SIKKIM

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The Namgyal Dynasty

GENEALOGY

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1874 - 1914 H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharaja Sir Thutob Namgyal [mThu-stobs rNam-rgyal], Maharaja of Sikkim, KCIE (12.12.1911). b. at Chumbi, Tibet, 1860, fifth son of H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharaja Tsugphud Namgyal [gTsug-phud rNam-rgyal], Maharaja of Sikkim, by his fifth wife, H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharani Menchi, educ. privately. Succeeded on the death of his half brother, April 1874. Crowned at Chumbi, Tibet. Opposed by certain leading figures who regarded his disfigurement (hare-lip) as an ill omen which disqualified him from kingship. Invested with a banner, medal and ring on behalf of the Queen Empress Victoria in 1877. The Tibetans invaded Sikkim in 1886, concluded a treaty with the maharaja and constructed a fort at Lingtu. However, a British expeditionary force entered Sikkim, finally expelling them from the country following a decisive defeat on 24th September 1888. The Anglo-Chinese Tibet Sikkim Convention of 17th March 1890 fixed the border between the two countries. A British resident was appointed to Sikkim in 1889, but unable to maintain good relations with the Maharaja, the ruler fled to Tibet in 1892. Exiled from Sikkim to British India 1893-1895. Returned to Sikkim as undisputed ruler in 1895, and removed his capital from Tumlong to Gangtok. He provided a labour corps, interpreters and guides to the Younghusband Tibet Mission in 1903-1904. Invested with a banner, medal and ring on behalf of the Queen Empress Victoria in 1877. Invested with a plain coral button of the 1st rank by the Emperor of China in 1879. Granted a hereditary salute of 15-guns. Joint author of “Bras-ljongs rgyal-rabs”, or “History of the Kingdom of Sikkim” (1908). Patron Buddhist Shrines Restoration Soc Central Cttee 1906-1914, etc. Rcvd: KIH (1.1.1877) and Delhi Durbar (1.1.1903 & 11.12.1911) gold medals. m. (first) at Chumbi, Tibet, 1874, H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharani Pending (d. in childbirth, at Tumlong Palace, 1880), wdow of his half-brother H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharaja Sidkeong Namgyal. m. (second) at Lhasa, Tibet, 1883, H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharani Yeshay Dolma Lha-sdings Ye-shes sGrol-ma] (joint wife with Thinley Namgyal, Lhase Kusho, grandson of H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharaja Tsungphud Namgyal - see above, she d. 1912), exiled to British India with her husband 1893-1895, joint author of “Bras-ljongs rgyal-rabs”, or “History of the Kingdom of Sikkim” (1908), elder daughter of Shiafe Uthok, a member of the Lhading House of Lhasa. m. (third) at the Royal Chapel, Tsuk-La-Khang Monastery, Gangtok, 29th August 1912, H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharani Kesang La [G.yu thog Skal bzang lags] (d.s.p. in Tibet, after 1919), the younger sister of H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharani Yeshay Dolma, and younger daughter of Shafe Uthok, a member of the Lhading House of Lhasa. He d. at the Royal Palace, Park Ridge, Gangtok, 11th February 1914, having had issue, three sons and three daughters:
  • 1) Prince (Gyalsey) Karma Dadul Namgyal [karma dgra-‘dul rNam-rgyal] [Gyantse Kusho], Raja Tshodrok [Tsotra] of Taring. b. 1877 as (s/o Rani Pending), educ. privately a Lhasa. Taken by his unclee Lhase Kusho when he fled to Tibet in 1882, where he received the Taring estate near Gyantse from the Dalai Lama in 1893, and the Dopta estate from the Chogyal. Banned from entering Sikkim 21st February 1899 and removed from the succession, by the British authorities, for refusing to leave Tibetan territory and reside permanently within Sikkim. Granted the personal title of Raja, by the King-Emperor George V, 2nd January 1922. m. Rani Taring Lhacham Kusho (d. after a fall, a Lhasa, 1960), a lady from the Dode family in Gyantse. He d. at Gyantse, Tibet, late 1947, having had issue, three sons and four daughters (and one further child d. before 1920):
    • a) General (De-pon) Prince (Gyalsey) Jigme Samten Wangpo Taring Dzasa [Taring Sey Kusho]. b. at Taring, Tibet, 1908, educ. St Paul’s Sch, Darjeeling, and Gunnery Sch, Gyatse. Cmsnd into the Tibet Army 1933, De-tshap 1934, prom Gen (De-pon) 1936, 2nd-in-command Trapchi Regt 1936-1937, Treasurer 1938, Chief Architect of Lhasa and Officer-in-charge PWD 1938, Assist Foreign Affairs Bureau 1950, English Interpreter Tibetan Mission to China 1950, went into exile in India 1959, Principal Central Sch for Tibetans at Mussoorie 1960-1967, Dir Council for Tibetan Education 1967-1973, Minister for Education in the Tibetan Govt in Exile. m. at Taring, 1930, Rinchen Dolma [Mary Taring] (b. at the Tsarong House, Lhasa, 1910; d. at Taring House, Rajpur, India, 29th July 2000), educ. Mount Hermon Sch, Darjeeling, Vice-Chair & Gen-Sec Lhasa Patriotic Women’s Assoc 1952, English teacher at the Central Sch for Tibetans at Mussoorie 1960, Gen-Sec Tibetan Homes Foundation 1959-1973, Presdt Tibetan Women’s Centre, Adviser Tibet Fndn. (London), etc., author of "Daughter of Tibet" (1970, revised 1986), third wife of General (De-pon) H.E. Dasang Damdul Tsarong Pola [Chensal Namgang], sometime C-in-C of the Tibetan Army and Shap-pe, daughter of H.E. Tsarong Wangchuk Gyalpo, sometime Shap-pe, by his wife, Yangchen Dolma [Tsarong Lhacham Kusho], from the Yuthok family, descendants of the 10th Dalai Lama Tsultrim Gyatso. He d. at Taring House, Rajpur, India, 1991, having had issue, two daughters.
