A plethora of criss-crossing complexities confronts over 100,000 Tibetan refugees in India and their central administration, headed by the Dalai Lama. The endeavour of the Tibetans to protect their cultural and religious identity has so far faced minimal opposition from their Indian hosts, barring a few minor incidents. However, as the number of Tibetan refugees swells, the administration faces the growing challenges of not only looking after the settlement of these refugees, but also preserving their religious identity from the onslaught of the forces of modernity in India. These challenges pose a serious problem for the Tibetans. In the days and years to come, such challenges are poised to enter a more critical phase. © UNHCR 2007, all rights reserved.

Dalai Lama India Tibetan Dharamsala Refugees Buddhism

Eurasia refugee migrants experience India religion Himachal Pradesh modernity Dharamsala South Asia Asia cultural identity