My Tibetan Childhood: When Ice Shattered Stone

by Naktsang Nulo, Angus Cargill (Translation)

In My Tibetan Chldhood , Naktsang Nulo recalls his life in Tibet's Amdo region during the 1950s. From the perspective of himself at age ten, he describes his upbringing as a nomad on Tibet's eastern plateau. He depicts pilgrimages to monasteries, including a 1500-mile horseback expedition his family made to and from Lhasa. A year or so later, they attempted that same journey as they fled from advancing Chinese troops. Naktsang's father joined and was killed in the little-known 1958 Amdo rebellion against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, the armed branch of the Chinese Communist Party. During the next year, the author and his brother were imprisoned in a camp where, after the onset of famine, very few children survived.

The real significance of this episodic narrative is the way it shows, through the eyes of a child, the suppressed histories of China's invasion of Tibet. The author's matter-of-fact accounts cast the atrocities that he relays in stark relief. Remarkably, Naktsang lived to tell his tale. His book was published in 2007 in China, where it was a bestseller before the Chinese government banned it in 2010. It is the most reprinted modern Tibetan literary work. This translation makes a fascinating if painful period of modern Tibetan history accessible in English.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Biography, China, Biography Memoir, Religion

344 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2014

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Pam Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those not be put down books written through the eyes of a child who has experienced life imprisonment in a camp after the onset of famine where few children survived, its about the suppressed histories of china's invasion of Tibet, how a naive, innocence child described the brutal repression by chinese forces, struggle, protest, violation where people were either incarcerated or relocated. How he experienced the loss of his mother, watching his father shot and killed, faced bandits, hungry wolves. Its about violent attacks on Han and Muslim shops in Tibet and how Tibetans have self immolated, how it is forbidden to mention it and forbidden to discuss it in china. This story need to be told over and over again as its part of Tibetan history and should be kept alive.

[Noelle Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one that is not to be put down. It is not only about a child surviving life in a camp after famine sets in, where few children survive, but about a suppressed history of China's invasion of Tibet, how it's forbidden to be talked about. This book needs to be shared. This needs to get out. It needs to be told. This is a part of Tibet's history and it should not be suppressed but acknowledged and talked about. It ought to be kept alive for everyone to see.



*won on GoodReads First Reads*

[Agnese · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Very interesting. A fresh view of the variegated Tibetan society and way of life— with its traditions, beliefs, and contradictions—before China coercively established its rules, and of the events involving the entire Tibetan population—religious figures, lay people, chiefs, children, elderly, no one was spared—after the arrival of the Chinese.
Simply written but very effective in providing a vivid description of places, people, facts, feelings. The introduction completes the book, explaining the reality that Tibet was (and in part is) and creating a supporting structure to the different events and episodes narrated in the book.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

True story chronicling the life of writer in 1930-50s Tibet, from life on the plateaus to Chinese takeover. Includes a 15,000 mile pilgrimage his family made to Lhasa. Really interesting. Rare to be published and accessible to outsiders.

[Ryleigh Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

powerful memoir about growing up in tibet during the 1950’s, starts with a birth and ends with setting off on “the road to happiness”

[Calzean · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye opening autobiography of his life as a child. He came from Amdo in the North West of Tibet, an area which was governed by local clan chiefs and was outside of the control of the Lhasa based government.

His childhood recollections show that the simple things are best. Simple rewards of yogurt, butter, tsampa, for helping the family. Stoicism as life is hard and short and Karma has a lot to do with your lot in life. The family and clan supports those in need.

He tells of events that normally associated with Tibet. Bandits, blood feuds, rustlers, con men. He goes on a pilgrimage to Lhasa - taking six months to walk/ride through bandits, snow, sleet, sand and hunger. He is surprised by the difference between the beggars and the rich. Monks are human, some show great cruelty and greed.

The Chinese invade, his father is killed and he and his brother show the benefits of their humble upbringing to be able to survive the great famine caused by Mao. This forms the last third of the book and is quite jaw dropping in the skills the two boys show.

If you think your life is tough, read this book and have a rethink.

[Rrlgrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really difficult book. The book had a rather long introduction, but then it starts with a horrifying anecdote. The book starts in a more or less happy tone, and then as things progress, the situation is terrible. The author states in the introduction that people have good and bad experiences, and for him to write and relive these events - he has an amazing soul. There are people who are endlessly kind, but there are people who are endlessly cruel.

[Chokyi chokyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accounted so details and unbiased narration on Tibet under China in early 50s. I guess another volume of the book detailing the author's life in his youth and later phase of his life will be what most readers of this book want to look forward.

[Reem · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting