Gyalo Thondup, the elder brother of the Dalai Lama, has passed away at the age of 97. He died at his home in Kalimpong, India. Thondup was a key figure in the fight for Tibetan rights and worked hard to get support from other countries, especially the United States.
In a ceremony honoring Thondup, the Dalai Lama led a prayer session at a monastery in Karnataka, where he is living for the winter. The Dalai Lama expressed gratitude for Thondup’s significant efforts for the Tibetan people.
Gyalo Thondup had a special role during important talks with the Chinese government about Tibet. He helped build strong connections with the Indian government, including Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, after the Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959.
In the late 1970s, Thondup began to change his approach from conflict to a peaceful dialogue with China, believing that real progress could only come through talks directly with the Chinese leaders. He served as the chairman of the Tibetan government-in-exile from 1991 to 1993.
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