Lobsang Wangyal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lobsang Wangyal
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Lobsang Wangyal, 2006
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| Born | 1970 (age 54–55) |
| Education | BA 1995, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh |
| Occupation | Photojournalist, Events producer, Web producer |
Lobsang Wangyal was born in 1970. He is a writer, social activist, and photojournalist. He also produces many events. Lobsang lives in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, India. For many years, he worked as a reporter and photographer for Agence France-Presse.
Lobsang Wangyal started his own company, Lobsang Wangyal Productions. Since 2000, he has created many Tibetan cultural events. His most famous event is the yearly Miss Tibet Pageant. He also runs a news website called Tibet Sun, which he started in 2008. Many people see him as a very important person in Tibetan popular culture outside Tibet.
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Lobsang Wangyal's Life Story
Lobsang was born in 1970 in Orissa, India. He grew up in a small village for Tibetan refugees. His father, Tsering Tendhar, was from Kham in eastern Tibet. His mother, Tsering Dolkar, was from southern Tibet. Both of his parents were teenagers when they escaped from Tibet in 1959. This was during the Chinese uprising in their country.
Lobsang went to the Central School for Tibetans in Mussoorie. He then studied at a college in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. He earned his BA degree in 1995. Since 1994, he has been working as a photojournalist.
In 1997, he helped start the Association of Tibetan Journalists. He was the president of this group for two terms. This was from 2004 to 2009.
Lobsang became an event producer in 2000. He started with the Free Spirit Festival. In 2002, he produced the first Miss Tibet Pageant. He has produced many more events, mostly in McLeod Ganj. He even produced a film festival in Hawaii. He often uses money from his photojournalism work to fund his events. In October 2003, he produced a show for Prince Charles. This was a big moment in his career.
Besides his main work, Lobsang is also a dancer and a graphics designer. He also creates websites.
Lobsang Wangyal: Photographer and Journalist
Lobsang has been a photojournalist since 1994. He learned photography and journalism mostly by himself. Friends and visitors in McLeod Ganj taught him some photography skills. He then made news photography his main job. Many of his photos appear in stories for Agence France-Presse.
His pictures are also in books like Little Lhasa: Reflections on Exiled Tibet. Another book is Tibet in Exile, published in 2002. His work was also shown in the "Five Candles Photography Exhibition" in 2000. This exhibition was at the Prince of Wales Museum in India. You can see more of Lobsang Wangyal's photos online at LobsangWangyal.com Photography. They are also in news stories on TibetSun.com.
Lobsang Wangyal: Producer and Director
Lobsang Wangyal started his work as a producer in 2000. He created his company, Lobsang Wangyal Productions. His first event was the Free Spirit Festival. This festival celebrated modern Tibetan arts and culture.
His longest-running event began in 2002. This is the Miss Tibet Pageant. It gives young Tibetan women a chance to show their talents. This event has happened every year since then.
Lobsang also thought of the Miss Himalaya Pageant in 2010. He produced the first event in October 2012.
Other events he created include the Tibetan Music Awards. These awards happen every two years. He also started the Free Spirit Film Festival. In 2003, he began the Free Spirit Award. This award honors artists and people who support the Tibetan cause. It also recognizes those who work for world peace and environmental issues.
He has also produced special events. One was a film festival in Hawaii in January 2007. In October 2003, he produced a show for Prince Charles. This show was at the Tibetan camp Majnu ka Tilla in Delhi. His biggest project was the Tibetan Olympics 2008. This event took place in Dharamshala, India.
His events have grown to include places around the world. "Sing for Tibet" was first held in McLeod Ganj, Brussels, and New York in 2010. It has been held yearly in different cities since then. He is also planning a Tibet Fashion Week in Paris.
Lobsang mostly funds all his productions himself. He uses money from his own work as a photojournalist.
Other Activities and Appearances
Lobsang Wangyal's Writing
- Choosing The Next Dalai Lama: Chinese Checkers Over Reincarnation (2 April 2019) at SNIWire.com.
- Opinion pieces, features, and interviews at TibetSun.com.
Lobsang Wangyal in Films
- He played the "Love Guru" in the movie Richard Gere is My Hero. This film was made by Tashi Wangchuk in 2007.
- He appeared as a "long-haired sweater-seller" in Dreaming Lhasa. This movie was made by Tenzing Sonam and Ritu Sarin in 2005.
- He appeared as himself in Tibetan Warrior. This film is about Loten Namling's journey. It was made by Dodo Hunziker in 2015.
- He also appeared as himself in Miss Tibet: Beauty in Exile. This film was made by Norah Shapiro in 2014.
Interviews by Lobsang Wangyal
- He has interviewed many important people connected to Tibet. These include Samdhong Rinpoche and TYC President Tenzing Jigme. He also interviewed author and photographer Vijay Kranti. All these interviews are on TibetSun.com.
- Lobsang has also been interviewed and featured many times on Voice of America.
Lobsang Wangyal's Social Service
- Speaking: He often speaks about environmental and social issues at his events.
- Free Spirit Award: He gives a Free Spirit Award every year. This award goes to chosen social or environmental activists.
- Indian Passport for Tibetans: In 2016, he started a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). This was to help Tibetan refugees in India get Indian citizenship. Phuntsok Wangyal and Tenzin Dhonden joined him in this effort. On September 22, 2016, they won the case. The Delhi High Court agreed with them. It ordered that all Tibetans who meet the rules for being Indian citizens by birth should be treated as Indians. They should also be given passports if they apply.
