The Tibetan version of the book Authenticating Tibet: Answers to China’s 100 Questions was launched on May 6 at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamshala. The book, originally published in French in 2002, by Anne-Marie Blondeau and Katia Buffetrille was a response to a booklet published by the Chinese government in 1989. This booklet, which contained 100 questions and answers on Tibet, was an attempt by the Chinese government to provide the “truth” about Tibet and counter the criticisms generated by Tibetans.
Anne-Marie Blondeau and Katia Buffetrille, two of the leading scholars of the renowned Tibetan Studies faculty at the École pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris, assembled an international group of distinguished experts from France, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, England, Canada and the United States: specialists in Tibetan history, language, religion, economics, politics, and society. Each expert was assigned a number of the Chinese questions and asked each to write clear, concise, and historically accurate answers. The project resulted in a book entitled Le Tibet est-il chinois? (Is Tibet Chinese?), which appeared under the imprint of the leading French publisher Albin Michelin Paris in 2002.
The English language translation of the book Authenticating Tibet was published in 2008
The Tibetan version of the book was translated by Mr Jampa Tenzin, a researcher at the Tibet Policy Institute.
SIkyong Lobsang Sangay (centre) with Speaker Penpa Tsering of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and Geshe Lhakdor, Director of Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
Addressing the book launch, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the elected leader of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, highlighted the importance of the book, saying “One must study the Tibetan issue from various perspectives for better comprehension.” He also emphasised the need for rigorous study of such books to counter false Chinese propaganda.
Also present at the book release were the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Penpa Tsering; Education Minister Ngodup Tsering; senior officials of the Tibetan government-in-exile; members of the Tibetan Parliament; Tashi Tsering, the Director of Amnye Machen Institute and other researchers.
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