Frontier Travel writing
Calling from Kashgar:
A Journey through Tibet
Calling from Kashgar: A Journey through Tibet
Rod Richard
208pp, illus,hb
ISBN: 978-0-9508701-7-5, £12.95
When Rod Richard was in Lhasa in 1986, there were fewer restrictions to travel
than ever before, or since. Tibet had long been a forbidden kingdom, separate
from the world below, yet tangled in the politics of surrounding empires. Aged
36 at the time, his background of studies in Chinese and political science and
his interests in hillwalking and photography were well adapted for these travels.
His story begins in China and leads to a journey across west Tibet to Kashgar.
Rattling over the high desert on the backs of old trucks, he meets
PLA army convoys, solitary tribal groups and pilgrims of all sorts on their
way to Mt. Kailas. This is the father of all mountains, the sacred peak at the centre of the
universe and a means to enlightenment. Powerful feelings emerge as our guide
walks the parikarama at 18,000 ft.
We benefit from an informed viewpoint, not only sharing the adventure
and humour, but learning something of Tibet, as the author writes of earlier
quests,including the infamous British expedition which slaughtered the Tibetan army.
Such history introduces the all-abiding question of Tibetan nationalism today,
seen from Peking as the troubles of a distant minority.With care and great understanding,
he describes the real situation and his thoughts for the future encourage sympathy
and hope for Tibet. This is a book which draws the reader’s heart forever
North of the Himalayas.
The massacre at Karo La in 1904, the flight of the Dalai Lama; and the periodic
quietening of restive Khampas have all led up to giving the Roof of the World
the look of a garrison country. Richard, something of a sinophile, consoles himself
with the speculation that people never get the Governments they deserve. Yet
he will never be same again. Long after the last page is turned, something of
the continuous stream of phonetic images will stay with the reader, Drogpas and
khampas, yurts, chang and tsampa; Jokhang, Ramoche, Ganden, Shigatze, through
the valley of Amitabh to the coda - an epiphany in the parikramas of Kailash
itself.
India / rights sold to Penguin Books, India.
All other publishing rights retained/ available
Frontier Publishing.©R.Richard.
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