From a refugee settlement in Miao to the Supreme Court of India

By Tsedo


Advocate Tenzin at the Supreme Court of India
Tsedo on his way to Arunachal Pradesh (it's remote!).
Welcome to the jungle. The entrance to Miao Settlement.
Studying for the bar exam (OK, not really, but they are studying and that's what matters).


New Delhi: From his humble hut in a Tibetan refugee settlement in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district to the sprawling courts of the Supreme Court of India, the journey of Tenzin Tsering is inspiring.

Born and raised in isolated Miao, near the Burmese border, Tenzin always aspired to be a lawyer. He spent much of his youth in the fields and had to help support his family at age 12 after his father passed away. Life in the settlement is difficult: it’s located in a thick, wet, mosquito infested jungle. Travelers wishing to visit need a special permit, then travel three days on train from Delhi and ride slow rafts for the final day. This remoteness, coupled with the threat of violence from nearby separatist rebels, eliminates most forms of possible income from trade or tourism.

Tenzin attended high school in Himachal Pradesh, but his mother could not afford to send him to college. He returned home in 2002, resigned to spending the rest of his life working in the camp, until one day in 2005 when his brother saw a notice at the refugee welfare office. The sign explained that AHF was offering limited scholarships to the most qualified applicants from the camps. Tenzin knew instantly this was his chance and seized it – he was chosen soon after.

“I have always seen that we Tibetans being refugees in India always faced legal problems and we don’t have any professional lawyers among us to help or to provide legal opinion, so I thought to practice as lawyer so that I can help our people,” Tenzin says. After completing his law degree, he is an advocate at the reputed Consigliare Law office in New Delhi. One day he hopes to be able to work for the Tibetan Government.

On learning of my write up on him, Tenzin emailed: ‘Tsedo lak, If possible kindly add my comment, “I am very thankful to AHF for providing me financial support in completing my LLB. His Holiness recently said Education is an important instrument to bring change in society/community. His Holiness further asked people to spend money on education instead of wasting on wrongful purposes and I think AHF is following the valuable views and ideas of His Holiness practically.” ’

Back home in the refugee camp, everyone calls him ‘LLB Tenzin’. For the more than three thousand Tibetan refugees, he is a pride and an inspiration for the children.

Thank you Father Privett of the University of San Francisco and Bernard Osher for helping make this happen