former landed up in Palestine uninvited on the behest of some imperial powers who thought the camel herders/sand niggers weren't worth the land they were living in.
The only thing they have in common is they were persecuted. Israelis(or the jews) in Palestine can still go back to their European countries while the tibetans, if they do, might end up as organ donors in a chinese prison.
But you're American, you are NOT allowed to see the unvarnished truth w.r.t Palestine. Or rather you CHOOSE not to see it. As a journo, the word anti-semite is a Career Limiting Label.
But you can label me one. :-)
Shanks
Dear Shanks,
You bring up some very interesting points that I really didn't delve into in my post. It is an issue that I have a lot of strong opinions about, but am not sure if it is right for the theme of this blog (India/technology).
You could correct my on my knowledge of the formation of Israel if I am wrong, but my understanding is that the land was given to the jews by european powers after WWII. While that land may not have been europe's to give--colonial histories are quite complex--it was nonetheless given.
As I see it, the Palestinians are also a refugee movement--perhaps the only refugees from refugees. They just don't have the military clout that their neighbors do.
On that note, the Tibetan Exile Government does have an armed forces, many people don't know this. There is a tibetan unit (I forget whether it is a brigade or regiment) in the the Indian army that has seen action in both Bangladesh and in Kargil.
I don't think I deserve the label "anti-semite". But nor do I fit into a pro-israel camp. I see the Jewish identity as completely separate from Israeli identity/political ambitions.
I can say that I really do not like the fact that all israelis are required to join the armed forces. I think that makes the whole country see everything through a militaristic lens.
Sorry to be so off topic.
Tibetans are still Wireless.
Scott,
I'm not calling you anti-semite(see first post); all I was hinting at was, you write anything critical of Israel, you in the Journo field might have the The Nation and Counterpunch as your only publishing gig! (I'm part of the Lobby, no one talks about):-)
While that land may not have been europe's to give--colonial histories are quite complex
We seem to agree on this. Surprised(personally)
& yes, I'm aware of the Tibetan army , the CIA/India funding and final walking away from Tibetan Liberation by all parties (India, USA) after the Kissenger China visit
I'll accept that Tibetans are now a little ahead in terms of 'Net/Wireless access.
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