Sons in exile : Kashish Parpiani

Kashish Parpiani is a foreign policy researcher based in Mumbai, India. His research interests include US-India bilateral ties and US foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region. Kashish has served in varied research capacities at the S.

India –

The Von Ngari Monastery, Manali currently shelters 12 kids ranging from young eight year olds to adolescent 19 year olds.
Over a brief period of five days, while documenting their lives, I followed them, stalked them, sneaked into their class rooms, laughed with them and watched them at play; and all of this, through my viewfinder. I could relate to them, as it’s not been a very long time since I stepped out of my ‘hunky dory kid’ phase.

But here’s what struck me hard about them:

Lobsang Thekchok, 15, told me about how it was getting difficult for his father, a daily wageworker to even arrange for a decent meal. Feeding a family of five, his father had no option but to ‘give up’ at least one child to a monastery. Thekchok was the eldest of the lot and he agreed to relieve his father of one mouth to feed. Today, it’s been almost six years since he last saw his family.

What is worrisome here is that, Lobsang is not the only one. Another 11 kids had a similar story to narrate.

Also, the Von Ngari monastery is the smallest of the several monasteries in India. Others shelter a minimum of 50-55 such children.
We must realise that we’re talking about the 4th-5th generation here, and it’s high time these ‘little refugees in exile’ get back what they deserve i.e their home.

 

Written and Photography by: Kashish Parpiani

Related Posts

Asim Rafiqui : Bagram – The Other Guantanamo

Pakistan – They are ghosts, and I have spent nearly two months trying to find any evidence of them. They ...

Kate Nolan: Neither

Ireland –  Neither is an exploration into the dreams and fears of young women in Kaliningrad – an isolated Russian region ...

Hideka Tonomura They Called Me Yukari

Hideka Tonomura: “They Called Me Yukari” – Vivid Fantasy of a Japanese Hostess

Japan –  Hideka Tonomura has left a grave shock in the art scene with her debut collection of photographs, “母恋ハハ・ラブ/ ...

Matjaz Krivic: “Tribe – Somewhere under the Rainbow”

Slovenia –   The Rainbow gathering … is that where you live embraced by nature under the blue sky, surrounded ...

Awoiska van der Molen: “Sequester” – Photographic Meditation of Volcanic Landscape in Canary Islands

Netherlands – I stay in places, locations far from the outside world. Being in this world -and the long time ...

Space Invader – Christian Caujolle

France – Emaho caught up with celebrated French curator and photographer Christian Caujolle to see the view from his rarefied ...

Joao Pina: “Condor” – Exposing Secret Military Conspiracy by Six Latin American Countries

Portugal – In 2005, I was finishing my first book – Por Teu Livre Pensamento (“For your Free Thinking”) – ...

Francesca Seravalle on Paul Kooiker “HE SHE WE”

 Holland – THIS STORY CONTAINS EXPLICIT CONTENT Hidden from indiscreet eyes, in his room, in a heavenly garden or exposed ...

Noriko Hayashi: “I saw many bride kidnappings in Kyrgyzstan”

Kyrgyzstan – Represented by Panos Pictures, Japanese photojournalist Noriko Hayashi has worked in diverse regions around the world, including Pakistan, ...