Tibet

Tibet: The Road Ahead is unique in that it is written by a gifted Tibetan of humble origins, yet contains an unusual clarity of view and a sharp analysis of the contemporary Tibetan situation. The first part describes the early life of the author and his commoner family between 1950 and 1959 inside Tibet. It includes vivid descriptions of everyday life as well as the religious and social structure of the country before the Chinese invasion. Part II deals with the period from 1959 (when Dawa Norbu and his family escaped to Darjelling) to 1995. He analyses the role and behaviour of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, and of Tibet's future in post-Deng China. There is also a chronology of events and an appendix which traces the historical evolution of Tibet from a warrior nation to a peacful community, before the Communist takeover.