Tibetan Minister For Education, Religion & Culture Speaks at The Tibet House in New York City.
Sonam Topgyal, Joint Secretary, Tibetan Youth Congress of NY and NJ.

Kalon Thupten Lungrig, Minister for Religion & Culture as well as Education in the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, paid a visit to the Tibet House in New York City on September 28^th 2003.  Kalon Lungrig addressed the Tibetan people who were gathered at the Tibet House. 

Mr. Nawang Rabgyal, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, introduced Kalon Lungrig.  Kalon’s every word was listened by the audience very attentively - as his talk was very informative.  It was perhaps for the first time that many misunderstandings in our Tibetan community were cleared by his speech. 

Audience very much appreciated the Kalon’s humorous, yet straightforward, way of delivering his speech.  In addition to explaining his and other Kalons’ responsibilities he also spoke in clarity about the controversies surrounding the practice of Shugden.

The clarification on the four referendums exemplified by His Holiness The Dalai Lama was a model.  He said, "Although His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s approach in middle path is highly supported by the Tibetans, every Tibetan has the right to choose his or her own path.  Just as Tibetan Youth Congress holds firm on its principle of Tibet’s complete independence other Tibetans have a say in their own chosen way.  But staff working under the Tibetan government in exile should hold the same path as that of the government based on the moral obligation”.  

After the conclusion of the Kalon’s talk, the floor opened for questions from the public.  A very important matter of opening a school in the United States was brought up for which the Kalon candidly replied that he can’t give an answer now but he would bring the topic to Dharamasala for further discussions.

Following the end of activities at the Tibet House, Tibetan Community of NY & NJ, Tibetan Youth Congress of NY & NJ and Tibetan Women's Association of NY & NJ invited Kalon Thupten Lungrig for a dinner reception at Tibetan Kitchen.  Mr. Lodi Gyari joined Kalon Lungrig at the dinner reception.  At the request of Dr. Ngawang Rabgyal, representative of H.H. The Dalai Lama, Mr. Gyari addressed them at the dinner. Mr. Gyari said that the present exiled government works to be true democratic institution. He suggested that should any organization invite him to speak either to the Tibetan public or to the working executive members he would gladly accept the invitation and have direct symposium with the concerned organization.  President of the TYC of NY & NJ also acknowledged the Kalon Lungrig and Mr. Gyari with brief report of our five and half months work.  

Kalon Thupten Lungrig was born in Amdo, northeastern Tibet, in 1957. He obtained his Acharya degree in 1981 from the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Varanasi, India.

He subsequently underwent Teachers' Training Course and then taught at the Tibetan Children's Village School in Dharamsala. In 1993 he was promoted as the Director of the Tibetan Children's Village School in Suja.

In 1996 he was one of three members appointed to the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies (ATPD), Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The ATPD, in turn, elected him as its Vice-chairperson. In 2001 he was elected to the ATPD and became its Chairperson.

In 2002, Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche chose him to be a member of his cabinet. Kalon Thupten Lungrig heads the Department of Religion & Culture as well as the Department of Education.