Tibetan writer Sochung (Tibet Business Photo)Sochung, a well-known Tibetan writer, has been keeping a low profile and always refers himself as "a man who can write characters." Instead of calling himself a writer, he prefers to name himself a reporter as he focuses his work on research into Tibet's ethnic culture and writes it down.
At first Sochung was a novel writer. In 1987 he got some of his novelettes translated into Hungarian and published on overseas newspapers. He then began to be known in the literature circle. He later gave up writing novels as he could not transcend himself in his works.
Sochung began then to try various genres of literature such as commentaries, proses, poetries, reportages and biographies.
Gradually his works began to appear on national magazines, with some translated into English and the Tibetan language. Speaking of his success, he said, "I still remember that once my stories and photos made up one fourth of the 48-page English version of China's Tibet magazine. My stories were also on the three of the four pages of an weekend edition of Tibet Daily." At that time, he felt he had so much to write about.
Sochung published his first book, "King Gesar and his ballard singers" in 2003, which offers detailed statistics for related stories about the ancient Tibetan war hero.
His second book, "Founder of a Private School in Lhasa," came off press last year and was well received both at home and abroad.
Commenting on his book, He Zhong, who works for the media and is also a poet, said; "The book is the most significant of his works. On the one hand, it clarifies the misunderstanding of private education. On the other hand, it highlights the importance of private education in social development, which is in line with historical facts.
Sochung's first book, "King Gesar and his ballard singers.". ((China Tibet Information Center file Photo))His latest book "Memories of Tibet" is set to be published later this month. The two-part book explores the renovation of the Potala Palace, Tibet's traditional medical practices and stories about bridges in Lhasa, as well as historical figures.
During all these years of writing, he has been keenly aware of the importance the central government has attached to the Tibetan culture and the opening-up in its publicity.
Meanwhile, he can feel that reporting on Tibet is becoming more open and that writing about Tibet's history and development is becoming increasingly objective.
This has provided a platform for him and other freelance writers to express their own views.
"In the past there were no freelancers in Tibet in the real sense," he noted. In order to have their stories published, writers had to provide verification from his workplaces to ensure the accuracy of their stories, he said.
"But now things have changed a lot. Freelancers enjoy more freedom in their works," he said.
Source: Tibet Business
http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/6802215.pdf
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