Dharamshala,  The Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) today held the formal launch of its much-awaited book titled A Comprehensive History of Tibetan Population Growth and Decline, authored by Secretary Dawa Tsering, Director of the Institute. The publication is described as the first extensive study to trace Tibet’s population shifts across different periods of its history.

The book examines demographic trends through a wide lens of historical, political, social, and cultural contexts, offering insights into the factors that shaped the growth and decline of Tibet’s population over centuries.

 

The launch event was graced by chief guests Ngawa Tsegyam, Secretary of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Karma Choeying, Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations (CTA).

The program opened with remarks by Deputy Director Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha, who noted that among the many significant initiatives currently being pursued, this book stands out as one of TPI’s most important projects.

This was followed by a keynote address from the author, Dawa Tsering, who outlined the central purpose of his work. “Since the illegal occupation of Tibet by the People’s Liberation Army, and despite the mass killings of innocent Tibetans, we have struggled to present convincing evidence to the Chinese government and public about the scale of these atrocities—largely due to a lack of documented proof,” he stated. To address this gap, the author explained, the book draws upon ancient Tibetan and imperial Chinese historical records, the works of Western scholars, and official Chinese census data. It aims to challenge Beijing’s narrative that Tibet was sparsely populated and to counter the dismissal of Tibetan accounts of mass killings as fabricated.

In his address, Secretary Ngawa Tsegyam commended the work as a valuable scholarly resource, noting that it will not only serve future researchers but also help raise awareness among Chinese leaders and the wider public about the scale of atrocities in Tibet—particularly since the book was originally written in Chinese.

The event concluded with closing remarks by panel chair Dr. Chen Soepa, Research Fellow at TPI, marking the successful launch of a publication expected to become a cornerstone reference on Tibetan demographic history.