Dharamshala, May 23 -- Tenzin Passang wasn't born when her former homeland was formally annexed by China 75 years ago, but growing up in Dharamsala, she was surrounded by both myths and stories on Tibet. From her parents, she heard tales of her grandfather. Running through every story she was told as a child was the regret of statelessness and the dream of returning one day.

"Even though most of us were born in exile and have only seen Tibet through the memories and stories of our elders, our connection to our roots is unbreakable. In our communities, we often say that every Tibetan carries an invisible 'R' on their forehead. It stands for three things: Refugee, Resistance, and Resilience," said Passang, 29, national director of Students...