Tibetan Foothold

By Dervla Murphy

Book Overview

After her epic journey from Ireland to India by bicycle in 1963, Dervla Murphy immersed herself in the life of the subcontinent, working for six months in an orphanage for Tibetan children in Northern India. She fell in love with the 'Tiblets' - the cheerful, uncomplaining, independent and affectionate children of the new Tibet-in-exile - but she also managed to explore India's Tibetan frontier, leaving the reader panting in her wake. Alongside her enchantment, Dervla became a perceptive witness to the realities of aid work: the corruption, smug piety and power struggles of the bureaucrats, and the dangerous, long-term side effects on the recipients - cultural enfeeblement and dependency. Tibetan Foothold not only confirmed Dervla's status as a traveller, but also revealed her to be a truly independent voice and an acute observer of politics and society.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1906011648
• ISBN13: 9781906011642
• Release Date: April 2012
• Publisher: Eland Publishing
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A good book for supporters of Tibetan independence

When travel writer Dervla Murphy arrives in Delhi in 1963, rather than continuing her bike journey in the sweltering heat, she decides to spend a couple of months involving herself in voluntary work. Through a number of contacts, she ends up working in Dharamsala amongst the newly exiled Tibetan community. The author admits to her ignorance of the situation in Tibet at that time, but soon becomes deeply involved. With most of the Tibetan parents having to work on Indian roads, the number of 'Tiblets' being brought to Dharamsala to be cared for was continuously rising, causing various overcrowding problems for the volunteers. Despite poor conditions, through hard work and the impeccable behaviour of the 'Tiblets' (except at bath times), things start to improve.The time that Dervla Murphy spent working with the Tibetan children seemed to effect her greatly. Having spent a small amount of time in a Tibetan refugee settlement in Nepal myself, I found that her observations about their wonderful temperaments correspond with my own findings. Written in diary form, her forthrightness and individuality makes interesting reading. A good book for supporters of Tibetan independence. 'The Waiting Land - a spell in Nepal' continues her work with the Tibetan refugees.