Reported by Palden
Edited by Pema Tso
Transalted by Choegyal Kyab
Professor Tsenlha Ngawang Tsultrim, a distinguished Tibetan historian, passed away at 8:50 PM on February 16. He was 96.
The news of his death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from Tibet’s intellectual community, with writers, poets, and scholars across the region mourning the loss of one of their most respected academic figures.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across the Tibetan literary community. Writer Dhi Lhaden, who spent four years in Chinese prison, expressed his deep concern:”As these great beings age and depart, I often feel an overwhelming sense that we face an impending crisis. A periodic sadness continuously arises in my heart. However, this might just be me making mountains out of molehills. May the noble one depart in peace. I pray for an unobstructed path.”
Recently released poet Palgon, who regained freedom late last year, offered a poignant tribute: “A great pillar that bore the joys and sorrows of the Snow Land has fallen. How sad.”
A Tibetan from inside Tibet wrote: “As each white snow wing falls with a crashing sound, I spontaneously feel fear, wondering if the flock of birds suffering in the cold wind might freeze to death.”
Another Tibetan from inside Tibet wrote: “In these times when our language and cultural continuity hang by such a thin thread, we desperately need elevated beings like him who possessed unwavering courage in embracing exceptional culture, and who always held in their hearts the profound understanding that language and writing are crucial for connecting the roots of our people.”
Prominent figures in Tibet’s literary circle, including the acclaimed writer Shokjang and respected poet Kyabchen Dedrol, have also shared their condolences on WeChat.
Professor Tsenlha Ngawang Tsultrim was born in Tsenlha, Gyalmo Tsawa Rong, Tibet in 1930. He became a professor at the Southwest University for Nationalities in 1977 and was awarded the title of Distinguished Professor in 1989. He retired in 1997.
His works include “The Golden Mirror of Grammar Analysis,” “Collected Research Papers on Gyalrong,” “Dictionary of Gyalrong Dialect,” “Comparative Analysis of Amdo and Gyalrong Dialects,” “Collected Research Papers of Tsenlha Ngawang Tsultrim,” and “History and Culture of Gyalrong” (in Chinese).
His translations include “The Unique Historical Volume of Lang Lineage,” “The Testament Chronicle,” and “The Pleasant Mirror of Tibetan History.”
In terms of classical text compilations, he worked on “Seven Narrators of the Gesar Epic,” “The Copper-Coloured Mountain of Glory of the Gesar Epic,” “The History of Jonang,” and “Supplement to the History of Jonang,” among others, which are widely acclaimed throughout Tibet.
