Tibetan Foothold

by Dervla Murphy

Book Overview

The moving tale of Dervla Murphy's experiences working in the Tibetan refugee camps of Northern India in the sixties.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0719509890
• ISBN13: 9780719509896
• Release Date: January 1966
• Publisher: Transatlantic Arts
• Length: 206 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.

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.