KESANG YANGKYI TAKLA

Born in Tibet on September 15th, 1944, Kesang Yangkyi Takla has tirelessly devoted her life to the Tibetan cause. After completing her education at the Gorkha Tibetan School in Lhasa (1953), and then at St. Joseph’s Convent, Kalimpoing in West Bengal (1954-61).

Kesang Takla is one of the longest serving Tibetan woman official in the Exile Tibetan Government. She started working as a secretary and interpreter at the Department of Home and Rehabilitation, Dharamshala (1962-63).

From 1963 to 1966 she served as secretary and interpreter at the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV), Dharamsala.

A list of her foundational education includes: an Indian School Certificate issued by the University of Cambridge, UK; Bachelor of Arts studies at St. Bede’s College, Simla (H.P.), and a Certificate of Distinction in Special Intensive General Administration from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.

In 1967 she married Phuntsok Tashi Takla (1922-1999), the esteemed Tibetan diplomat and scholar who was involved in major changes in the Tibetan history since the 1950’s.

The impressive record of her service to Tibet includes:

  • the administrative secretary and accountant at the Tibetan Children’s Nursery in Shimla (1967-68);
  • the administrative secretary and accountant at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (1970-77);
  • the administrator of Delek Hospital (1978-82); the secretary of the Department of Health (1983-88);
  • representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the London-based Office of Tibet (1989-1997);
  • (the first) representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Taiwan (1997-1999);
  • and the secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations (2000-01).
  • In January 2002, she was re-appointed as the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the Office of Tibet, London, which is the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration for Northern Europe, the Baltic Countries.

In October, 2006 Kesang Y. Takla, the sole woman cabinet minister of the Central Tibetan Administration, was administered the oath of office by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She left her position as His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s representative in the United Kingdom and Northern Europe, and joined Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamsala as the Minister of Health and then the Minister of Information and International Relations.

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