Dalai Lama's last surviving bodyguard dies in US; Tibet govt-in-exile pays glowing tribute

Anen Dawa, last surviving personal bodyguard of Dalai Lama, has passed away at age of 83 in Minnesota, United States, according to Tibetan government-in-exile's official website 'Tibet.net'. He died peacefully with his family by his side on December 27, it ded.

Dawa was asked by Dalai Lama to accompany him

Born in 1939, Anen Dawa was only 15 when he joined personal army of Tibetan spiritual leer in Norbulingka. After four years, he was formally inducted in army and continued to serve as personal guard to Dalai Lama through his schooling in Sera, Drepung and Gen monasteries for next 4 years and particularly, during Lhasa Monlam ceremony when Dalai Lama was receiving Geshe Lharampa Degree in February 1959. 

In most critical turn of events in March 1959, when Tibetan uprising was crushed and threat of Chinese military attacks was ever-growing, on fateful night of March 17 1959, Dalai Lama accompanied by tens of thousands of Tibetans fled into exile to India.

report said that Anen Dawa at risk of his own life fulfilled his duties to ensure safe passage of Tibetan spiritual leer to exile. On arriving safely in India on 31 March, accompanying personal bodyguards and a group of volunteers decided to return to Tibet to mount a resistance against Chinese forces.

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At time as youngest of m, Anen Dawa and anor bodyguard were asked by Dalai Lama to accompany him to Mussourie where he would establish his first residence. In accordance with Dalai Lama’s instructions, he joined Tibetan Homes School founded in Mussourie as one of its first 50 students. After completing schooling, Anen Dawa served CTA dedicatedly in capacity of a translator and facilitator for Tibetan refugees arriving in Nepal.

He n pursued his furr studies in US at Cornell University and later at Boston from where he gruated with distinction. In 1996, he immigrated to Minnesota through resettlement policy and retired from service where he lived for rest of his life. Anen Dawa is survived by his wife Khando Dawa, three children Tseyang, Choewang and Choephel, and granddaughter Zenden.

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