Dalai Lama's Elder Brother, Who Headed Talks With China, Dies At 97

Thondup was 97 and had been suffering from age-related ailments for a long time. He lived with his two sons and their families near St Philomena’s School in Kalimpong.

The funeral will take place on Tuesday morning.

The Dalai Lama presided over a memorial prayer service for Thondup at Tashi Lhunpo monastery in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, on Sunday.

Born in 1928 at Taktser village in the Amdo region of Tibet, Thondup was the second-eldest among the Tibetan spiritual leader’s six siblings. He played a key role in the movement for Tibet’s freedom, interacting with many global leaders on behalf of his brother, the Tibetan Regional Association said in a statement.