On the afternoon of February 8th, at around 5:30 PM, the elder brother of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, former Minister Gyalo Thondup, passed away at 97 due to old age in his residence in Kalimpong, India. The sad news was reported from Tagtser Phodrang, the residence of the demised.
The late Kalon (Minister) Gyalo Dhondup was the second oldest brother of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. From the 1950s to 1974, with the support of the American CIA, he led the peaceful and forceful resistance movement to resolve the Tibetan issue, and he was one of the most important figures in the recent history of the Tibetan struggle, including the establishment of Sino-Tibetan relations.
In exile, His Holiness’s late elder brother also served as the Prime Minister of the Tibetan Administration and carried out numerous activities to publicize the plight of Tibetans’ human rights, raise awareness of the reality of Tibetans under Chinese rule internationally, and gain global support for the Tibetan cause.
In particular, in 1979, Gyalo Thondup visited Beijing, the capital of China, and met directly with the then President Deng Xiaoping on his invitation. Deng Xiaoping said that everything except Tibetan independence could be discussed, and the Tibetan-Chinese dialogue process began. As such, He is an important figure who has had many contacts with the Chinese government on Tibetan issues.
In final chapter of his book Noddle maker of Kalimpong he stated that his only regret in his entire life was collaborating with the American Central Intelligence Agency, and that the issue weighed heavily on his mind because the Red Chinese government had massacred thousands of Tibetans to counter American support. Despite this situation, he said that he had great hope for the younger generation of modern, educated Tibetans.
He said that we Tibetans have lost our land and country. However, what we have not lost is our sense of morality. Thanks to our Tibetan Buddhism and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we have a moral value, which is very much needed by today’s China. The Dalai Lama is still the moral guide to whom we Tibetans have great affection. In this regard, we Tibetans have already won. China needs to learn a lot from our values of tolerance, compassion, and respect for human rights. In any case, we Tibetans have started the struggle for freedom and independence. That struggle will continue. He said that the flame will not die.
On February 9th, at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, a great monastery in southern India, His Holiness the Dalai Lama presided over the memorial service of His Holiness’s elder brother, Gyalo Thondup, organized by the Gaden Phodrang. In addition, the sad news of the passing of His Holiness’s elder brother, former Kalon Gyalo Thondup, has been circulating online. Tibetans all over the world are expressing their deep gratitude for his lifelong service to the Tibetan people, and are praying that he may be reborn quickly under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and continue to serve. Furthermore, they are offering condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased.
Following the sad news of the passing of His Holiness’s elder brother, former Kalon Gyalo Thondup, at the age of 97, at his residence in Kalimpong, India, Tibetans in exile, including the Central Tibetan Administration, holds memorial services and prayers in various places. Moreover, Tibetans in the three regions of Tibet are expressing their condolences through online articles and various photographs.
Despite China’s restrictions, many Tibetans inside Tibet have been posting photos of the deceased elder brother of His Holiness, along with butter lamps and prayer flags, on the internet. They are also expressing their condolences and sympathy through short essays and poems.
In general, in Gangchen Kyishong at Dharamshala, the center of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, all the civil servants, including the Cabinet Ministers, the Standing Committee Members of the Parliament, and the Secretaries of the various Ministries, gathered together to offer prayers and half-day closure for the late elder brother of His Holiness. At that time, all the civil servants, including the monks, recited prayers, and after the Office of the Cabinet Secretary read out the biography of the late Gyalo Thondup, the elder brother of His Holiness, the Tibetan Government-in-Exile expressed its condolences with regret and offered condolences to the bereaved family and relatives, and urged everyone to pray for the deceased.
Similarly, Representative of the Tibetan Administration, Security Minister Gyari Dolma, personally visited the Tagtser Residence in kalimpong to pay respects to the deceased by draping the Tibetan national flag over his body and expressed condolences to the bereaved family. Furthermore, Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Tibetan Administration, on behalf of the Tibetan Administration and all Tibetans, stated today that the deceased was a very important figure in Tibetan history and that his selfless sacrifice for the Tibetan cause was meaningful and that his legacy would inspire the new generation. He also expressed his hope that the deceased would be reborn quickly and continue his virtuous deeds.
Furthermore, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile expressed his gratitude for the deceased’s lifelong dedication to the cause of Tibet, and said that his work will continue to inspire us to fight for justice and freedom in order to resolve the truth of Tibet. He also said that he prays that there will be no obstacles for the deceased’s soul.