Dharamshala — Chinese government has intensified its Sinicisation policy in Tibet by closing Tibetan schools and monasteries and forcing Tibetan children and young monks into state-run Chinese colonial boarding schools. In recent months, the Chinese authorities have also cracked down on Tibetans who promote the Tibetan language through detentions, arrests, harassment, humiliation and imprisonment. The latest is Tashi Nyima, also known as Gang Lhaja, who was detained and beaten while in custody.
The Chinese government has assimilated Tibetan language, religion, culture and identity into Chinese language, religion, culture and identity through the policy of Sinicisation. The Chinese authorities have detained, arrested, beaten and imprisoned Tibetans who promote the Tibetan language and strive to promote the Tibetan language online and offline.
While the world and other countries appreciate the rich culture and diversity of a country like India, the Chinese government wants there to be only one culture, one religion, one language and one ethnic group by exerting pressure, adopting policies on people and arresting people who do not want to be like the Chinese.
Since the Chinese government imposed strict policies on Tibetan language learning, closed Tibetan schools and arrested Tibetan writers and teachers, more and more Tibetans, especially young Tibetans, have come out and opposed this policy. They say that the Chinese constitution provides for the freedom to learn one's mother tongue (Tibetan), but why, in schools and in society, not allow people to learn and speak the Tibetan language?
A Tibetan netizen Youga Ga (Yul Gaga) spoke out strongly against Douying, Chinese applications, for not allowing the use of Tibetan during live broadcasts in the early week of July, 2024. He said that Chinese law allows the use of regional languages, whereas Douying does not allow the use of Tibetan. Like Yul GaGa, one young Tibetan also said, “I also like singing Tibetan songs and I am good at it, but if I sing in Tibetan, Douying will restrict me, so I sing in English or in another language."
In the first week of July, 2024, a Tibetan man said in a video: "I heard many Tibetans say that Tibetan was banned in Douying. This morning I tried to say a few words in my mother tongue on Douying and they immediately banned it. It's true that Douying has banned the use of Tibetan. The Chinese Constitution provides for the protection and preservation of ethnic languages, but why did Douying ban the use of Tibetan?
Another young Tibetan woman said in the video: "It is inevitable to say a few words in Tibetan during live broadcasts, because we didn't go to Chinese University and we can't speak standard Mandarin. We were born to speak Tibetan and we are Tibetans. There are many unemployed Tibetans who didn't get into university or who don't have jobs after graduation. We are in the age of the Internet and live broadcasting is a way of earning a living. How will we be able to live in the future if we don't allow live Tibetan broadcasts?
Recently, a well-known Tibetan language advocate and live broadcaster, Tashi Nyima, also known as Gang Lhaja, was threatened, detained and tortured by the Chinese authorities. He was arbitrarily detained from September 1 to 3 and beaten in a detention centre.
Gang Lhaja released a video in Tibetan on September 7, 2024 in which he expressed his frustration and disappointment at the situation. He also posted a transcript of his message in Chinese alongside the video.
Gang Lhaja said, “I am, someone have experienced defeat, and I have experienced it again and again. However, I really hard to accept the defeat this time, because it's a defeat for all those who have supported and appreciated my work. I usually accept defeat when it comes, but the obstacles and interference in my work [by the Chinese authorities] make me extremely discouraged and dishearted. There are a hundred ways to accomplish a task, a thousand paths to reach a destination, and I have carefully traversed the path by appropriate means and wisdom. However, the path I took to accomplish my work was directly blocked (by Chinese authorities).”
“I even thought that it might be the last live stream of my life. I was terribly scared and trembling terribly. But today, thanks to the kindness of the Lama and the Three Jewels, and then thanks to the kindness of my friends, I came here and I was able to connect as before,” he added.
Gang Lhaja said, “On the one hand, I am thrilled (my heart is joyful). On the other hand, I am despondent (my heart is sorrowful). In any case, I couldn’t accomplish the task I set out to do. With hard-earned money saved, I intended to traverse distant places with hope. I prepared over 200,000 yuan, planning to travel through the three regions of Tibet—U-Tsang, Amdo, and Kham with pure heart. However, my friends, I will not be able to accomplish it. It’s been seven days now. I have been thinking a lot. I feel defeated and very sad. However, I know that the greater one’s influence on society, the more obstacles and pressure one faces. But, I will continue to try and do live broadcasts as long as I am alive and I would like to thank all my family and friends who have supported me until now.”
Gang Lhaja was born in Yuthok village, Derge county, Kham province, Tibet. He was a monk and began his early education at a local monastery. Gang Lhaja has over 75,000 followers on the Chinese app KuaiShou（快手） and another 6,500 followers on a fan page. and another 6,500 followers on a fan page. and another 6,500 followers on a fan page. He has long focused on producing Tibetan language content online through games, quizzes and educational activities in the field. He has received widespread support for his efforts to promote Tibetan language and culture. He has also been involved in many charitable activities in Tibet. Therefore, he is well known and loved by Tibetans.
Another young Tibetan said with concern on September 9, 2024, 'Today I would like to share some feelings about the fate of the Tibetan language. When I was in school, if I didn't understand some words in Chinese, my teacher would explain them in Tibetan and I would understand. But now some teachers say that the students don't understand in Tibetan when they explain the subjects, and they understand more in Chinese than in Tibetan. I feel very sad and discouraged. We have to learn Chinese (by force), but if we forget our mother tongue or don't learn Tibetan, we will lose our identity and rich culture.'
