Ilya Spektor

The article is dedicated to the role of Tibetan diaspora in contemporary Delhi. The problems of Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal are often considered insignificant in comparison with the problems inside Tibet. However, the Tibetan diaspora plays an important role in such Indian states as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The refugee camp in Delhi gave birth to the Tibetan colony in the Indian capital. The community is involved in tourist business and ethnic crafts selling. Majnukatillah, the Tibetan settlement in Northern Delhi, is one of the major tourist destinations in the city. Delhi serves as a communication point between “Central Tibetan Administration” in Dharamshala and the Tibetan diaspora outside South Asia. The major organizations of the Tibetan diaspora such as Bureau of His Holiness Dalai Lama have their headquarters in Delhi. The role of the Tibetan diaspora is also im-portant in the Indian’s domestic policy. The ‘Tibetan question” is widely used by both Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party. Tibetans in Delhi managed to preserve their identity, language and traditions in the modern metropolis. However, the young generation of the Tibetan community faces the problem of assimilation. Some members of the community are not satisfied with the politics of “Central Tibetan Administration” in Dharamshala and with the special status of Tibetan refugees in India. The case of Tibetans in Delhi is interesting as an example of the existence of the autonomous community in the foreign-speaking environment in contemporary India.