      • i) Princess (Semla) Ngodup Wangmo [Peggy Taring]. b. 1935 as Dondup Dolma and renamed in 1944. m. 1953, General (De-pon) Tenzin Dondup, sometime Sampo Dapon, imprisoned by the Chinese 1959-1961 & 1969-1979, son of General H.E. (De-pon) Samdup Phodang, sometime Shap-pe, from the family of the 7th Dalai Lama. She had issue, three sons:
        • (1) Tenzin Wangdu. b. 1955. m. Lhaki. He has issue, one son and one daughter:
          • (a) Tenzin Thogme. b. 1982.
          • (a) Tsering Dolkar. b. in India, 1985.>
        • (2) Tenzin Gyurme. b. 1958, educ. UK. Settled in Canada. m. Tsering Yangki, from a Tibetan family settled in Canada.
        • (3) Tenzin Namgyal. b. 196x.
      • ii) Princess (Semla) Yangchen Dolkar [Betty Taring]. b. 1937, educ. National Minorities’ Sch, Peking, China. English teacher at the Central Sch for Tibetans at Mussoorie 1960. m. at Lhasa, February 1958, Kalsang Thubten, son of Tekhang. She had issue, one daughter:
        • (1) Tsering Chodan. b. 1958. Settled in Colorado, USA 1995. m. Tsering Chophel Chokteng. She has issue, one son and one daughter:
          • (a) Tenzin Namdol Chokteng. b. at Dehradun, 1981.
          • (a) Tenzin Deki Chokteng. b. at Dehradun, 1982, educ. Colorado Sch of Mines, Boulder, Colorado, USA.
    • b) Prince (Gyalsey) Chhime Dorje Taring, of Dopta. b. at Taring, Tibet, 1910. m. (first) at Taring, 1930, Princess Changchup Dolma [Daisy Taring] (b. at the Tsarong House, Lhasa, 1912; d. from chronic dysentery, at Taring, 1931), youngest daughter of daughter of H.E. Tsarong Wangchuk Gyalpo, sometime Shap-pe, by his wife, Yangchen Dolma. m. (second) 1935, Dekyong Wangmo (b. 1914), eldest daughter of Delek Rabden Theji, from a leading aristocratic family of Shigatse, a senior official of the Panchen Lama, by his wife, Norbu Yudon, daughter of H.E. Tsarong Wangchuk Gyalpo, sometime Shap-pe. He had issue, two sons and three daughters:
      • i) Prince (Gyalsey) Wangdu Tsering. b. 1945.
      • ii) T.K. Lochen Rimpoche. b. 1953. Recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of Shugsep Jetsun Lochen Rimpoche 1959. Mbr National Cmsn for Minorities.
      • i) Princess (Semla) Longsela. b. 1936. m. Dompo Shapto.
      • ii) Princess (Semla) Yeshey Wangmo. b. 1938.
      • iii) Princess (Semla) Tseyang-la. b. 1940.
    • c) Prince (Gyalsey) Rigzin Namgyal. b. at Taring, Tibet, 1929, educ. St Paul’s Sch, Darjeeling. m. Tseyang Yangzom [Betty-la], educ. Mount Hermon Sch, Darjeeling, English teacher at the Central Sch. for Tibetans at Mussoorie 1960-1961, and an announcer with the Tibetan service of All-India Radio, daughter of General (De-pon) H.E. Dasang Damdul Tsarong Pola [Chensal Namgang], sometime C-in-C of the Tibetan Army and Shap-pe, by his wife, Rinchen Dolma [Mary Taring], daughter of H.E. Tsarong Wangchuk Gyalpo, sometime Shap-pe. He had issue, two sons and two daughters:
      • i) Prince (Gyalsey) Jigme Namgyal. b. 1951. m. Tsering Dolma, daughter of Yapshi Langdun. He had issue, one son and two daughters:
        • (1) Prince (Gyalsey) Tsering Wangchuk.
        • (1) Princess (Semla) Tseki.
        • (2) Princess (Semla) Nordon.
