Kundun: A biography of the family of the Dalai Lama - Tapa dura

Tenzin Gyatso, the Dalai Lama – the spiritual and temporal head of Tibet – was ‘discovered’ in 1935 by high-ranking Buddhist monks in the village of Taktser in north-east Tibet. This story has been told before in many books, but less well known is the story of his family, catapulted into fame, and the destiny of each of its members.

The Dalai Lama – the spiritual and temporal head of Tibet – is ‘discovered’ by high-ranking Buddhist monks using ancient and arance methods of divination. In 1935, they found the fourteenth Dalai Lama – Tenzin Gyatso – in the village of Taktser in north-east Tibet. This story has been told before in many books, but less well known is the story of his family, catapulted into fame, and the destiny of each of its members.

Three of the Dalai Lama’s brothers have been recognised as incarnations in their own right. His two sisters set up the Dharamsala Children’s village after the exile from Tibet under Chinese occupation.

As with the Dalai Lama’s own story, and that of his family, this is an epic tale of triumph in adversity.

Mary Craig is a writer, journalist and former broadcaster. Here books include the bestselling Blessings; the portrait of John Paul II, Man From A Far Country; Longford: A Biographical Portrait; Candles in the Dark; and Spark From Heaven.

Her Fount book Tears Of Blood told the story of the fall of Tibet to China, in what amounts to a prequel to Kundun.