Taran Tiwari: interview with Michael Persau, Jasmine Kirkpatrick, Laurel Donnelly, and Daniel Riley

Taran Tiwari is the Executive Director for the Bhutanese Society of Western Massachusetts. Tiwari discusses the historical context that drove Bhutanese refugees out of Bhutan to refugee camps in Nepal, and ultimately to the United States. He describes his own experiences being forced out of Bhutan, serving as a teacher, dean, and principal in Nepal, and moving to Springfield, Massachusetts. He explains the struggles endured by Bhutanese Americans like himself, including economic competition, language barriers, and social isolation, as well as his impressions of the American cultural and political landscape. Finally, he describes the needs of the Bhutanese community in Springfield and beyond, including increased education and the establishment of a community center.