Agency, Accommodation and Negotiations: The Dialectics of Non-assimilation for Economic Relations Between Tibetan Refugee and Indian Hosts

One of the hallmarks of the Tibetan exile situation is that it has been organised on the principle of non-assimilation. This has allowed the Tibetan refugee to use their agency to ensure the sustenance of Tibetan culture and religion in exile. This is in keeping with Arendt’s apprehension that assimilation with the host society can lead to a dilution of the culture of the refugee. Through a qualitative study of Tibetan settlements in Karnataka and Goa, this paper enquires into the socio-economic consequences of the policy of non-assimilation for both the Tibetan refugees and the Indian hosts.