Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 17: Ngari Rinpoche Tenzin Choegyal, the youngest brother of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, passed away at the age of 80 at his residence, Kashmir Cottage, in Dharamshala. His demise marks the end of a life dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan religion, culture, and the political aspirations of the Tibetan people in exile.
Born in Lhasa in 1946, the Fire Dog year of the 16th Rabjung cycle, Ngari Rinpoche was raised in a family that would become central to Tibet’s modern history. Following the Chinese illegal occupation of Tibet in 1959, he accompanied His Holiness the Dalai Lama into exile in India, joining thousands of Tibetans who fled their homeland.
Recognized at the age of three as the reincarnation of Ngari Rinpoche, a revered lineage associated with western Tibet (Ngari), he assumed spiritual responsibilities from an early age. His upbringing combined traditional Tibetan Buddhist education with modern academic training. After arriving in India, he studied at St. Joseph’s School in Darjeeling, where he completed his secondary education, before pursuing higher studies in the United States.
Over the years, Ngari Rinpoche held several key roles within the exile Tibetan administration, formally known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). He served as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Religion and Culture, taught at Tibetan Children’s Village, and worked as Personal Assistant to the Home Secretary. He later served as Special Assistant in the Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
From 1974 to 1976, he served as President of the Tibetan Youth Congress, one of the largest Tibetan non-governmental organizations advocating for Tibet’s independence. He also represented Domey (Amdo) as a Member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile during its Eleventh Assembly.
The CTA President Penpa Tsering expressed deep condolences in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter). “On behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan people, I express my deep sorrow on the passing of H.E. Ngari Rinpoche (Tenzin Choegyal la), the younger brother of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a prominent spiritual figure. Throughout his life, Rinpoche devoted himself wholeheartedly to the cause of Tibet. He remained steadfast in his support of the Tibetan Administration and bore the hardships and aspirations of the Tibetan people as his own. At this time of mourning, I express my sincere gratitude for Rinpoche’s enduring legacy and extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers,” he wrote.
