Namgyal Wangchuk Trichen Lhagyari is the only living descendent of Söngtsen Gampo, the first Dharma King of Tibet. Namgyal was coronated as a Tibetan King by the 14th Dalai Lama when he was only 12 years old. He talked to KidzEra about what it feels like to be a 17-year-old king and what his Tibetan heritage means to him.
Exiled King Namgyal (far right) with fellow Tibetans (image courtesy of
BYkids.org)
I am Namgyal Wangchuk Trichen Lhagyari
. My country is Tibet, but I was born in India. My father was a descendent of the Tibetan Dharma Kings. I heard about my historic and magnificent motherland (Tibet) from my parents and school. My ancestors did so many good things for Tibetan people. I want to help Tibetan people as my ancestors did, but for me it’s really difficult. Right now I’m here as a refugee. I feel scared sometimes; I have such a big responsibility to work for Tibet.