By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, February 16: A 26 year old Tibetan youth working as an Associated Press photographer has been named among 30 under 30, presented by The Photography Show and Magnum Photos.
A former student of TCV School, Dharamsala, Tsering Topgyal is a passionate lensman. He remembers his days in TCV school where he joined the school’s photography club, and later mentored by AP photographer Ashwini Bhatia, who also runs a studio cafe here.
Speaking to Phayul, Tsering Topgyal said that he feels “great, fortunate and happy” being named one among Magnum Photos 30 Under 30 for a project that he described “personal”.
“It is my story and many other Tibetans in exile who have never seen their parents after they fled Tibet. I came into exile in 1996, and since then, I have never seen my parents. It’s the subject that I have known and wanted to do for a long time because these kinds of stories, only we can tell because we know it and experience it.”
Topgyal, who was smuggled to India by his parents at the age of eight, like many other Tibetans, began to take pictures of other Tibetans, who like him, have not seen their parents since they left Tibet. He took pictures of twelve such people and shared their stories. It was also published in The Washington Post on November 13, 2014.
Topgyal has been selected for his documentary photographs titled ‘The young Tibetan exiles who can’t remember their homeland’, a story of many Tibetans who have fled Tibetans never seen their families again.
“30 Under 30”, an international competition now in its second year, was launched by Magnum Photos, the world’s most prestigious photography agency, and The Photography Show, and supported by IdeasTap, the platform for young artists, to recognize and provide exposure for emerging documentary photographers aged 18-30 internationally.
An annual average of 2000 Tibetans crossed the border and fled to India through Nepal until 2008 when widespread protests across the Tibetan plateau was crushed by the Chinese government. The number has now dwindled with only 200 Tibetans recorded to have crossed into Nepal in 2013.
The images of the selected 30 will be on display at the National Exhibition Center, Birmingham, UK from March 21-24. Public can also nominate for three ’30 under 30’ People’s Choice Award.
Many Tibetans have supported Topgyal by voting for him.
