Reported By Palden
Edited By Pema Tso
Translated By TenGyal
Palgon, a young Tibetan poet, has been released after two years of imprisonment. Even as he has not suffered any health complications at the time of release, his movement and activities continue to be monitored and surveilled.
The Chinese authorities abruptly arrested Palgon in 2022, after which his whereabouts and location remained unknown. He was released towards the end of 2024. Currently, he continues to reside at his home and has not suffered any health complications, but the Chinese authorities continue to secretly monitor and surveil him.
He posted the following on his personal social media account after his release: “ I apologize to those who became very concerned following my sudden fall into oblivion. Me, I don’t have a “lucky” forehead, or a profound mind or a good countenance or other such precious jewel-like qualities as the supreme beings possess. Therefore, I apologize to everyone.
This moment in the century has turned out to be as the great master Dharmarkriti repeatedly pointed out,
“ Most beings become attached to the mundane and ordinary, without the wisdom of skillful means,
The profound teachings— they do not strive to study them, instead they grow hostile due to the stain of jealousy.”
If one doesn’t strive to study a little bit, didn’t the master Tsong Khapa say, “ Study nothing, Learn nothing?” This is a very meaningful quote.
As such, I request you to ensure that you don’t turn from a person who walks upright to someone who walks with their head hanging low. I pray that we are all able recognize it as of paramount importance to have confidence in ourselves, to depend on ourselves and to be our own agents.”
A reliable source informed this reporter “ The young Tibetan poet and intellectual, Palgon has been released and has reached his home safely. Yet, due to the secrecy and restriction imposed by the Chinese authorities, nobody really knew when he was released. Even as such, there are no reported complications in his health and condition as of now.”
Another Tibetan source described that as Palgon was prohibited from reading and writing literary works while he was held under detention by the Chinese authorities,( after his release), he has continued to strive to engage in literary activities in his residence. Yet, due to the severe restrictions imposed on his movements and activities, his literary friends are even held on suspicion, if they “like” certain background photos on his WeChat account, let alone being able to contact him privately.
Even though it is generally believed that he was arrested on the allegations of having contacts outside of Tibet, the true cause of his arrest remains unclear even now.
The young Tibetan poet Palgon, who is around 30, hails from Denang Village, Pema County in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. He is an alumni of Ragya Sherig Norbuling School, which was forcibly shut down last July. While he was in the school, he edited “ A Study Traditional Costumes of Tibet”-a dissertation book, “ I Wish the Years Would Come Back ”—a book of prose writings and “ Such Paintings of Love”— a book of photo illustrations. He had also published a book of love poetry, “ If I was Born to Make Rain In Your World” and a poetry book written in collaboration with other writers, “ Wine Horse”.
On June 7th, 2017, he won the first prize in the Golden Book Reading and Editing Competition organized in Ragya Sherig Norbuling school. He usually wrote under different aliases such as Nine-Sided ( dGu Zur Ma), List (tho), Dream Machine (rMi Phrul) and Local Deity (gZhi bDag).
