by Gyalrong Tenzin Jinpa
Professor Tsanlha Ngawang Tsültrim Yéshé Drönmé (1930–2025) passed away on February 16, 2025, at the age of 95 in a hospital in Chengdu. His passing marks the loss of a scholar whose enduring legacy will continue to shape our understanding of Tibetan culture, history, and language. Born in 1930 in Tsanlha, Gyalrong, on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, his life was deeply intertwined with the political upheavals, personal struggles, and cultural resilience that defined Tibet in the twentieth century.
Recognized as a tulku from an early age, Professor Ngawang moved to Lhasa to pursue his education in the 1940s, where he quickly established himself as a brilliant debater and one of the top students at Drepung Loserling College. However, disillusioned by the political dynamics within the monastic community and the Lhasa aristocracy, he returned to Gyalrong in 1948, determined to chart a path of his own. In the 1950s, captivated by the promises of justice and equality offered by the Chinese Communist Party, he became involved in their United Front efforts. Yet, the chaos of the Cultural Revolution and the political upheavals that followed led him to reassess his path, turning his focus instead to the preservation of Tibetan culture and heritage, a mission he would carry for the rest of his life.
Under the mentorship of Tibet’s foremost scholars, Mugé Samten and Dungkar Lozang Trinlé, and with the encouragement and inspiration of his classmate Döndrup Gyel — an exceptionally innovative modern Tibetan writer and intellectual of his era — Professor Ngawang emerged as a leading figure in Tibetan studies. Among his many contributions, The Dictionary of Classical Tibetan (1997, 2023) remains a cornerstone of Tibetan language scholarship, an indispensable resource for scholars and students alike. Yet his work transcended lexicography. Driven by an unwavering commitment to preserving the cultural legacy of Gyalrong, he devoted himself to documenting its history, unearthing lost archives, and revitalizing the cultural memory of his homeland. His monumental achievement, the Gyalrong Tibetan History and Culture Series (2017), a 10-volume collection published by Sichuan Minzu Press, ensured that Gyalrong’s rich history would never be lost to time.
In his memoir, The Beggar Lama: The Life of the Gyalrong Kuzhap (2023), Professor Ngawang offered a deeply personal account of his life, navigating the complex intersections of religion, politics, and scholarship. His reflections also found their way into other works, including Small Peoples, Big Histories: Speaking from China’s Margins, a new book project by Tenzin Jinba. This work delves into the deep-rooted issues within Tibetan society—regional and religious divides, and the evolving role of Tibetan Buddhism in the modern world. For instance, Professor Ngawang endured ridicule from the Gelug establishment, who labeled him a “Bönpo lama” for his engagement with Bön history and materials. He saw these internal divisions within Tibetan society as shadows—tumors—that needed urgent self-reflection. He believed that only through such self-critique could Tibetan identity and culture thrive.
Despite the many challenges and disappointments he faced, Professor Ngawang remained steadfast in his belief in the future of Tibetan culture and religions. At times, he expressed a longing for a place where Tibetan spiritual traditions remained intact, even suggesting that he would rather be reborn in Bhutan. Yet he never wavered in his conviction that Tibetan traditions had a vital role to play in the future of humanity, offering profound wisdom and guidance to a world in desperate need. A man of profound contrasts—critical yet hopeful, disillusioned yet unwaveringly dedicated to preserving Tibetan heritage—his legacy will resonate for generations to come.
Professor Ngawang’s life was a testament to resilience, intellectual rigor, and an unyielding commitment to the survival of Tibetan culture. As a tulku, scholar, revolutionary, and above all, a guardian of Tibetan heritage, he faced enormous challenges yet remained undeterred in his efforts to preserve the Tibetan language, history, and traditions. His tireless work, scholarly contributions, and enduring spirit have left an indelible mark. His memory will continue to inspire future generations, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of all those who share in the struggle to protect cultural identities in an ever-changing world.
Selected works
Btsan lha Ngag dbang Tshul khrims. 1997. Brda dkrol gser gyi me long/Guzangwen cidian 古藏文辭典 [The Dictionary of Classical Tibetan]. Beijing: Minzu Chubanshe; updated edition, 2023.
———. 2009. A Lexicon of the Rgyalrong Btsanlha Dialect: Rgyalrong-Chinese-Tibetan-English. Osaka: National Museum of Ethnology.
———, ed. 2020. Rgyal rong yul skad zhib ‘jug/Zangyu Jiarong Fangyan 藏語嘉絨方言研究 [Research on the Tibetan Gyalrong Dialect]. Chengdu: Sichuan Minzu Chubanshe.
Seng ge ‘bum, Btsan lha Ngag dbang Tshul khrims, Tsheng dbang, Bstan ’dzin sbyin pa, and Nam mkha’ tshul khrims, eds. 2017. Shar rgyal mo tsha ba rong gi lo rgyus dang rig gnas dpe tshogs/Jiarong Zangzu Lishi Wenhua Congshu 嘉絨藏族歷史文化叢書 [Gyalrong Tibetan History and Culture Series]. Chengdu: Sichuan Minzu Chubanshe.