(Dis)location and identity: Understanding the construction of Tibetan refugee identity in youth living in India

Studying the construction of refugee identities has become increasingly essential in today’s conflict-ridden times. While refugees face many challenges, identity related challenges are often more pervasive. These concerns are addressed through the examination of first-generation Tibetan refugees (born in Tibet) and second/third-generation Tibetan refugees (born in India) living in India. The theoretical framework of proculturation is uniquely positioned to shed light onto these refugee identities but remains unexplored thus far. The formation of their identity in exile is examined through the narratives of the two groups. 28 Tibetan refugee youth aged 18–30 were interviewed; the data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and two thematic networks were generated. There was a notable difference in the way the refugee identity was constructed by both groups of participants. Due to the difference in experiences of dislocation and proculturation, the nature of identity differed significantly, suggesting a more holistic identity for Indian-born refugees and a fractured identity for Tibet-born refugees. Both groups noted an active (re)construction and transformation of Tibetan culture and identity, demonstrating an integration of social representations in the context of proculturation and suggesting the semiotic function of place and intercultural contact in the construction of identity in exile.