In Pictures: Exiled

Over 80,000 Tibetans have fled the Chinese occupation of their country and established a refugee community in Dharamsala in India. The former British Hill Station has been the site of the Tibetan government in exile since 1960, and is home to their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Many of these refugees have walked hundreds of miles across the Himalayas to reach Dharamsala to escape presecution, to seek education, and to be near the Dalai Lama. Most have left their familes behind and hope to eventually return to Tibet.

This series of portraits are from two important locations for the exile community. Firstly the Refugee Reception Centre where newly arrived refugees are provided with accomodation, food, basic amenities and support with building a new life in the community and secondly the Shugseb nunnery, where both novice and experienced Nuns lead a life of prayer, religious study and meditation.

All of the above pictures are from a series called 'Exiled' by photographer Laura Stevens and can currently be seen as part of an exhibition called 'Battleground' at the Brighton Media Centre, Brighton, UK.



Links & Resources:

Brighton Photo Fringe - Information about 'Battleground'

Laura Stevens - Homepage of photographer