This year Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India are celebrating a remarkable milestone: 20 years of Thiusar Magazine, a literary publication of the nuns supported by the Tibetan Nuns Project. Since its inception, Thiusar has been a beacon of creativity and expression for the nuns, and we are delighted to reflect on its journey and growth.

In 2024, the Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Dolma Ling celebrated the 20th anniversary of the nuns’ magazine Thiusar. Detail of photo by Robin Groth

The Beginning

Thiusar Magazine started as a heartfelt gesture of gratitude to Kasur Rinchen Khandro, whose leadership and guidance have been foundational to the Tibetan Nuns Project. In the early 2000s, nuns began writing small letters and prose, which they would leave on her desk. These heartfelt notes, filled with gratitude and personal reflections, caught her attention. Recognizing the potential in their writings, Kasur Rinchen Khandro encouraged the nuns to formalize their efforts and create a magazine. Thus, in 2002, Thiusaur Magazine was born.

Growing Together

Over the past two decades, Thiusar has evolved from a budding flower into a fully bloomed one. This transformation is beautifully captured in the 2024 magazine cover design, which features a youthful flower symbolizing the vibrancy and growth of the nuns. The magazine now reflects the incredible progress and blossoming talents of our community. What started as a small gesture has grown into a significant publication, celebrated for its quality and depth.

Thiusaur means “budding flower” in Tibetan. When the Tibetan Nuns Project began most of the nuns were illiterate; now they write, edit, and publish their annual magazine in Tibetan. The yellow one is the first edition and the blue on the right is the most recent magazine. Photos by Robin Groth, 2024.

Diverse Voices

The pages of the magazine are filled with essays, articles, short stories, and poems, each piece a reflection of the unique experiences and creative outlet of the nuns. The magazine is distributed annually to every nunnery and various NGOs in India, and its reach and impact are widely appreciated. Thiusar offers a rare glimpse into the hearts and minds of Tibetan nuns, sharing their journeys and perspectives with the world. The diversity of topics and styles in the magazine underlines the varied thoughts and feelings that our nuns bring to their writing.

Embracing Change

Reflecting on the early days, Venerable Delek Yangdron, a dedicated member of the magazine committee, recalls the challenges of receiving handwritten submissions and painstakingly typing each one. Today, technology has revolutionized our process. Nuns now send their writings via email, making the editorial process smoother and more efficient. This shift has not only eased the workload but has also empowered the nuns, boosting their confidence in their technological and design skills.

Early days. Venerable Delek Yangdron, one of the Dolma Ling media nuns and a dedicated member of the magazine committee remembers receiving handwritten submissions and typing up each submission.

Adapting to digital tools has also opened up new possibilities for collaboration and creativity. Nuns can now work together on projects, share ideas more easily, and access more resources for inspiration. This technological advancement has brought a new dynamism to Thiusaur, enriching the content and making the production process more collaborative and inclusive.

Looking Forward

As we celebrate 20 years of Thiusar Magazine, we look forward to the future with great hope and excitement. The nuns are eager to continue contributing their voices and sharing their stories. The magazine’s journey from its humble beginnings to its current stature exemplifies their dedication and creativity.

Tibetan Buddhist nuns receiving computer training in 2013. The mission of the Tibetan Nuns Project is to educate and empower nuns of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as teachers and leaders; and
to establish, strengthen, and support educational institutions to sustain Tibetan religion and culture. Photo by Harald Weichhart.

The celebration of Thiusar’s 20th anniversary is not just about looking back but also about coming together to acknowledge the collective effort that has made the magazine a success. We are immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed to Thiusar over the years — the writers, editors, designers, and supporters.