Tenzin Tethong
Encyclopedia
Tenzin Namgyal Tethong is a Tibetan political figure and a former Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa
) of Central Tibetan Administration
.
, had started a school. His father was a teacher, and because of a shortage of anyone with knowledge of languages other than Tibetan, Tenzin Tethong and his older brother helped out in many ways. In 1960 when the first children from the road camps and border areas came to Mussooriee he was a part time English teacher for young children his age and also their fellow student in the next Tibetan class.
The following year he went to Shimla
where his father was appointed the Principal for the second Tibetan refugee school. In 1962 his family moved back to Darjeeling where he completed his high school education at Mt. Hermon School graduating with a First Division as a Science Student.
● 1967 -1968: Secretary and translator for the Department of Education
● 1973-1986: Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New York
● 1980: Headed the Second Delegation of Tibetans to Tibet and China
● 1987-1990: Special Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Washington DC
● 1990: One of the first Kalons elected
● 1990-1995: Served as Kalon Tripa (Chief of Cabinet) and Kalon of various portfolios such as Departments of Finance, Home and Information & International Relations
● 1970: He was one of the four convenors of the first Tibetan youth conference in Dharmsala, along with Tenzin Geyche, Sonam Topgyal, Gyari Rinpoche. This conference resulted in the formation of the Tibetan Youth Congress
. He served on its first leadership executive committee. Since then the Tibetan Youth Congress has become one of the most imporant Tibetan organizations in exile and has a worldwide membership of some 30,000..
● 1973-1986: He was also instrumental in the formation of several Tibetan initiatives in North America such U.S. Tibet Committee, Tibetan Associations across the U.S., and Tibet House. At this time he also worked with Congressmen Charlie Rose and other senior staff in the U.S. government to secure the first visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the United States in 1979.
● 1987: During his Holiness’s visit to Washington, when he gave his Five Point Peace plan at the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, he was instructed to stay behind and keep up with the support and interest many members of Congress had for Tibet. As the Special Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Washington, D.C., he would not have been ablt to achieve much with limited resources of the Tibetan government. So he took the initiative to establish the International Campaign for Tibet
(ICT) as a way to be able to have a real presence which works to promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet while working with the US Government and the European Parliament.
● 1987-1990: With the help of dedicated staffers and U.S. Congressional Representatives who support Tibet, he helped to initiate and played a critical role in securing the first 1,000 visas for Tibetans to immigrate the United States, Fulbright scholarship program support for Tibetan students and the creation of Voice of America
’s Tibetan language service.
● 1995: He resigned from government service for personal reasons and moved to the United States. That year, he became the Principal Advisor to the film Seven Years in Tibet
and helped the Screenplay writer and the Director with the contents of the story, and advised on the artistic aspects of the film production adding greatly to the authenticity of the Tibetan scenes, dialogue, body language and the overall story of Tibet as depicted in the film.
● 1996: He was invited as a Visiting Scholar to teach in the History Department of Stanford University
. He taught a course in Tibetan history and contemporary politics, and since was followed by teaching sessions for the Stanford University summer session and Continuing Studies programs. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Tibetan Studies Initiative and Chair of the Tibetan Studies Committee working to establish research and teaching positions at Stanford University.
He also worked actively with Stanford scientists and scholars to organize two visits by His Holiness the Dalai Lama which became important dialogues between Buddhism and Science. These dialogues and subsequent conferences resulted in the establishment of CCARE, Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. These efforts furthers the work of His Holiness the Dalai Lama who has been encouraged scientists to work closely with Buddhist experts and practitioners whose knowledge of the mind and consciousness may have valuable contributions to make to science and society. Tethong is a member of the Executive Committee of CCARE along with Geshe Thupten JInpa, another important member who visits Stanford regularly.
● 2002: Tenzin Tethong was one of the key founding members of The Dalai Lama Foundation, established by students and friends of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The founding members decided to work on His Holiness’ message of ethics and peace as outlined in his book Ethics for the New Millennium.
