Three generations of "Lhamo" and a brand-new Xizang

BEIJING, March 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China.org.cn on some stories of the people in Xizang:

During China's "two sessions" earlier this month, Penpa Lhamo, a member of CPPCC made her proposals concerning the development of her hometown, Xizang Autonomous Region.

Lhamo, meaning "fairy," is a common name for women of the Tibetan ethnic group, and it also appears in the names of Penpa Lhamo's mother and grandmother. However, the three generations of "Lhamo" have had completely different life trajectories.

Grandmother Lhamo was once a serf of the lowest status in Xizang. Back then, serfs like her had no freedom at all, working endlessly for food barely enough to live, and almost impossible to keep warm, let alone the luxury of education. As the offspring of a serf, Phurbu Lhamo, mother of Penpa Lhamo, was born into the same fate, and began to work for the Tibetan nobility since she was six.

After the democratic reform, serfs and slaves, who accounted for 95% of Xizang's population at the time, finally gained freedom, ownership of production materials, and the opportunity to build better lives while enjoying various rights. The mother, Phurbu Lhamo, one of the beneficiaries of the change, acquired the chance to receive education in Xianyang, Shaanxi Province before returning to work in Xigaze City. When it came to Penpa Lhamo, life in Xizang had improved significantly, and educational policies among others became more comprehensive. Penpa Lhamo smoothly obtained her bachelor's degree, before pursuing further education and earned her master's degree and PhD, during which time she also went on academic exchanges in Norway and the U.S. Now, she is not only deeply engaged in law and South Asian studies, but she also conducted repeated research on grassroots communities, so that she can offer more valuable insights for her hometown Xizang's development.

From regaining freedom and becoming the masters of their own destinies, to meeting basic needs and receiving education, and ultimately pursuing further development and even participating in the discussion of state affairs, the journeys of these three generations of Tibetan women also reflect the tremendous changes in Xizang over the past six decades or so.

In Xizang today, food like tsampa, meat, fruits and vegetables that were once out of reach except to the nobility have become everyday staples. In residential communities, spacious and well-kept Tibetan-style buildings have mushroomed. The once almost isolated Xizang now enjoys continuous improvements in transportation and communication infrastructure, while the advancements in digitalization and smart technology are within easy reach.

A robust social welfare system, including the medical care insurance, offers a safety net for the elderly in Xizang, easing concerns over illness and elderly care; the 15-year free education policy enables children to attend preschool to high school free without fear of having to drop out. Schools in Xizang offer curriculum in both Mandarin and Tibetan; ancient Tibetan texts are carefully preserved; and intangible cultural heritage including Tibetan medicine and Tibetan opera continue to be passed down and innovated…

Bright sunshine has truly lighted up the snow-capped plateau, and bathing in such sunshine are numerous young and vibrant faces thriving in Xizang. Kelsang Pedron, the first Tibetan female in China's PLA Air Force can confidently fly a fighter jet. Tenzin Yeshe, a young Tibetan opera performer has committed himself to preserving and innovating this rich intangible cultural heritage. Young cyclist Kalsang Chophel rides along with Xizang's mountain bike team, chasing his dream… In each of them lies a promise of a brighter tomorrow for Xizang.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Xizang Autonomous Region, and on March 28th, the people of Xizang celebrate the Serfs' Emancipation Day. Have the people of Xizang enjoyed abundant human rights for the past six decades or so? The stories of these individuals, and the futures they are building, all speak for themselves.

China Mosaic 
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm
Three generations of "Lhamo" and a brand-new Xizang
http://www.china.org.cn/video/2025-03/28/content_117792195.htm 

SOURCE China.org.cn