Tibetan Writers Abroad PEN Center

"I would like to congratulate our Tibetan intellectuals for establishing the Tibetan Writers Abraod PEN Centre. Until recently, there had been a galaxy of highly intellectual Tibetans spread all over Tibet. Their writings, spurred by insatiable quests for knowledge, had built up an inexhaustible treasure of learning, which we should be proud of. However, after the great change in the year 1959, a massive destruction and decline of the Tibetan culture has taken place. For the Tibetan youth, who are strongly influenced by foreign cultures and languages even as it has become difficult to disseminate writings on our own culture and in our own language, I see the establishing of a Tibetan intellectual group as a major and well timed step. I wish you all the success in your noble endeavors."

A Messge From His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Before the Communist China’s invasion, the Tibetans lived a very peaceful and simple existence under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Though the Tibetans were far from being considered a developed country before the communist Chinese came, they led a happy life.

The Chinese annexed Tibet under the guise of wanting a more progressive and modern Tibet. The resistance offered by the ill-trained Tibetan soldiers and local Tibetans was no match for the war-hardened People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, the PLA swiftly took over Tibet. In 1959, His Holiness the Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet. About 85,000 Tibetan refugees followed him into exile and sought refuge primarily in India and Nepal.

The invasion has been followed by widespread continuous extraction of various natural resources without any environmental safeguards and as a result, environmental crisis, the ramifications of which will be felt far beyond its borders. Around 1996, the Chinese authorities started campaigns like "Patriotic Education", "Strike Hard", and "Spiritual Civilization", which were tailored to undermine Tibetan religion, culture, language and political activism. More than 1.2 million Tibetans are said to have died in Tibet since 1949 as a result of the political persecution, imprisonment, torture and famine. Over 6000 of Tibet’s religious and other cultural centers have been destroyed.

But of all the things that have been exploited and taken away, the most valuable treasure, which has been ripped from the hearts of all the Tibetans is their freedom of expression and right to information. So many of Tibetans have lost their lives for a mere expression of their views.

The Tibetan Writers Abroad PEN Centre (TWAPEN) was set up in Dharmasala after consultation with and approval of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his administration based in Dharamsala, on March 19, 1999. It is registered under the Indian Society Registration Act XXI, 1860 and later became a member of the International PEN. TWAPEN is an organization of the exiled Tibetan Writers scattered throughout the Tibetan Diaspora to counter the politically motivated and distorted propaganda churned out by the Chinese government. It is an apolitical, non-profit cultural and educational organization. The TWAPEN Centre is open to Tibetan poets, librettists, editors and authors, researchers and writers whose subjects include Tibetan religion, culture, history, science and medical traditions as well as other disciplines.

TWAPEN has around 100 members and eight elected Executive Members with five year tenureship. Executive members are entrusted with the responsibility of supervising the work of the TWAPEN’S three sections: the Research Section, the Translation Section and the Editorial Section.

The Tibetan Writers Abroad PEN Centre was established in order to preserve the culture and religion of Tibet, to provide economic support to needy Tibetan writers, to promote friendship and cooperation among Tibetan writers and to network with international writers on promotion of freedom of expression and peace in politically supressed nations. Also, guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Charter of International PEN, the TWAPEN aims to conduct objective research on the history of Sino-Tibetan relations as well as to protect freedom of expression and to work for the development of the Tibetan Community. In order to accomplish these goals, our primary activities include:

• Publishing books of objective research and analysis on the history of Tibet in order to counter the Chinese government’s propaganda.
• Translating material relating to Sino-Tibetan relations from Chinese, English and other languages into Tibetan as well as translating important historical works of Tibetan scholars into major international languages.
• Instituting an award for Tibetan and foreign writers who have made important contributions to Tibetan culture.
• Providing a forum for Tibetan and foreign scholars to conduct joint research on Sino-Tibetan relations and organizing seminars to facilitate exchanges between Tibetan and foreign writers.
• Publishing chitsok melong (Mirror of Society), a monthly periodical.
• Organizing debates and correcting misinformation within the Tibetan settlements and schools in exile.
• Searching for meaningful life stories and producing biographies.
• Providing training specifically for young Tibetan women writers.
• Establishing a committee to research Buddhism and Science and publishing a book on the topic.
• Presenting Tibetan History in the form of a picture book for children and semi-literate adults.

Following is a list of some accomplishments of the organization from 1999 to 2004.

Established and legally Registered the Tibetan Writers Abroad PEN Centre, a non-profit, writers' organisation for cultural preservation.

Started the publication of monthly newspaper Chitsok Melong.

Organized various debates and arranged talks on issues pertaining to Tibetan History, Literature, Charter of Tibetan People, and border disputes at various Tibetan Settlements, schools and monasteries in India and Nepal.

Received membership of the International PEN.

Attended the 68th PEN Congress in Macedonia, the 69th Congress in 2003 in Mexico and the 70th Congress in 2004 in Norway.

Books:

• Translated and published "Tragic Story of My Land" by former minister Alag Tsayi into Chinese from Tibetan.
• Published first and second editions of the Research Papers of the Tibetan Writers Abroad PEN Centre.
• Published "Indelible Oral Story", written by Kathup Gyal, General Secretary of TWAPEN and Amdo Rigzin.
• Published "Zoege Shogkha Nga’i Tragic Story", written by Yeshi Gyatso.
• Published "Chinese Policies and its Background" written by Kunthar, Vice President, TWAPEN.
• Published "Peace and Non Violence" a compilation of speeches of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
• Published "His Holiness the Dalai Lama Through the Eyes of Chinese Intellects".

Those wishing to join the TWAPEN may send their applications and works for scrutiny by our Executive Members (EMs). If EMs decide to accept the applicants, they will be provided with certificates recognizing their membership.