Rinchen Dharlo

Rinchen Dharlo served as the Dalai Lama’s representative in Nepal for a decade, during which time he established Tibetan schools and refugee committees. He authored three books, including Wandering Offspring of Nyanang Tsongdu, a guide to Buddhist sites in Nepal, and History of Tibetan Refugees in Nepal.

From 1987 to 1997, Mr. Dharlo coordinated 18 visits of the Dalai Lama across the Americas, fostering relationships with governments and Tibet support groups. He co-chaired the Tibetan-U.S. Resettlement Project, successfully resettling 1,000 refugees and helping to establish Tibetan associations throughout the United States.

Mr. Dharlo was involved in numerous global initiatives, serving on the International Campaign for Tibet, Tibet House, and the Temple of Understanding boards. He co-founded the Global Forum of Spiritual Parliamentarians in 1988 and collaborated with the U.N.’s Environmental Program. As president of the Tibet Fund, he managed multimillion-dollar grants for Tibetan communities in exile and Tibet. He also led the Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture, which, in partnership with the Smithsonian, organized the 2000 Tibetan Culture Festival in Washington, D.C., attracting 1.5 million attendees.