Amalas Tsukden Matched No. 09

Understanding Tsukden:
A Tsukden is a linear shaggy rug element of varying lengths, typically between 25 and 40 cm wide of Tibetan heritage. The 25 cm width is determined by the use of hips as a counterpart to the loom, on small looms found in historical tents and mountain huts they can be 40 cm width. These fragments have a high shaggy pile, making them warm and soft inlays for sleeping bags or bench covers in the high mountains. Historically, small but long Tsukden strips were knitted together to form larger objects, like sleeping bags, used in the cold, high-altitude areas of the Himalayas.

Today, Amala wishes to revive the knowledge of Tsukden production in the first Tibetan exile camp she reached at age 18 when she fled the Chinese invaders in 1959. Now 83 years old, she aims to give back to the mountain area where she and her family rebuilt their lives outside Tibet. I promised Amala to help her walking the old path to preserve her culture.

When Amala shared her wish with me, I promised Amala to help her walking the old path to preserve her culture. A call for me to go to Nepal and help elevate this project to a level where the products would interest people. Demand for Tsukden production is necessary to bring work back to these high mountain areas. Amala and her family have been working for RUG STAR for 15 years, led by her daughter Dolma Lob Sang, with Amala remaining the strong guiding personality. During these years, I have spent many nights in the garden, listening to stories of their former life in Tibet. Amala, a gifted singer, often moves us to laughter and tears with her renditions of old Tibetan songs, many of which are nearly forgotten and friends now start writing down what Amala sings in her songs.

In May 2024, my partner Nasser Alsaoub and I traveled to Nepal. At our production site, we discovered a warehouse filled with long, shaggy Tsukden fragments, which were no longer in demand locally. This presented an opportunity to revitalize the craft.

As an architect, I saw potential in these textiles, recognizing their ability to create unique spatial environments. We began stitching the Tsukden pieces together into larger rug sculptures, filled with joy and identity. This, I told Amala, is what I can do in this story. I am already in love with what my partner Nasser Alsaoub and I created there in Nepal in just a few days. Our efforts were so well-received that we were invited to use this technique for an exhibition celebrating the 100 years of Bauhaus in 2026.

Through our efforts, we aim to create demand for Tsukden production, bringing work back to high mountain areas and fulfilling Amala’s dream. Amala is same age as my mom, born in 1941.

Amala’s Early Life and Journey

Before her marriage, Amala was known as Sonam Bhuti Ngamdung. She was born and raised in Ngampa, Southern Latod, Utsang, Tibet. Her family name, Dungtso, indicated their role as traditional medical practitioners. They were well-respected for their medical work and gathered and processed medicinal herbs without much outside labor. Patients were not charged fixed rates but gave voluntary contributions based on the duration of treatment and their economic condition.

Before the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959, Amala’s family relied on farming and animal husbandry. They owned significant farmland and livestock, including sheep, goats, yaks, horses, cows, and dzomos (a yak and cow/ox crossbreed). The villagers mainly cultivated barley, wheat, and peas and produced wool, meat, butter, and cheese.

In 1959, following the Chinese invasion, Amala’s family fled Tibet, crossing the Nangpa-la Pass to reach Solukhumbu in Nepal. They initially lived in tents in Thame before moving to Khunde village above Namche Bazaar. As more refugees arrived, the local economy struggled, prompting the relocation of refugees to the Solu valley.

In the Solu valley, Amala’s family began traditional Tsukden weaving to earn money. Amala learned this craft from her mother and became a master weaver. By the early 1970s, she was sharing her skills with others. During this time, she married and had two daughters, becoming widely known as Sonam Bhuti Gyalchung.

Later, seeking better opportunities, the family moved to Kathmandu and established a small hand-knotted wool center. Initially, all family members were involved in spinning, wool washing, and weaving. Their tireless efforts during this period made them self-sufficient without relying on international relief supplies.

With the expansion of the carpet business in Nepal and export markets opening in Europe and the USA, Amala’s family began producing hand-knotted carpets for export, employing more weavers. The business thrived, providing employment and supporting the local economy.

In 2020, they established the “Dev Dolma Dhakhwa Foundation,” with Amala as Chairman. The foundation carries out various welfare programs with financial support from Mrs. Astrid and others, focusing on education and employment for economically disadvantaged people.

Additionally, the USA-based “The Tibet Fund” sanctioned a two-year welfare program for Tibetan refugees in the Delekling Settlement, Chailsa, Solukhumbu. These programs focus on livelihood improvement, resettlement, agriculture, and employment opportunities, including rug weaving. The first phase of the project was successfully completed, and the second phase is currently underway. The family also provides assistance to local people in and around the Tibetan Settlement, Chailsa, and they are pleased to work in their first refuge destination in exile from the early 1970s.

Second part was Written by: Lobsang Dolma Dhakhwa