The DLF started with an initial study guide of "Ethics for the New Millennium" which has been translated in to French, Chinese, Portuguese, German, Spanish, Japanese and Hebrew and it has resulted in hundreds of Study Circles all over the world. The guide has also been downloaded over 30,000 times. Other online courses and educational materials related to peace are available at the foundation website.
The Dalai Lama Foundation also works to develop close relations with other organizations that are engaged in His Holiness’ work for peace in the world, and collaborates with a number of organizations bearing His Holiness’ name; The Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi, The Dalai Lama Center for Peace Education in Vancouver, Canada, and The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in Boston.
(a program he played a key role in establishing) is the President of the Dalai Lama Foundation, and Board Chair of the Committee of 100 for Tibet. In addition to serving as an advisor to the local Tibetan Community Center project, he is co-founder of the Missing Peace art exhibit and recently launched “Tibet in Exile-Fifty Years”, an online documentation effort to commemorate the last fifty years in exile of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people.
Kalon Tripa
The Kalon Tripa, also Tibetan Prime Minister or "Chief Kalon", is the leader of the Kashag or Cabinet, part of the executive branch of the Central Tibetan Administration, a government in exile that claims the territory of the Tibetan Autonomous Region in China...
) of Central Tibetan Administration
Central Tibetan Administration
The Central Tibetan Administration , is an organisation based in India with the stated goals of "rehabilitating Tibetan refugees and restoring freedom and happiness in Tibet". It was established by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1959 shortly after his exile from Tibet...
.
Early life
Tenzin Tethong started his exile life when he accompanied his family to Mussooriee in 1959 where His Holiness the Dalai Lama, months after his arrival from TibetTibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, had started a school. His father was a teacher, and because of a shortage of anyone with knowledge of languages other than Tibetan, Tenzin Tethong and his older brother helped out in many ways. In 1960 when the first children from the road camps and border areas came to Mussooriee he was a part time English teacher for young children his age and also their fellow student in the next Tibetan class.
The following year he went to Shimla
Shimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
where his father was appointed the Principal for the second Tibetan refugee school. In 1962 his family moved back to Darjeeling where he completed his high school education at Mt. Hermon School graduating with a First Division as a Science Student.
Political career
Tenzin N Tethong began his political career in 1967.● 1967 -1968: Secretary and translator for the Department of Education
● 1973-1986: Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New York
● 1980: Headed the Second Delegation of Tibetans to Tibet and China
● 1987-1990: Special Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Washington DC
● 1990: One of the first Kalons elected
● 1990-1995: Served as Kalon Tripa (Chief of Cabinet) and Kalon of various portfolios such as Departments of Finance, Home and Information & International Relations
Social Entrepreneural and Political Initiatives
● 1968: With his brother Tenzin Geyche and friend Sonam Topgyal, Tenzin Tethong started Sheja, the first educational publication in exile, the first Tibetan Non-Governmental initiative. Sheja became a successful and popular publication. While still working with Sheja, Tenzin Tethong also edited and published the Tibetan Review. Both publications became part of the information office of the Tibetan government in exile in 1971.● 1970: He was one of the four convenors of the first Tibetan youth conference in Dharmsala, along with Tenzin Geyche, Sonam Topgyal, Gyari Rinpoche. This conference resulted in the formation of the Tibetan Youth Congress
Tibetan Youth Congress
The Tibetan Youth Congress is an international non-governmental organization that advocates the independence of Tibet from China. With around 30,000 members in the Tibetan diaspora, it is the largest of the pro-independence organizations of Tibetan exiles...
. He served on its first leadership executive committee. Since then the Tibetan Youth Congress has become one of the most imporant Tibetan organizations in exile and has a worldwide membership of some 30,000..
● 1973-1986: He was also instrumental in the formation of several Tibetan initiatives in North America such U.S. Tibet Committee, Tibetan Associations across the U.S., and Tibet House. At this time he also worked with Congressmen Charlie Rose and other senior staff in the U.S. government to secure the first visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the United States in 1979.
