Young Tibetan writer releases debut book ‘My name is Tenzin, I am not Chinese’
By Lobsang Tenchoe
DHARAMSALA, July 29: A young Tibetan writer launched his maiden book titled ‘My name is Tenzin, I am not Chinese’ today at the conference hall of Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala.
A bitter experience of identity crises while working at a call center in Chennai inspired the author Pam D. Tenzin to write the book.
“In spite of my repeated explanations to a colleague of mine at work that I am Tenzin and I am from Tibet, he misunderstood me for a someone from North-East India and later to my dismay, a Chinese,” the author recalled.
“The harsh reality of the constant identity crises that Tibetans face as we get submerged in the Indian community across India hit me and compelled me to write the book. But I couldn’t go further than two pages. Ultimately, during my nine months of unemployment, which was a blessing in disguise, I was able to complete the book,” Tenzin added.
Pam D. Tenzin’s college memoir, was launched by Guest Speaker Dhardon Sharling, former member of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile.
Sharling in her address, narrated her personal ordeals of the same identity crises she underwent and congratulated Tenzin for coming up with such a book and further encouraged young Tibetans to take to writing their personal experiences.
The book, published by Notion Press, chronicles the author’s experience at his alma mater, Madras Christian College in Chennai, while working at corporates and his interactions with Indian friends and his parallel journey of activism at college.