Kalimpong, India – Gyalo Thondup, the elder brother of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and a pivotal figure in Tibetan politics, passed away peacefully at his home in Kalimpong on Saturday at the age of 97. His passing marks the end of an era for Tibetans in exile, as he was one of the last surviving figures from the early years of the Tibetan struggle against Chinese occupation.
A family member confirmed that Thondup passed due to old age, surrounded by his loved ones. His legacy is one of diplomacy, resilience, and dedication to the Tibetan cause, advocating tirelessly for his homeland in the international arena.
A Life of Political Engagement and Diplomacy
Born in 1928 in Taktser, a village in what is now the Chinese province of Qinghai, Thondup moved to Lhasa with his family in 1939. Recognized early on for his intellectual curiosity, he was sent to Nanjing at the age of 14 to study Chinese history, where he met key political figures such as Chiang Kai-shek. His education in China provided him with deep insights into Chinese politics, which would later influence his role in Tibetan affairs.
As tensions escalated in China in 1949, Thondup left Nanjing and eventually fled Tibet in 1952, seven years before his younger brother, the Dalai Lama, undertook his historic escape to India. Once in exile, Thondup played a crucial role in representing Tibet’s interests on the global stage. He met with world leaders and worked behind the scenes to garner support for the Tibetan cause, often acting as a key intermediary for his brother and the Tibetan government-in-exile.
From Political Figure to Entrepreneur
Despite his significant political contributions, Thondup eventually transitioned into the world of business, settling in Kalimpong, West Bengal. Initially struggling to find work, he was advised by an official in Sikkim to start a business. Lacking experience, but armed with determination, Thondup secured an import license with the help of the Indian government and the support of friends in Kalimpong.
In the mid-1960s, he and his wife Zhu Dan, daughter of a Kuomintang general, established a noodle factory that would sustain their family for decades. His factory, which became a well-known fixture in Kalimpong, was tragically gutted by fire in 2019, but by then, his legacy as a businessman had long been cemented.
A Lasting Legacy
Thondup’s life was chronicled in his memoir, The Noodle Maker of Kalimpong, in which he detailed his extraordinary journey from the heart of Tibet to the diplomatic corridors of global politics and finally to the streets of Kalimpong, where he built a new life in exile.
His funeral is scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Kalimpong, with family members and senior officials from the Tibetan government-in-exile expected to be in attendance. His sister and brother-in-law have already arrived from Dharamshala, the headquarters of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Though he is no longer with us, Gyalo Thondup’s contributions to Tibet’s political history and his resilience in exile will continue to inspire generations of Tibetans. His life serves as a testament to the enduring struggle for Tibetan identity and freedom, a cause he championed until his last breath.
