Gyalo Thondup

Gyalo Thondup (Chinese: 嘉乐顿珠; pinyin: Jiālè Dùnzhū), (1928 – 8 February 2025^[1])^[2] was the second-eldest brother of the 14th Dalai Lama. He often acted as the Dalai Lama's unofficial ambassador, and was involved in many political controversies around the Tibetan society.^[3]

In the later years of his life, Thondup repeatedly said that the only way to achieve progress is with China.^[4] In 1998, the Central Tibetan Administration (the political arm of the Dalai Lama's anti-China diaspora faction) criticized Thondup for not letting the Dalai Lama know about the CIA's involvement in Tibet.

Thondup died at his home in Kalimpong, West Bengal, India, on 8 February 2025, at the age of 97.^[5][6]

1. ↑ "Gyalo Thondup, elder brother of the Dalai Lama passes away at 97". Phayul. 2025-02-08. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
2. ↑ Thurston, Anne F. (2015). The Noodle Maker of Kalimpong: The Untold Story of My Struggle for Tibet (1st ed.). Gurgaon: Random House India. p. 16. ISBN 978-81-8400-387-1.
3. ↑ "Dalai Lama's Older Brother Visits China". Voice of America. October 26, 2009.
4. ↑ "Former Minister Gyalo Thondup Says Weiqun Ignorant of Deng's statement on Tibet". Voice of America. Retrieved 3 November 2013.^{[permanent dead link]}
5. ↑ "Dalai Lama's elder brother, who led several rounds of talks with China, dies at 97". AP News. 9 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
6. ↑ "Gyalo Thondup, elder brother of the Dalai Lama passes away at 97". Phayul. 2025-02-08. Retrieved 2025-02-08.