Obituary: Lobsang P Lhalungpa

Wednesday, 7 May 2008, 2:25 p.m.

Lobsang P Lhalungpa, who established the first Tibetan language
programme of All India Radio and dedicated his service to the
preservation of Tibetan Buddhism and culture, died on 28 April, aged 82

Lobsang P Lhalungpa (1926-2008)

Dharamshala: Lobsang P
Lhalungpa will be remembered for his pioneering role in establishing
the first Tibetan language programme of All India Radio and for his
dedicated service to the promotion and preservation of Tibet’s rich
spiritual and cultural tradition.

He died of internal injuries suffered as a result of a car
accident in Santa Fe in New Mexico, on 28 April. The funeral service
was conducted on 1 May. On 4 May, a group of monks from Drepung
Loseling monastery led a memorial service, attended by a mixed group of
some 400 people from the Tibetan communities in Sante Fe and
Alberquerque.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, through his representative based in office
of Tibet in New York, conveyed a condolence message and prayers to the
bereaved family members over the sad demise of Lobsang Lhalungpa.

His Holiness the Dala Lama said he was saddened to hear about the demise of Mr Lhalungpa in a fatal car accident.

His Holiness said: “Your late father will be remembered for his
pioneering role in establishing the first Tibetan language programme of
All India Radio and for his dedicated life service to the promotion and
preservation of our rich spiritual and cultural tradition. He also did
much in helping Tibetan refugee communities at a very difficult time in
their early years of exile. In his passing way, we have lost a great
patriot and scholar.”

Lobsang Lhalungpa translated extensively over the past 40 years
for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and also translated his English
speeches into Tibetan. “Many of Lobsang’s books were introduced with a
short preface by His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” said Danny Fisher.

He is survived by his widow, Gisela, and his children.