Dharamshala: Kalon Choekying Wangchuk, Department of Health, CTA on Tuesday condoled the demise of the former personal physician of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and renowned Tibetan doctor Yeshi Dhonden who breathed his last at his residence in Mcleodganj at 2:53 AM today.

 

On behalf of the Department of Health, Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk extended his deepest prayers and condolences to Dr Dhonden’s family and friends.

The 93 years old Padma Shri awardee was renowned for his traditional Cancer treatment and served as personal physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for almost twenty years, from 1960 to 1980. Born into a family of peasants on 15 May 1927 in Lhunpo Shol, a region near Ngakar Tse in Lhoka, Tibet. Dr Yeshi Dhonden joined Lhasa Men-tsee-khang at the age of 12 and studied medicine for 9 years.

After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959, he followed His Holiness to India. In March 1961, Dr Yeshi Dhonden was appointed Director and Chief Medical Officer when the Dalai Lama started Men-Tsee-Khang in exile in Dharamshala. Dr Dhonden served in that capacity till 1969.

On 20 March 2018, the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, conferred the Padma Shri of Medicine to Dr Yeshi Dhonden at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for his contributions in the field of medicine through Sowa Rigpa, the traditional Tibetan medicine. Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India. Dr Dhonden officially retired from medical practise on 1 April 2019 due to his old age and health reasons.