DHARAMSHALA, December 30: Former Kalon Tripa Sonam Topgyal passed away early today at his residence in Dharamshala after a prolonged illness. He was 77.
Sikyong Lobsang Sangay and his cabinet colleagues visited the deceased’s home to pay their last respects.
Born in 1935 in Chamdo, Tibet, Sonam Topgyal escaped into exile in 1959 and began his active service with the Central Tibetan Administration in 1971. Rising through the ranks and working mostly with the erstwhile Information Office, now the Department of Information and International Relations, Sonam Topgyal served twice in the exile Tibetan cabinet.
In the 10th Kashag from 1993−1996, Sonam Topgyal served as the minister of the departments of home and health and later as the Chairman of the Cabinet. In the 11th Kashag from June 1996 to August 2001, Sonam Topgyal served as the Kalon Tripa, the de facto Tibetan Prime Minister from April 1997-2001.
Prior to joining CTA, Sonam Topgyal had helped found the Tibetan language Sheja magazine in 1968, which is still in print today. He was one of the four founding members of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest pro-independence group in exile and also helped draft the group’s constitution.
In July 1993, Sonam Topgyal, who was then the secretary of DIIR, visited China along with Kalon Gyalo Thondup to deliver a letter and memorandum on behalf of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan delegation met Wang Caogo, Director of the CPC’s United Front Work Department.
His body will be cremated on Tuesday morning.
He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
