Occupational Mobility in an Exiled Community

Book excerpt: The book is an empirical research done by Prof. Madhu Rajput on socio-economic status of Tibetan women in exile. Though the author has focused on Tibetan women at Dharamsala and Dehradun, she takes readers to the era when Tibet was an independent nation, narrating their livelihood and traditions. It is a story of skillful adaptation they displayed in the face of drastically changed circumstances in exile to make their existence meaningful and contributory. In early 1960s during conflict, migration and resettlement, it were the Tibetan women and children who suffered the most, as out of their sheltered existence, they became vulnerable to various forms of gender-based exploitation. As a result of flight trauma, anxiety and hardships of beginning a life in exile, most of them suffer from psychological disorders which affect their social and family lives. In addition to many subjects discussed in the book, the author puts an effort to understand the challenges specific to Tibetan women and children, and create sensitization on the issue.