Tibetan play highlighting repression in Tibet to do 34 shows across India

Tenzin Nyidon 

DHARAMSHALA, April 2: “A Fearless Voice,” a Tibetan-language play highlighting the situation inside Tibet, organised by the pro-independence group Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) and performed by Tibet Theatre artists, was inaugurated at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) on Tuesday.

The play depicts the journey of a young Tibetan girl named Sangmo, who is forced to leave her homeland. Her family, caught in the grip of Chinese repression, face devastating consequences—her brother, a monk, is killed by Chinese authorities for allegedly organizing a celebration of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, while she herself is taken away to government-run boarding school designed to erase Tibetan identity. Left with no choice, her parents make the heart-breaking decision to send Sangmo into exile, hoping to secure her freedom and preserve their culture beyond Tibet’s borders. Through Sangmo’s story, the play sheds light on the ongoing oppression faced by Tibetans under Chinese rule. 

The play is set to be showcased in 34 locations across India, including Tibetan settlements and schools, as the artists embark on a two-month tour across various cities to raise awareness about the ongoing human rights violations in Tibet. The TYC will fully fund the production, with the estimated budget for the tour amounting to approximately ₹20 lakhs. The final leg of this tour will culminate in Ladakh.

TYC General Secretary Sonam Tsering told Phayul that the play aims to raise awareness about Tibet, particularly in schools, where knowledge has gradually waned due to the declining arrivals of Tibetans from Tibet. “The initiative seeks to educate students on the worsening conditions inside Tibet. Additionally, it strives to instill a spirit of activism among Tibetan youth in settlements by shedding light on China’s cultural genocide and ongoing atrocities,” he said.

He further stated that another reason for inaugurating the play this year was to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s enforced disappearance on April 25, 1995, when he was just six years old. Recognized as the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima holds the second-highest position in Tibetan Buddhism, following the exiled spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Speaking to Phayul, playwright Lhakpa Tsering shared the inspiration behind his work, stating that following the departure of the former TYC secretary in July last year, it was suggested that a theatrical production be used as a medium for advocacy. Lhakpa who has also been a former committee member of TYC noted that leveraging drama to raise awareness about Tibet and instill a spirit of activism among the youth was not a novel idea—it had been discussed since 2006, with resolutions on the matter consistently passed during annual meetings.

“This long-standing aspiration was finally realized by the current committee members,” he remarked. “Having actively engaged in Tibet’s political cause, I hope to reignite a sense of activism among young Tibetans, and it was with this objective in mind that I wrote the play.”

He further noted that while various programs were once organized to instill resilience and reinforce awareness of the Tibetan cause, such initiatives have dwindled in recent years. “Through this play, we aim to rekindle awareness among exile Tibetans, particularly targeting school-aged youth. As they study alongside students from the Himalayan region, many gradually lose their distinct Tibetan identity. By shedding light on the ongoing situation inside Tibet, this initiative seeks to reignite their sense of belonging, urging them to uphold the Tibetan cause while safeguarding their cultural and religious heritage.”