Being the youngest member in a family has its share of blessings and sorrows; while I have been singularly fortunate in having the love and affection of two elder brothers and three elder sisters- it has been painful losing four of them one after the other. With the passing away of each one of them, a part of that old world that are memories now fade into history. One such sad day was May 28, 06 around 12:20 p.m. when I was summoned by the doctors attending to my brother -Dawa Norbu that the end had come. Ours is a very close knit family, may be because Ama-la had to single handedly raise and see us grow. The common bond among us all was a great love for Ama-la. My brother Dawa was responsible for the family's transformation from a simple traditional Tibetan family. He and our mother saw very early the value and need for modern education and sent most of us, the younger brothers, cousins, nephews and nieces to school.
Late Prof. Dawa Norbu
I j oined Dr. Graham's Homes, Kalimpong in 1965 where my brother was already studying since the early 60's. We were both sponsored by Mrs. Jill Buxton, an English social worker working among Tibetan refugees. As a little brother, I grew up in certain awe and fear of my brother; but he was always kind and loving to me. Even in those difficult days, he seemed to have little money to buy me tuck and find time to visit me when I was sick and in hospital. My brother had a tremendous reputation as an outstanding student and every year he would bring home Prize books, which were placed near the altar along with our Gods and the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In the final years he was the School Captain and the President of the Debating Society which further increased my admiration for him. It seemed all the teachers had some good word for my brother, either for
his diligence, brilliance or standard of English. He was not only my role model but also that of my friends who were receiving a free education as Tibetan refugees. Long after their retirement he continued his close relationship with the missionary teachers who encouraged him and all of us through yearly Christmas cards and greetings.
In December 1972, when I completed my schooling -I followed my brother to Delhi and college. He was then the Editor of Tibetan Review based in a small room inside the Bureau at 15, Link Road, Jangpura. I had to earn my board and lodging by cleaning the Review office and apprenticed as an unofficial staff member -doing research, translating Radio Lhasa Tibetan Bulletins and news reporting. Those were wonderful years of learning, camaraderie and full of excitement. Without any training, we held press conferences, printed books on Tibetan medicine and culture and interacted with the world media .The Tibetan Review focused on all important Tibetan matters besides coverage of Tibetan Muslims, Bon traditions, Amdo Gedun Chomphel, Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal, Tharchin Babu-la among others. The Review served as a nerve centre for young Tibetans and we had lively letters to the Editor besides a continuous stream of visitors from all over offering support, sharing their ideas expressing solidarity. All we could offer as hospitality was a simple meal and a bed on the Review office floor shared with as many as 8 to 10 at one time. Through proof reading, dummy making and typing articles - I learnt so much on Tibetan culture and Buddhism; all thanks to my brother Dawa.
My brother left for America on a Ford Foundation Scholarship towards the end of the 1970's .We all missed him very much especially my old mother. He returned about six years later as Dr. Dawa Norbu, Ph.D University of California, Berkeley. To all of us in the family what was before his name or after his name did not bother us. We were worried
and concerned about the changes he had undergone. He was no longer the brother I knew as a child; he was a serious scholar- thinking and writing far too much for our happiness or his own. All our collective efforts and tearful sessions with our mother would not stop him from his much loved academic work. At the end we accepted the fact that we had lost him for a larger purpose and occasionally we joined him in celebrating his promotion in the academic world and reviews of his books. He on his part continued to write of our family and relations in the introductions of his books and dedications. My brother would discuss and I served him as his confidential secretary and spokesman
before the rest of the family. I truly appreciated his monk-like focus and dedication to academics, his life long passion about the Tibetan people, Tibetan culture and what he called the "Tibetan peoples' cause " which he so ably served till his last breath. His was a labour of love from which he sought neither reward nor rest. Now that he is no more -his writings and publications are his testament, which will last far longer and go into the history of our people.
**Kesang Tenzin Bhutia, the younger brother of the late Prof. Dawa Norbu, is the Principal of the CST Mussoorie. |
