CHENNAI: Tibetans and Chennai have a long association. Way back, Chennai was a hot destination for Tibetan sweater sellers, who had their shops near Choolai High Road. Today, it has turned into an education mecca for Tibetan students. Ever since, there has been a steady trickle of Tibetan students who have come into the city to pursue their educational interests. Since the 1990s, the numbers have grown. Chennai enjoys the status — ‘Intellectual Capital of India’ among aspiring Tibetans who come here for their college education. Living and studying in a place that is flung far away from their home, these students face their fair share of challenges.The president of the Tibetan Student’s Association, Madras says, “Lack of guidance is the major problem that Tibetan students face in Chennai.” There are over 200 Tibetans living in Chennai and the majority of this population are students.There is no specific Tibetan youth hostel in Chennai, like in Bangalore and Delhi, where Tibetan students can live among themselves, find Tibetan food and partake in cultural activities.But they still struggle to stay in Chennai just because of the safe and comfortable environment that the city provides them with. In fact, Tibetan students in Chennai have a far better education record than any other city in India. Tibetan people in Chennai have thrived on friendly relations with the locals and have also taken initiatives to live together as a family, with them. The Tibetan Students Association, Madras (TSAM), is an independent, non-profit association formed in 1993 as an initiative by the students. Tibetan students who are admitted in different institutions in Chennai are eligible to enroll themselves as part of this association. Membership is not obligatory. The main aims of the association are to maintain Tibetan national identity and culture and stay united in the times of crisis. Helping in the admissions for the newcomers in Chennai is another priority of this association. They also enjoy the support and friendship of the group — ‘Friends of Tibetans’. Popular among them is Aunty Asha Redy, a prominent Indian supporter who has always been there to help Tibetan students during their admissions, as well as in every other aspect.“She is fondly called Aunty Asha by Tibetans who know her, but in the heart of most this community in Chennai, she is more like a mother,” said Chemi Dolkar, an MA student in Stella Maris College. TSAM members call themselves the TSAM family. They have various occasions that symbolise a sense of unity among the members. The Tibetan New Year, birthday of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Uprising Day, are some of the most noteworthy dates on the calendar of TSAM’s activities. The president and the cabinet members of the association are directly elected by the members themselves.The Tibetan student population in Chennai is close to 200 and there are also a number of youngsters who work in Chennai. However, the student group is more in number than the working group. There are only two Tibetan families in Chennai, one working with Allen Sharma and one running a small business in the city. Most working Tibetans in Chennai have graduated from here, and while their stay is usually temporary, there are many who are employed in BPOs and other fields, based on the courses they have done.
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