Born in Exile

Entering into Kalimpong, spectacular views of the Himalayas reveal ancient trade routes from India, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. Consequently, since the Chinese invasion of their country thousands of Tibetans refugees have made places like this their home.

In the heart of town is the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Cultural Institute (ITBCI) school, recently celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, and one of the earliest projects Karuna supported. The school emphasises Tibetan language, music and dance, alongside a modern curriculum. There are 200 students, including seventy boarders whose parents migrate seasonally to find work. For several orphans, this is the only home they have.

Many of the students' families are desperately poor, so ITBCI charges only minimal fees.

Given a camera, their rich imagination and sophistication surfaces. One moment they are learning ancient Tibetan dances, the next kicking a ball, dreaming they're David Beckham. It's a cultural balancing act as memory and imagination fuse in the school courtyard. Many of their photographs were taken through fences and grills; the blink of the shutter perhaps unconsciously framing an exile’s gaze for home.

Rajpal, a new arrival from Katmandu, has already seen much suffering in his short life. Escaping a violent family he was discovered by a friend of the school, living in a cave near a cremation ground. Although he is 17, he is currently studying with children much younger to catch up on what he's missed.

This is Rajpal's favourite. He explains: "The shot was taken at 6.30 am. Like a prison the sun is shining through. Even in a place of sorrow, something new is being created. One day there will be goodness. The two realms, the sky and the land, reminded me of the cremation ground. Like life and death: separate, but always together".

Mukesh is 14 and was born in Kalimpong. His brother also attends the school. Their father is a carpenter, and mother works in a shop selling rice and grains.

When asked if he could photograph anything what would it be, he replied: a farmer working in his fields. He then produced a beautiful model of a bullock cart he had made from wood and paper.

Mukesh explained that the wires spoiling the view of Mount Kanchenjunga reminded him of a time when he and his brother had an argument. He spent a long time framing the shot so he would only get one pole and the trees at the bottom left hand corner.

Chimi Lhamo (Photographer)

Chimi is 15 and has spent seven years at ITBCI school. She comes from the remote Mustang region of Nepal, near the Tibet border, where her parents are farmers. During school holidays she helps her older brother selling Tibetan-style clothes in Assam. Everyone calls her "Tibet Girl" since when she was younger she had bright red cheeks, characteristic of native Tibetans.

Lakhpa Dolma (black Terranova tee-shirt)

PHOTO of Lakhpa: 199

Lakhpa is 12 and has been at the school for six years. She is from a Tibetan family living in Assam. Because her parents are too poor to pay the fees she is sponsored by supporters of the school in Germany.

Picture Caption (Terranova tee-shirt)

PHOTO of Chimi:

PORTRAIT: Dawa Dolkar & Tenzing Youchu. pix

6/8/9/10/11/12/13/19*/23/24/27/31/42/44-with MS/52-with MS&PD -- my

recommendation is 19

Chimi said: Lakhpa is my best friend. I took her snap to remember her when we are far away from each other. I took the picture on the stairs outside our hostel. She wore her best clothes and was in a cloud of happiness. I felt a little nervous because I thought I might make a mistake, and also because I was worried about my annual exams. But when I click the photo all this was gone from my mind.

PHOTO of Tenzin: 198

Tenzin Loden (Red 05 shirt, doing karate) Lhakpa Norbu (blue short, sitting on wall overlooking Kalimpong)

Tenzin is 12 and has been at the school six years. His family run a small tea hut in Darjeeling, but only his mother works, because his father has a back injury. His sister completed school last year, but continues to board at the school while she attends a local college. Tenzin wants to join the Indian army.

PHOTO of Lakpa: 202 & as ‘Hercules’ 203 – see also other pix of his strength in DVD

Lakpa is 13 and has been at the school eight years. His family buy clothes in Delhi and sell them to rural communities in Assam. The other kids in the school call Lakpa ‘Hercules’ because is so proud of being fit.

Tenzin said: "I wanted to take Lakpa's photo on the school roof because he is my good friend and my grandmother's house is just visible in the mist."

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