      • ii) Prince (Gyalsey) Tenzin Norbu Namgyal [Tenor Taring]. b. 1956. Settled in Fairfax, Virginia, USA. m. Sonam Dolma Ponritsang. He has issue, one son and one daughter:
        • (1) Prince (Gyalsey) Jigme Namgyal Taring. b. 1995, educ. James Madison Univ, Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA,
        • (1) Princess (Semla) Rigzin Chodon Taring. b. 1991, educ. Virginia Commonwealth Univ, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
      • i) Princess (Semla) Nordon. b. 1949. m. Minu. She d. in childbirth, 1980, having had issue, two daughters:
        • (1) Shilok. b. 1975, educ. Welham Girls’ Sch, Dehradun.
        • (2) Meli. b. 1980.
      • ii) Princess (Semla) Kungsang. b. 1952. m. Konchok Gyaltsen, son of Yapshi Lhabu. She had issue, two sons:
        • (1) Tsetan Dorje, educ. Tibetan Children’s Village, Dharmsala.
        • (2) Dorje Gyaltsen.
    • a) Princess (Semla) Rigzin Bhuti [Rakashar Lhacham Kusho]. Vice-Chair Lhasa Patriotic Women’s Assoc 1952-1959. m. General (De-pon) Phuntso Rabgye Rakashar [phun-tshogs rab-rgyas ra-kha-shar] (b. 1904), entered Tibet gov. service 1921, Sec. to the Kashag 1928-1932, Dzongpon of Tsona 1933-1937, Investigating Officer 1937-1937, Dzasa 1938, C-in-C 1940-1942, Deputy Cdr Lhasa Miliary HQ 1952, and Shap-pe, son of General (De-pon) Medrak Rakashar [mdo-mkhar-sras ra-kha-shar], of Tibet. She had issue, three sons and one daughter:
      • i) Rakashar Tsetop.
      • ii) Rakashar Tseten. Copyright© Christopher Buyers
      • iii) Rakashar Cham Kusho.
      • i) Yangchen Dolkar. m. Dudul Namgyal (b. 1920), son of General (De-pon) H.E. Namgang Dasang Damdul Tsarong Pola, sometime C-in-C of the Tibetan Army and Shap-pe, by his wife, Pema Dolkar, daughter of H.E. Tsarong Wangchuk Gyalpo, sometime Shap-pe. She had issue, three sons and two daughters.
    • b) Princess (Semla) Kalden Wangmo [Kyipup Lhacham Kusho]. m. 1935, Wangdi Norbhu Kyipup II (b. 1896), educ. Rugby Sch., Warwickshire, and Indian Engineering Coll, Roorkee, India, Officer-in-charge Lhasa Telegraph Office, Dzongpon of Ze, City Magistrate at Lhasa 1935-1942, Officer-in-charge Tibetan Government estate at Huyu Lingka in Shang 1942-1944, prom. Le-tsenpa (5th rank) 1944, English Interpreter to the Keshag and Foreign Bureau 1945-1950, prom. 4th rank 1949, second son of Sonam Tobgye Kyipuk, Kyipup Kusho, sometime Tibetan Trade Agent at Yatung. She had issue, four children.
    • c) The third and youngest daughter became a nun.
    • d) The youngest daughter. m. Numa. She had issue, two sons and two daughters.
  • 2) Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharajkumar Sidkeong Tulku Namgyal, who succeeded as H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharaja Sidkeong Tulku Namgyal [Srid-skyong Sprul-sku rNam-gyal], Maharaja of Sikkim (s/o Pending) - see below.
  • 3) Prince (Gyalsey) Tashi Namgyal, who succeeded as H.H. Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Maharaja Tashi Namgyal [bKra-shis rNam-gyal], Maharaja of Sikkim (s/o Yeshay Dolma) - see below.
  • 1) Princess (Semla) Namgyal Dolma. b. 1876 (d/o Pending). She d. in Tibet, 1901.
  • 2) Princess (Semla) Kunzang Wang-mo. b. 1889 (d/o Yeshay Dolma). She d. 1914.
  • 3) Princess (Semla) Chuni Wang-mo [Rani Chuni Wangmo Dorji]. b. at Gangtok, 1897 (d/o Yeshay Dolma), educ. privately. Styled Her Royal Highness Mayum Chonying Wangmo Dorji in Bhutan. Presdt Sikkim Education Brd. Vice-Presdt SRIT General Council 1964-1965. Designer of the Bhutan national flag adopted in 1947. Rcvd: Coron Medal (4.4.1965) of Sikkim, and King Jigme Singye Wangchuck Coron Medal 1st class of Bhutan (2.6.1974). m. at Bhutan House, Kalimpong, 5th April 1918, Raja Sonam Tobgye Dorji, CIE (b. 1896; d. September 1953), sometime Agent for Foreign Relations for the King of Bhutan, Royal Chamberlain and Governor of Ha, son of Ugyen Dorji, Gongzim. She d. at Bhutan House, Kalimpong, India, 26th March 1994, having had issue, three sons and two daughters - see Bhutan.
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