For those who have undergone the emancipation of serfs, in Tibet 50 years ago, their experience is still fresh in their memories. Our reporter spoke to one of the former serfs, who shared his bitter memories and hopes for the future.
Yexe Lozhub is a retired community worker at downtown Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. Like many senior citizens, he loves to share his life stories with the younger generations. But his story is full of misery. When he was only two years old, Yexe Lozhub's mother sent him to the Monastery because she had no means to support her son. Yet the Buddha didn't bring luck for the boy.
Yexe Lozhub, a Lhasa resident, said, "Most of the lamas are from poor families. We were actually servants to the few upper class lamas. We were forced to do all the chores, but we couldn't even cream of ever having enough food. They beat and cursed us at will. They would also put shackles on us, and lock us up." Yexe Lozhub is a retired community worker at downtown Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. Like many senior citizens, he loves to share his life stories with the younger generations.
At the age of 17, Yexe Lozhub fled the monastery. But he had no plan for the future. his only choice was to become a servant, or in his words, a slave. While that meant more beating and cursing, even more unbearable for him was the prospect of starving with nowhere to live.