Under China's new 'unity' law, Tibetans fight to preserve language and culture

A 73-year-old retired nurse's decision to learn to write Tibetan language offers a glimpse into how some embrace their language and cultural identity in Tibet.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8179x5453+0+0/resize/8179x5453!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4e%2F7a%2F150bd18e46239d4b576014a5e5c4%2Fap26215340003516.jpg' alt='Kalsang Lhamo, a 73-year-old retired nurse, practices Tibetan calligraphy at the Chengguan District Day Care Center for the Elderly in western China's Tibet autonomous region on July 20, 2026, during a government-organized visit for foreign journalists.'/><p>A 73-year-old retired nurse's decision to learn to write Tibetan language offers a glimpse into how some embrace their language and cultural identity in Tibet.</p><p>(Image credit: Ng Han Guan)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-137436' />