Remembering Gyalo Thondup A Pioneer in Tibetan Politics

Remembering Gyalo Thondup A Pioneer in Tibetan Politics

New Delhi - The Dalai Lama has expressed his condolences on the passing of his elder brother, a veteran leader of the exiled Tibetan people. Gyalo Thondup, who was 97 years old at the time of his death, played a significant role in Tibetan politics and was the personal emissary of the Dalai Lama.

Born in 1928, more than three decades before the 1959 revolt in Lhasa against Chinese forces, Thondup witnessed firsthand the events that led to the Dalai Lama's exile into India. He later served as the chairman of the Tibetan government-in-exile's Kashag or cabinet in the early 1990s.

The Dalai Lama offered prayers at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in southern India, describing his elder brother as very dedicated and brave. The spiritual leader also expressed his hope that Thondup would be able to work closely with him for the Tibetan cause in all his future lives.

Thondup's passing marks the end of an era for Tibetan politics. As one of the last surviving leaders of the 1959 uprising, his death raises concerns among many in the diaspora about the future of the Tibetan community.

The Dalai Lama, who is now 89 years old, has indicated that he has decades yet to live, but Tibetans who have followed him abroad are bracing for an inevitable time without him. This has led to fears that China may name a rival successor to the Dalai Lama, further consolidating its control over the region.

A Legacy of Service

Gyalo Thondup was instrumental in taking up the Tibetan issue internationally after the Lhasa uprising. He also played a key role in reaching out to the CIA for supplies and support to a 2,000-strong force that launched guerrilla attacks against Chinese forces as a Cold War proxy.

During the 1960s, Thondup and other fighters snuck into Tibet from Nepal's Mustang region to launch ambushes, including blowing up Chinese army trucks. However, after the CIA cut funding and the Dalai Lama urged fighters to lay down their arms in 1974, Thondup and others followed his call for a peaceful solution.

A Message of Hope

In a 2008 interview, Thondup expressed hope that China would take a more reasonable approach and treat Tibetans equally. Although there was little sign of policy shifts from Beijing, including rounds of negotiations in which he played a major role, Thondup remained optimistic about the possibility of a peaceful resolution.

Have you ever dreamed? China is changing, the world is changing, he said. I'm quite optimistic.

The passing of Gyalo Thondup marks the end of an era for Tibetan politics, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

(Note I made minor changes to sentence structure and wording to improve readability and flow, while maintaining the original content and tone.)

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CEO / Co-Founder

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