By Tibet Press Staff
Gyalo Thondup, the elder brother of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and a pivotal figure in Tibet’s modern political history, has passed away at the age of 97. His life was deeply intertwined with the Tibetan struggle and efforts to engage with both China and the international community on behalf of his people.
Born in 1928 in Taktser, eastern Tibet, Gyalo Thondup’s life changed dramatically when his younger brother, Lhamo Thondup, was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. With this recognition, their family moved from a rural farming life to the political and spiritual heart of Tibet in Lhasa. He later traveled to Nanjing, China, where he was introduced to Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the Republic of China, who saw him as a potential intermediary between Tibet and the Chinese government.
With the rise of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949 and its subsequent military intervention in Tibet, Thondup fled to India, where he became a key figure among Tibetan exiles. During this period, he established contact with the CIA, which sought to support the Tibetan resistance movement against Chinese control. He played a crucial role in recruiting and training Tibetan resistance fighters, efforts that led to U.S. assistance in the late 1950s and early 1960s. However, as Chinese control over Tibet solidified, international support waned, leading to a decline in armed resistance.
Beyond his involvement in political and military strategies, Thondup also took on diplomatic roles. He was instrumental in advocating for Tibet at the United Nations and served in various capacities within the Tibetan government-in-exile, including as chairman of the Kashag (cabinet). In the late 1970s and 1980s, he engaged in direct dialogue with the Chinese government, exploring the possibility of a peaceful resolution and the potential return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. However, these negotiations ultimately did not yield progress, and in the early 1990s, he withdrew from diplomatic efforts, citing the lack of meaningful engagement from Beijing.
Despite controversies surrounding his political dealings and financial decisions, Gyalo Thondup remained a central figure in the Tibetan exile community. His commitment to Tibetan self-determination and his role as a close confidant of the Dalai Lama shaped decades of Tibetan political strategies and international outreach.
Gyalo Thondup is survived by his two sons, Ngawang Tanpa and Khedroob Thondup, as well as his brothers, the Dalai Lama and Tendzin Choegyal, and his sister, Jetsun Pema. His contributions to the Tibetan cause leave a lasting legacy in the history of Tibet’s struggle for freedom and recognition.
Gyalo Thondup, businessman and political envoy, born November 5, 1928; passed away February 8, 2025.
