Home Institution
Pomona College
Publication Date
Fall 2022
Abstract
A majority of the Tibetans in India are stateless, meaning that they have citizenship to no internationally recognized country. India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and has no national refugee framework. Therefore, residents of India are either designated as foreigners or citizens. Tibetans—including those that were born in India—are labeled as “foreigners” in India. Stateless Tibetans in India have no permanent legal status, making them vulnerable to detention and deportation. Furthermore, stateless Tibetans can’t buy property, have limited educational and career opportunities, and constantly have to renew documentation in order to reside in India. While a significant number of Tibetans are not eligible to apply for Indian citizenship, many have chosen to remain stateless in order to protect the Tibet struggle. Despite the many difficulties that come with statelessness, Tibetans have found ways to thrive and preserve Tibetan culture.
Disciplines
Asian History | Asian Studies | Inequality and Stratification | International Relations | Migration Studies | Politics and Social Change | Social Justice
Recommended Citation
Rikha, Sonam, "Born A Foreigner: Tibetan Statelessness in India" (2022). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 3574.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3574
Included in
Asian History Commons, Asian Studies Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, International Relations Commons, Migration Studies Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Social Justice Commons
Program Name
Nepal: Tibetan and Himalayan Peoples