Tibet Oral History Project: Interview with Tsultim Jungnay on 12/24/2013

The interpreter's English translation provided during this interview is potentially incomplete and/or inaccurate. If you are not fluent in Tibetan, please refer to the interview transcript for the complete and correct English translation. Read the interview transcript in English at tibetoralhistor...
** This interview about life in Tibet was conducted by the Tibet Oral History Project. This non-profit organization aims to preserve the history and culture of the Tibetan people by interviewing elderly Tibetan refugees about life in Tibet before and after the Chinese invasion. Learn more at www.TibetOralHi....
** Interview Summary: Tsultim Jungnay was born in Zonga Tsang in Utsang Province. He had a big family consisting of parents and nine siblings among whom he was the youngest. He tells that farming was the only source of livelihood for his family, which they had been doing for generations by growing grains, wheat and peas. Hearing about the Chinese army's appearance in other regions of Tibet, Tsultim Jungnay fled to Nepal at the age of 19 without informing his parents. He worked as a transporter for two years and then moved to India. He shares his experience of working on road construction sites in Kulu Manali in northern India. He then recounts joining the Indian Army for 15 years and afterwards moved to the Tibetan settlement in Bhandara where many refugees died due to the intense heat Tsultim Jungnay married, had three children and cultivated the land given by the Indian government. Tsultim Jungnay shares his story of how he embraced genchoe 'practicing dharma in senior years' upon the death of his wife. He describes in detail the merits of taking the vows of ordained monks and the various scriptures containing teachings of the Buddha and practices that are beneficial in this and the next life as well.