Ugyan Choedup

Postdoctoral Associate in East Asian Studies; Lecturer in History

Council on East Asian Studies

Academic Year: 2024-25

I am a third-generation exile Tibetan born in India. I am a historian of modern Tibet and China, focusing on the questions of nationalism and modernity. I completed my schooling in Tibetan refugee schools in India and earned my B.A., M.A., and M.Phil degrees from universities in India. I received my Ph.D. in History from Pennsylvania State University with a dissertation titled “Tibet’s Winding Road: Modernity, Nationalism, and Unsettled Exile.” My dissertation traces the genealogy of contemporary nationalist discourse among exiled Tibetans. It examines how the global circulation of the ideas of nationalism and modernity, upon entering the Tibetan-speaking world at the turn of the 20th century, gradually transformed the Tibetan conception of themselves and the world around them. In doing so, my dissertation also explores the ways in which the traditional Tibetan world and its structure of thought shape Tibetans' translation of these ideas into their own societal framework.

In addition to my research, I co-host Khyeltam, a Tibetan language podcast where we discuss ideas, histories, and current affairs.

ugyan.choedup@yale.edu

Courses

Tibet in the Modern World—A 20th Century History

EAST 423, HIST 385

This course delves into Tibet’s modern history, covering the late nineteenth century to the present. It situates Tibet’s history within the emerging ideological and political landscape shaped by the globalizing force of colonial modernity. By examining pivotal moments in twentieth-century Tibetan history, this course discusses the gradual transformation of the Tibetan world as it encountered new ideas, institutions, and practices from the modern West, often mediated through modern China and colonial and post-colonial India. Emphasizing that the present state of Tibet’s future was not predetermined, the course delves into the diverse visions for Tibet’s destiny that emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century. By exploring these overlooked and unrealized possibilities, it underscores the contingent and contested nature of Tibet’s modern history. As such, this course may particularly interest students exploring themes of modernity, nationalism, colonialism, and exile. Through the incorporation of primary sources, students engage directly with first-hand accounts and historical materials, fostering a more intimate understanding of modern Tibetan history.

Seminar

Spring

HTBA