https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Tibetan_Refugee_Self-Help_CentreTibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre - Revision history2026-10-26T05:11:53ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tibetan_Refugee_Self-Help_Centre&diff=541259&oldid=prevImtiaz Qureshi at 06:17, 7 April 20262026-04-07T06:17:39Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}<br />
{{More citations needed|date=November 2012}}<br />
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[[File:Tibetan Refugee Self Help Darjeeling.jpg|thumb|Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre]]<br />
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'''Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre''' in [[Darjeeling]], [[India]], is a rehabilitation centre for [[Tibetan people|Tibetan]] refugees in the [[Darjeeling Himalayan hill region]]. It was established on 2 October 1959, following the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet.<ref>[http://www.darjeeling-tourism.com/darj_00001d.htm Darjeeling Tourism]</ref> The production of Tibetan handicrafts is the centre's main activity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.darjeeling-tourism.com/darj_00001d.htm|title=Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center|date=2012-03-05|access-date=2017-11-08|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305112102/http://www.darjeeling-tourism.com/darj_00001d.htm|archive-date=5 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><br />
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==Location==<br />
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It is located on the hillside of Lebong in the Darjeeling District of [[West Bengal]]. The altitude is approximately {{convert|2143|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} above sea level. The temperature variation ranges from 17°-1.5&nbsp;°C, accompanied by an annual rainfall of {{cvt|3200|mm|adj=on}}.<br />
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== History==<br />
[[File:Darjeeling tibetself-help centre digs.jpg|thumb|The Hill Top Shop in Darjeeling, India.]]<br />
Situated in Lebong and locally known as [[Hermitage (religious retreat)|Hermitage]], the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre (TRSHC) came into existence on 2 October 1959. In 1959, funds raised from a local charity led to the establishment of this centre by Zhu Dan (wife of [[Gyalo Thondup]]). The place initially provided emergency relief to Tibetan refugees who had trekked through the hazardous [[Himalayas]] into [[India]]. The Hillside had special significance for [[Tibetans]] because the [[Thirteenth Dalai Lama]] had spent his exile in India from 1910 to 1912 following the Chinese invasion of Tibet at that time.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131106023523/http://www.nls.ac.in/csseip/Files/Organizing_for_exile_SelfHelp_among.pdf "Organizing for Exile! 'Self-Help' among Tibetan Refugees in an Indian Town"] by Sudeep Basu</ref><blockquote>"It was within this view that a ten-member committee was formed in Darjeeling to organise a rehabilitation centre to be known as the TIBETAN REFUGEE SELF-HELP CENTRE. The founding members of the committee were: Mrs. Gyalo Thondup, President, Mr. T. Lawang, Mr. G. Tesur, [[Tenzing Norgay|Mr. Tenzing Norgay]], Mr & Mrs. Joksari, Mr. T. Tethong, Monsignor Benjamin, Mr. Chumbay Tsering and Miss Tesur. Later, we had the pleasure of welcoming the following new members into the committee: Mrs. Laden-la, Col. & Mrs. Thapa and Mr. Dilip Bose."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trshc.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html|title=Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center Darjeeling: June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831122433/http://trshc.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html|archive-date=31 August 2011|url-status=bot: unknown|access-date=2017-11-08|quote="It was within this view that a ten member committee was formed in Darjeeling to organise a rehabilitation centre to be known at the TIBETAN REFUGEE SELF HELP CENTRE. The founding members of the committee were: Mrs. Gyalo Thondup, President, Mr. T. Lawang, Mr. G. Tesur, Mr. Tenzing Norgay, Mr, & Mrs. Joksari, Mr. T. Tethong, Monsignor Benjamin, Mr. Chumbay Tsering and Miss Tesur. Later we had the pleasure of welcoming the following new members into the committee: Mrs. Laden-la, Col. & Mrs. Thapa and Mr. Dilip Bose."|df=dmy-all}}</ref> </blockquote>The centre was registered as a charitable organization under the Government of India Act. Starting with just four workers, today the centre is home to 130 [[Tibetan people|Tibetan families]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=u6kKcgAACAAJ Tibetan Refugee self-help centre: Darjeeling : A Report]</ref> The centre has been involved in a range of multifaceted activities, which include handicrafts and the training of artisans and craftsmen. These activities primarily focus on caring for the sick, the elderly, and the needy destitute.<ref>A brief story on Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Handicraft Center, Darjeeling [http://ctrc.tibet.net/settlements/india/north-east/darjeeling.html]</ref> The centre now comprises one crèche, one nursery school, and a pre-primary school (up to +2 standard).<br />
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* Started on 1 October 1959<br />
* Production of handicrafts is the centre's main activity<br />
*In June 1960, the Centre started a small Nursery School<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{commons category}}<br />
*{{official website|http://www.tibetancentredarjeeling.com/}}<br />
*[http://www.darjeelingnews.net/tibetan_refugee_center.html Darjeelingnews.net]<br />
*[https://trshc.blogspot.com/2007/06/facts-about-tibetan-refugee-self-help.html Facts about Tibetan-Refugee Self-Help]<br />
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{{Darjeeling}}<br />
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[[Category:Tourist attractions in Darjeeling]]<br />
[[Category:Tibetan people]]<br />
[[Category:Refugees in India]]<br />
[[Category:Tibetan diaspora in India]]</div>Imtiaz Qureshi