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Towards the last two months of my last visit to India in the spring of 2012, I encountered the Tibetan community in exile in India experiencing painful news of their people self-immolating in fire one after another in China-occupied Tibet. My experiences in the past visits in India (drawing a cremation site in Varanasi, documenting fire pits, cremation alters, and contemplating on life and death around fire) synchronized with this particular movement, an extreme way of ‘offering’ their bodies to ‘fire’ for asking freedom and peace.I could not help drawing large and small drawings as emotional response and with a sense of mourning.

After coming back to Vancouver, the self-immolation kept happening and I felt that my personal and professional task is not finished.

I have come back to India to continue to document and draw under the same theme. tomoyoihaya@hotmail.com

24 October 2019

Remember Sonam Dargye March 17 2012

For Sonam Dargye, a 44 yr old farmer, who carried out a self immolation protest on March 17 2012 in the town of Rongpo, Rebkon, Amdo, Tibet.

He set himself on fire in the middle of the street in Rongpo town. While his body still aflame, hundreds of Tibetans gather around according to a video footage that came out to the exile side.

He was a father of three.

Three days earlier, Jamyang Palden, a monk from Rongpo gompa, also self immolated himself.

Following their passings,  thousands of Tibetans in Rebkong area gathered to offer prayer vigils.