Backgrounder about Serfs Emancipation Day

Tibetan legislators endorsed a bill on January 19, 2009 to designate March 28th as an annual Serfs Emancipation Day, to mark the date on which about 1 million serfs in the region were freed 50 years ago.

Tibet, the roof of the world, is a land of beauty and spiritual wonders. But 50 years ago, this beautiful land was overshadowed by a serf system ruled by high-level monks and royal ranks.

At that time, 95 percent of people in Tibet were serfs. They were divided into three classes -- tralpa, duiqoin and nangzan.

Tralpa made up 60 to 70 percent of serfs. They tilled plots of land assigned to them and had to provide unpaid labor for the serf-owners. Tralpa could use the land, but they could not sell it.

Duiqoin ranked at a lower social class and led a harder life. Duiqoin made up 30 to 40 percent of serfs. They had no land or personal freedom, and the survival of each of them depended on estate-holder's manor.

Nangzan were hereditary household slaves, deprived of any means of production and personal freedom. They were called "livestock that can talk," and they were at the bottom of society. The manor-owners treated them as their private property; manor-owners could trade and transfer them, present them as gifts and use them for debts.

Adding to the misery of serfs was the severe legal system. The local governments could set up courts and prisons, and many upper-ranking lamas in monasteries could also build private tribunals and jails. Prisoners could have their hands chopped off, wrists cut, eyes gouged out, feet tied and tongues severed.

In 1951, the Central Government signed a "17-article Agreement on the Methods for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" with the regional government.

But some hoped feudal serfdom would continue. An armed rebellion occurred. Toward the end of March 1959, the rebellion was put down by the Central Government. The Dalai Lama and some of his followers fled the country to India. It was then that the broad masses of serfs, along with many patriotic upper-class figures, conducted their democratic reform. Their joint efforts marked the end of feudal serfdom in Tibet. One Million serfs finally became their own masters.

Deqing Zhuoma, a villager from the Kesong manor, lives in Naidong county in the Shannan Area of Tibet. Four generations of her family were Nangzan at the Kesong manor. She belongs to the fourth generation who were born in a cowshed. Today, Deqing Zhuoma's family owns six cows, several farm machines and a single-storey house with 7 rooms. The joys brought about by all these possessions are reflected in her bright smile.

From Tibetnews