Gyalo Thondup, Elder Brother of Dalai Lama and Key Figure in Tibetan Struggle, Passes Away at 97

Gyalo Thondup, the elder brother of the Dalai Lama and former chairman of the exiled Tibetan government in India, has passed away at the age of 97. He played a crucial role in diplomatic efforts for the Tibetan cause, engaging in talks with China and forging ties with foreign governments.

Thondup died on Saturday evening at his home in Kalimpong, a hill town in West Bengal’s Himalayan foothills, according to media reports. Further details about his passing have not yet been released.

Tibetan media outlets recognized Thondup for his extensive networking with international governments and credited him with helping to secure U.S. support for the Tibetan movement.

On Sunday, the Dalai Lama, who is currently in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, led a prayer session for Thondup at a monastery, praying for his “swift rebirth” in accordance with Buddhist traditions. Acknowledging his brother’s contributions, he stated, “His efforts towards the Tibetan struggle were immense, and we are grateful for his contribution.”

Thondup was the only one among the Dalai Lama’s six siblings who did not pursue a religious path. Making India his home in 1952, he worked to establish early ties with the Indian and U.S. governments in support of Tibet’s cause. According to Radio Free Asia, he played a key role in coordinating with Indian authorities, including Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, during the Dalai Lama’s escape to India in 1959. He was also instrumental in fostering relations between Tibetan leaders and U.S. officials.

Initially advocating an armed struggle against Chinese control of Tibet, Thondup later shifted his approach. In 1979, he initiated a series of discussions between Tibetan representatives and Chinese leaders, believing that direct negotiations with Beijing were the only path to resolving the Tibetan issue. In a 2003 interview with Radio Free Asia, he emphasized that neither India nor the U.S. could resolve Tibet’s fate and that meaningful progress could only come through face-to-face talks with China.

From 1991 to 1993, Thondup served as chairman of the Tibetan government-in-exile, based in Dharamshala, India. His diplomatic efforts left a lasting impact on the Tibetan movement, shaping its global outreach and engagement with key world powers.