About the history of TIbet and some personal stories of Tibetan people who have moved to Utah.

1. ASIAN AMERICANS IN UTAH:
A LIVING HISTORY
Compiled by: John H. Yang
Authors:
Pema Chagzoetsang & Howard Berkes

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
 Tibetan History
 The Dalai Lama
 Specific People from Tibet in Utah
 Pema Chagzoetsang
 Tenzin Wangdu Samdup Phodang
 Tsering Dhondup
 Tsewang Ngodup
 Applications

4. TIBETAN HISTORY
 1949 China claimed Tibet
 10 years of protests by Tibetans
 The Dalai Lama negotiated peaceful autonomy
with China
 March 10th 1959 in Lhasa the biggest
demonstration against the Chinese
 80,000 people died
 Dalai Lama fled into exile
 1.5 million Tibetans have died under the Chinese
rule
 1990 U.S authorized 1000 visas for Tibetans
 $2,000 per family member. Including at least 2 years
of paper work.

5. THE DALAI LAMA

6. THE DALAI LAMA
 Means ‘ocean of wisdom’. Lama (holy man)
 Won the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1992
 The political and spiritual leader of Tibetan
Buddhists
 Tenzin Gyatso is believed to be the 14 reincarnated
version of “His Holiness”
 Pema Chagzoetsang explains:
 “His Holiness is the manifestation of universal compassion.
He is a powerful force, even in exile, keeping Tibetans
united, motivated and tolerant. He preaches an practices
peaceful resistance to a violent invader. He encourages us
to be open-minded and progressive, to learn from the
modern world. He counsels us not to hate our enemies.
And he inspires us to fight peacefully for a free Tibet and
for human rights.”

7. PEMA CHAGZOETSANG
 The only Tibetan women in Utah for 8 Years
 Her two sons were the first Tibetans born in
Utah
 She helped organize The Salt Lake Area Tibetan
Resettlement Project
 The Resettlement project worked with IHC
providing housing for the 8 Tibetans for 3 years
rent free.
 She also organized the Utah Tibetan Association

8. P.C CONTINUED
 It operates under the guidelines of the U.S. office
of Tibet in N.Y.
 During the next 2 years the population of
Tibetans grew to 75
 The LDS church aided by providing donated
clothing, food, and appliances.
 Jobs were arranged in advance
 Sponsors also showed them how to ride the bus to
and from work.

9. TENZIN WANGDU SAMDUP PHODANG
 Born in Tibet in 1957
 Father served as the Commander of the Army of
Tibet from 1954-1958
 2 years old when China invaded Tibet
 Father was imprisoned by Chinese
 At age 11 began working to help mother support
family
 Father released from Chinese prison in 1980

10. TENZIN WANGDU SAMDUP PHODANG
 Family went to visit grandparents in India, had
to stay behind to ensure their return.
 Family decided to stay in India
 1985 fled to India with new bride to reunite with
family
 Came to U.S. in 1992 along with 1000 other
Tibetans that were granted special visas
 Landed in N.Y.C. but was uneasy about big city
 Relocated to S.L.C. in Nov. 1992

11. TSERING DHONDUP
 Born 1955 Kongpo Province in Tibet
 Grew up in poor living conditions with a large
family
 China invaded his village when he was 5
 Family made it to India as a refugee but was safe
 First generation of his family to receive modern
education
 1978 graduated with a degree in Political Science
form the University of Delhi
 1981 elected for Joint secretary committee of
Tibetan Youth Congress

12. T.D. CONTINUED
 Peoples Representative of the 10th Assembly of
Tibetan Peoples Deputies
 U.S allowed 1,000 visas for Tibetans-he applied
and got chosen out of the 4,000 applicants from
India and Nepal.
 Chosen to come to Salt Lake City June 1992
 Set up with the Wayne Johnson family
 With in his first week here he received a SSN, free housing,
and a full-time job at Parsons Behle and Latimer
 Would like to go back to his homeland one day

13. TSEWANG NGODUP
 Born 1959 in Phari, Tibet. Family fled the
Chinese invasion
 Received a B.A in Political Science and public
administration form Punjab University
 Founded the Tibetan Educational Alliance for
Higher learning
 Came to Utah in 1992
 Attended Hunter College in NY
 1994 elected President of the Utah Tibetan
Association
 Currently works for Abbott Critical Care Systems
and Matrixx Marketing, Inc.

14. APPLICATIONS
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