Lodi Gyari in a 2008 file photo. File Photo/Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal
Tibet Sun Newsroom
McLEOD GANJ, India, 29 October 2018
Lodi Gyari, former Special Envoy to the Dalai Lama in the US, who was battling liver cancer, has died, according to sources. He was 70.
He passed away around 6am Monday morning (29 October) at a hospital in San Francisco in California, surrounded by his family.
Lodi Gyari was born in Nyarong in Eastern Tibet in 1949, and fled into exile in India following the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959.
At a young age he was recognised as the reincarnation of a Buddhist master of the Nyingma lineage, gaining the title Gyari Rinpoche.
After coming into exile he initiated various projects. He was the editor of the Tibetan Freedom Press (a Tibetan-language periodical), and then started the Voice of Tibet (now Tibetan Review), the first-ever English language journal published by a Tibetan.
Gyari was one of the founders of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest Tibetan NGO working towards an independent Tibet.
He eventually served in the Tibetan administration-in-exile, including positions as Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and Cabinet Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration.
While in the US as Special Envoy of the Dalai Lama as the political leader of the Tibetan people, Gyari led the Tibetan side of the delegation for nine rounds of dialogue with the Chinese government in attempts to resolve the Tibetan issue, between 2002 and 2010.
From 1999 to 2014, he was the Executive Chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT).
He was said to be writing his autobiography in the last few years.
Sad that Gyari Lodoe left us bit too soon. He’s only 70. After HH the Dalai Lama and Samdhong Rinpoche, Gyari Lodoe would be the person that has contributed most to the Tibetan cause from among the Tibetans in exile.
He gave his entire life for the good of Tibet and Tibetan people, by following the path shown by the HH the Dalai Lama.
I salute this giant for his unflinching dedication to free Tibet. His name will be etched in the annals of Tibetan history.
My sincere condolences to the bereaved family members in their time of sorrow.
Kasur Gyari Lodoe la,
You dedicated your entire life to the cause of Tibet. We Tibetans across the globe feel highly indebted to you for your indomitable spirit and unrelenting efforts to regain Tibet’s freedom and dignity. You will be sorely missed by us Tibetans. May you be reborn as a Tibetan soon to carry forth the work from where you left off in this life. Thank you very much for your hard work and contributions.
Besides his posts in CTA and other achievements, what I admire most his pan-Tibetan outlook which is surely lacking in some of the present crop of Chitues, who are bigots and shown ample instincts of tribalism in Chitue meetings. Hope they would learn from him and work for the common good of Tibet and Tibetans hence forth. May his soul rest in peace.
Thank you for serving Tibet…. Bye n RIP…Lodi Gyari
I am sorry I aint very saddened by this. I find it hard to sympathize with remmants of old ruling class people like aristocrats and rinpoches.
I feel the exile leadership has failed to transition into a real democracy where folks from common background can command power.
But yes, RIP to Gyari. He’s better than most of those old folks.
Gyari Lodro Rinpoche was born in Nyarong, Tibet in 1949. He was recognized as the reincarnation of a Buddhist master of Nyingma lineage, Khenchen Jampal Dewe Nyima from Lumorap Monastery and received traditional monastic education. His predecessor was a main teacher of Dudjom Rinpoche.
After fleeing Tibet, he joined Mount Hermon School, Darjeeling for his modern education. Rinpoche initiated numerous projects for the Tibetans.
Rinpoche was a founding member of Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest Tibetan NGO fighting for Tibetan Independence. He held positions such as Founder Assistant Secretary, Vice President & President.
He was editor of the Tibetan Freedom Press (a Tibetan language periodical), and started (an English language journal Tibetan Review) & helped launch and edit the Sheja magazine).
Rinpoche led Information Office as Kalon. He served the Central Tibetan Administration in various capacities- director of Research & Analysis Department and Chairman of the 7th Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies.
Rinpoche also managed Tibetan Administrative Course for selected administrative staff from the Tibetan Administration and Special Frontier Force in 1976. I was a participants of this course. He was Special Envoy of the Dalai Lama & led the Tibetan side of the delegation for dialogue with the Chinese government.
From 1999 to 2014, he was the Executive Chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT.
It is learnt that Rinpoche was writing his autobiography. I am eager to read this seasoned statesmen’s vast knowledge and experience. It was heart breaking to learn about the demise of Rinpoche who passed away on October 29, 2018. He was 70.
May Rinpoche be reborn soon to lead the Tibetan struggle. I also offer my sincere condolences…
First of all, may I extend my condolences to all the members of Gyari Rinpoche’s family members and close friends. Om Mane Padme Hum.
Secondly, it is my understanding that Gyari Rinpoche is not a title like Taktser Rinpoche or Ngari Rinpoche. Rinpoche was his title but Gyari, I believe, is his family name, just his father was called Gyari Nyima.