By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, March 9: The international women’s day observed world over assumed a poetic vein here in Mcloed Ganj with women setting a different precedent and inviting not only men but also dwelling on themes besides womanhood at an evening to celebrate the Women’s day. A professor at NIFT, Kangra/ Fashion Designer Gurleen Arora and Tenzin Tsering, a female Tibetan journalist working for AFP, organized the event.
Tsering said the event was earlier tentatively titled ‘Not just women’s day’ but was changed to ‘Celebrating Life and Sexuality- Poetry Slam’ to rid connotations of any stereotype. “We didn’t want it to be ‘naari shakti’ (women power) and victimization and all that. There is so much fun being a woman and we can explore that area. We are trying to focus on things other than how depressive it is to be a woman and being victims. We have pieces on many expressions, so the idea is to celebrate life and sexuality,” said Tsering.
When asked what it meant to her being a woman in the Tibetan community, she said, “Like other communities, there are restrictions and taboos that we’re supposed to do this or that but so far I have lived my life on my own terms and condition. There is a parallel when we talk about Tibetan women, we are conservative and we are modern. We are trying to walk on the fine lines and I don’t think it’s that difficult although there are many who are not as privileged as me”.
The Illiterati café on Potala road was abuzz with locals, tourists and expatriates listening or reciting pieces on life, love, feminism, lesbian and gay expressions, travel and Tibetan struggle, among others. A local Tibetan girl who had no inhibitions at being termed a feminist, Tenzin Kaysang, said she agrees that the status of Tibetan women in exile is comparatively better but asserts, “Why do we have to look at it like that, I mean if you compare yourself to someone who’s doing worse than you, things will of course seem pretty good. The barometer to be satisfied with mediocrity isn’t applied to other things so I say if it’s not that bad, it’s not that good also. There is room for a lot of improvements.”
Talking about parallels that Tsering mentioned earlier, she opines, “I consider myself to be a privileged one but if I don’t help others that are less privileged then my freedom is not of use. I will go so far as to say that I am misusing it,”
She further adds that feminism as an entity is being discouraged in the Tibetan community but that she is not surprised. “I think some of the people who disagree with us have a wrong interpretation of feminism but even those who disagree after understanding in essence what we stand for, I am not surprised. It’s happening everywhere. Patriarchy at the core is against feminism, not just in the Tibetan community but everywhere in the world.
“And it’s not just men who disagree, even women. Although they want what we want, they are not ready to be labeled a feminist. Refusing to use the word feminist is diluting the idea to cater to patriarchy and beats the whole purpose of it,” Kaysang laments.
As the open stage exchanged readers and the crowd clapped on, the coffees kept on coming.
