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A review by misspalah
Undefeated: Confessions of a Tibetan Warrior by Douglas Preston, Paljo Thondup, Susan Sutliff Brown
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
But being even an ordinary lama wasn't my dream. I kicked at the dirt. "I don't want to be a holy man." Looking toward a snow-capped peak, he seemed to consider my question, then smiled. "No, Bu (son). You can't be a monk. Because you're the only child in the family, you will have to inherit my position as gyenpo and carry on family tradition." Really? My fingertips began to tingle. Was this the good news I thought it was? Did my father believe we would come home again? That going to Central Tibet was only temporary? He hadn't said so before. I could feel my shoulders relaxing. Okay. So we just had to kick the Chinese out of Tibet. Meanwhile, I wasn't so sure I wanted to be a gyenpo. I offered my father's youngest brother in my place. "Uncle Delshik is only six years older than me, and he could fill in." My father laughed. "That won't work. It's tradition. Only the first and oldest son has that responsibility, and you're the only son." I met his eyes and nodded. Okay. My mother would be sad I wasn't a monk, but I could see it now-the colorful headdress on my pony. Together Dupa and I would continue our families' centuries-old heritage as the powerful and rich leaders of our tribe. Things were looking better. Above us, one small patch of clouds in the vast blue sky suddenly produced a brief rain shower followed by bright double rainbows. A sign. And then the conversation took a prophetic turn that would guide my life once my father was gone. As if he were trying to identify a birdcall, my father paused. "Yes, but so much for tradition. You can also do away with being either a monk or a gyenpo. Things change in time."
- Confessions of A Tibetan Warrior by Paljor Thondup
.
I found Paljor's stories of how resilient Tibetans are given what they have go through is incredible. Despite the intensifying occupation, the way they lead their lives before the whole invasion is particularly honourable and filled with compassion. The way he longed for his land is saddening but it was more baffling to read how he described Tibetan’s were suffering from abuse, poverty, hunger, and the loss of their families and up to the point they were imprisoned for minor offenses and resisted the harsh occupation by the Chinese Red Army. In this book, Paljor Thondup portrays Tibetan life against the backdrop of significant events in Chinese history. The book briefly touches upon events like The Long March, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, the liberalization of the 1980s, and a subsequent period of increased repression. Notably, during these events, China's Red Army and communist cadres carried out systematic massacres of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans in Amdo and Kham regions, with the intention of enslaving the survivors in the 1950s that brought Paljor Thondup’s family into the equation. The life trajectory of Paljor Thondup takes a significant turn when his family rises to resist the invaders. Consequently, his entire family, except for Paljor and his cousin Dupa, is brutally slaughtered. Moved by his father's dying wishes, Paljor decides to lay down his weapons and embark on a new path. He migrates to India to seek assistance from the Dalai Lama. Both Paljor and Dupa then pursue a modern education and become businessmen, continuing the struggle for Tibet. The final portion of the book focuses on Paljor's endeavours to shed light on the tragic fate that befell his family and his aspirations to return to his homeland. I need to be frank that i have limited recollection of learning or reading about the plight of Tibet under China’s rule. Therefore, this book served as a unique window into a world that is often unseen and unimaginable to many of us. It goes beyond depicting the cruelty humans inflict upon one another and delves into the exploration of cultural differences and the immense challenge of maintaining one's true self, identity, and culture in the face of horrific treatment by oppressive regimes. Although the book was co-written and co-compiled by another author, Susan Sutliff Brown, I must commend the remarkable level of detail presented, considering the gravity of Paljor's life and the experiences of his family. Overall, a high recommended read especially if you have zero knowledge on Tibet / Tibetans and would like to start somewhere.
- Confessions of A Tibetan Warrior by Paljor Thondup
.
I found Paljor's stories of how resilient Tibetans are given what they have go through is incredible. Despite the intensifying occupation, the way they lead their lives before the whole invasion is particularly honourable and filled with compassion. The way he longed for his land is saddening but it was more baffling to read how he described Tibetan’s were suffering from abuse, poverty, hunger, and the loss of their families and up to the point they were imprisoned for minor offenses and resisted the harsh occupation by the Chinese Red Army. In this book, Paljor Thondup portrays Tibetan life against the backdrop of significant events in Chinese history. The book briefly touches upon events like The Long March, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, the liberalization of the 1980s, and a subsequent period of increased repression. Notably, during these events, China's Red Army and communist cadres carried out systematic massacres of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans in Amdo and Kham regions, with the intention of enslaving the survivors in the 1950s that brought Paljor Thondup’s family into the equation. The life trajectory of Paljor Thondup takes a significant turn when his family rises to resist the invaders. Consequently, his entire family, except for Paljor and his cousin Dupa, is brutally slaughtered. Moved by his father's dying wishes, Paljor decides to lay down his weapons and embark on a new path. He migrates to India to seek assistance from the Dalai Lama. Both Paljor and Dupa then pursue a modern education and become businessmen, continuing the struggle for Tibet. The final portion of the book focuses on Paljor's endeavours to shed light on the tragic fate that befell his family and his aspirations to return to his homeland. I need to be frank that i have limited recollection of learning or reading about the plight of Tibet under China’s rule. Therefore, this book served as a unique window into a world that is often unseen and unimaginable to many of us. It goes beyond depicting the cruelty humans inflict upon one another and delves into the exploration of cultural differences and the immense challenge of maintaining one's true self, identity, and culture in the face of horrific treatment by oppressive regimes. Although the book was co-written and co-compiled by another author, Susan Sutliff Brown, I must commend the remarkable level of detail presented, considering the gravity of Paljor's life and the experiences of his family. Overall, a high recommended read especially if you have zero knowledge on Tibet / Tibetans and would like to start somewhere.