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
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.