● 1987: During his Holiness’s visit to Washington, when he gave his Five Point Peace plan at the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, he was instructed to stay behind and keep up with the support and interest many members of Congress had for Tibet. As the Special Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Washington, D.C., he would not have been ablt to achieve much with limited resources of the Tibetan government. So he took the initiative to establish the International Campaign for Tibet
International Campaign for Tibet
The International Campaign for Tibet is a private non-profit advocacy group working to promote democratic freedoms for Tibetans, ensure their human rights, and protect the Tibetan culture and environment. Founded in 1988, ICT is the world's largest Tibet-related NGO, with a total membership of...
(ICT) as a way to be able to have a real presence which works to promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet while working with the US Government and the European Parliament.
● 1987-1990: With the help of dedicated staffers and U.S. Congressional Representatives who support Tibet, he helped to initiate and played a critical role in securing the first 1,000 visas for Tibetans to immigrate the United States, Fulbright scholarship program support for Tibetan students and the creation of Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
’s Tibetan language service.
● 1995: He resigned from government service for personal reasons and moved to the United States. That year, he became the Principal Advisor to the film Seven Years in Tibet
Seven Years in Tibet
Seven Years in Tibet is an autobiographical travel book written by Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer based on his real life experiences in Tibet between 1944 and 1951 during the Second World War and the interim period before the Communist Chinese People's Liberation Army invaded Tibet in...
and helped the Screenplay writer and the Director with the contents of the story, and advised on the artistic aspects of the film production adding greatly to the authenticity of the Tibetan scenes, dialogue, body language and the overall story of Tibet as depicted in the film.
● 1996: He was invited as a Visiting Scholar to teach in the History Department of Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. He taught a course in Tibetan history and contemporary politics, and since was followed by teaching sessions for the Stanford University summer session and Continuing Studies programs. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Tibetan Studies Initiative and Chair of the Tibetan Studies Committee working to establish research and teaching positions at Stanford University.
He also worked actively with Stanford scientists and scholars to organize two visits by His Holiness the Dalai Lama which became important dialogues between Buddhism and Science. These dialogues and subsequent conferences resulted in the establishment of CCARE, Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. These efforts furthers the work of His Holiness the Dalai Lama who has been encouraged scientists to work closely with Buddhist experts and practitioners whose knowledge of the mind and consciousness may have valuable contributions to make to science and society. Tethong is a member of the Executive Committee of CCARE along with Geshe Thupten JInpa, another important member who visits Stanford regularly.
● 2002: Tenzin Tethong was one of the key founding members of The Dalai Lama Foundation, established by students and friends of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The founding members decided to work on His Holiness’ message of ethics and peace as outlined in his book Ethics for the New Millennium.
The DLF started with an initial study guide of "Ethics for the New Millennium" which has been translated in to French, Chinese, Portuguese, German, Spanish, Japanese and Hebrew and it has resulted in hundreds of Study Circles all over the world. The guide has also been downloaded over 30,000 times. Other online courses and educational materials related to peace are available at the foundation website.
The Dalai Lama Foundation also works to develop close relations with other organizations that are engaged in His Holiness’ work for peace in the world, and collaborates with a number of organizations bearing His Holiness’ name; The Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi, The Dalai Lama Center for Peace Education in Vancouver, Canada, and The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in Boston.
Current Roles
Currently, Tenzin Tethong, a Distinguished Fellow at the Tibetan Studies Initiative, Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
(a program he played a key role in establishing) is the President of the Dalai Lama Foundation, and Board Chair of the Committee of 100 for Tibet. In addition to serving as an advisor to the local Tibetan Community Center project, he is co-founder of the Missing Peace art exhibit and recently launched “Tibet in Exile-Fifty Years”, an online documentation effort to commemorate the last fifty years in exile of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people.