Vanishing Homelands: from Asylum to Asylum

Sangpo, Tenzin. Vanishing Homelands: from Asylum to Asylum. Univ. of Washington - Seattle, Master of Fine Arts - Prose Creative Thesis. 

Vanishing Homelands: from Asylum to Asylum traces my journey as a Tibetan political asylee to reclaim and reconstruct my identity along the themes of dislocation, abandonment, re(dis)covery, and resurrection. Encompassing my three exiles in Nepal, India, and the United States, I confront the profound impact of displacement on Indigenous communities which, when coupled with the ongoing erosion of our native culture, compels us to rely on the perspectives and languages of others. I delve deep into the heart of my native Tibetan heritage, embarking on a relentless quest to reclaim my identity. By immersing myself in the intricate nuances of Tibetan language and ancient Buddhist texts, I unearth the essence lost in translation, forging a path towards rediscovery and self-realization. My odyssey unfolds as a multifaceted exploration, each exile mirroring a distinct academic pursuit – Tibetan Language; Buddhism & Physics; and English Literature. Here I shall navigate the intersections between the physical and the spiritual, and how this exploration is intertwined with me discovering my voice as a writer striving to carve out my place amidst the cultural mosaic of the contemporary world. This project transcends mere autoethnography. It is a deeply personal odyssey of reclaiming what is lost and embracing the fragments of heritage scattered across continents. From the chaos of Nepal's Royal Family massacre to my sanctuary in India, it will continue here in America, at the MFA program in Creative Writing in the University of Washington.

 

 

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