Tibetan activist Tsultrim Dolma makes her debut as author with Defying China, a YA memoir about her experiences growing up under the control of the People’s Republic of China, written with Rebecca Wei Hsieh. As the narrative unfolds, Dolma ventures beyond her village, Pelbar Dzong, first on a pilgrimage to Lhasa and later to continue her education as a Buddhist nun, which leads to her participation in the Tibetan independence movement against the PRC. In a conversation with PW, Dolma spoke about the importance of preserving history and sharing stories with others.

Why did you become an activist?

I always thought something wasn’t right in my hometown, because the Chinese government was beating people every day, they put people in prison. I was uncomfortable. Who is my government? Who is my leader? Who should I look up to?

I thought I had no other choices. If I didn’t become a nun, then I’d have to marry at a young age. I’m lucky that monks [came through my hometown]. I said, “I want to become a nun.” That helped me have time to think about who I wanted to be, what I wanted to do.

Then I saw a loud protest. They said, “Free Tibet.” At first, I felt like I didn’t understand what they were talking about. Then I heard the words again later. It stuck in my heart. I said it, too. I was looking for this, I was missing this. I wanted to speak up. I risked my life to protest. I wasn’t afraid to die. I thought, it’s okay.

Why did you write a book about your childhood advocacy?

Sometimes I feel voiceless. I’m [a middle-aged woman with] not much education. I don’t know English. Sometimes people look down [on you when you] speak. You feel lonely, like you can’t talk to your friend, you can’t talk to your community or other people. I was sometimes so sad that people reject or aren’t interested in my fight. But I’m not lost. President Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi lost their lives, so I push here. It’s difficult for me to talk about [what’s happening in] Tibet, so it’s easier for people to read it.

Now that [this book is] done, I feel, I think, released. It helps me, my soul, and my happiness. And it’s important to write down. This book helps everyone get educated on how to survive, to never lose hope.

Can you describe the process of collaborating with Rebecca Wei Hsieh?

Talking to people is so difficult for me. They just stand and stare. But people [like Hsieh] can help me share my story so that others can understand.

A long time ago, one of my friends wrote something about my testimony to Congress, and she mentioned that she thought she was going to write about my story. I didn’t know her that well at the time, but she helped other Tibetan people. So, I was like, “Oh, okay.” I thought I would just share stories. Then she listened to my story, and she thought, “Oh, it’s not just small stories. It’s bigger than that.” And then she started looking for some agents, and we found Claire [Draper, Au Literary Management].

Claire found Rebecca, then Rebecca and I talked. We worked since 2017 or 2018 on the book. And I feel like I have touched her, and that she understands. She believed me. I felt comfortable. I still feel like it’s a dream. But sometimes I feel bad that I have to share such hardship with her. When I share with other people, I feel a little bit happy, and I’m also sad to make other people feel sad or hurt.

What do you hope readers take away from Defying China?

Before [I started protesting], I felt sometimes like it’s impossible. But I was thinking, history looks big, like [with the history of slavery in America]. Black people built the country, they became free, then [Barack Obama] became president. With lots of wars going on, [that makes me feel like] there’s still hope. My fight and my work is really important.

Every day of my life is looking for justice. Waiting for 67 years—it’s too long. Tibetans should do something. But Tibetan people are divided. When I was in Tibet, I said, “I want to go to America.” They said, “You are crazy.”

Try to share [your stories] with family, friends, or other people. Live your life.

Defying China by Tsultrim Dolma and Rebecca Wei Hsieh. Dial, $20.99 Mar. 10 ISBN 978-0-5936-1595-9