Tenzin Tsundue

Tenzin Tsundue is a poet, writer and Tibetan activist. He won the first-ever Outlook-Picador Award for Non-Fiction in 2001. He has published three books to date which have been translated into several languages. Tsundue's writings have also appeared in various publications around the world including the International PEN, Outlook, and The Times of India. In 2002 the Indian edition of the international fashion magazine Elle, named him among India's 50 most stylish people. Tenzin Tsundue joined Friends of Tibet (India) in 1999 and is the current General Secretary.

Tsundue's parents were forced to leave their country, Tibet in 1959 fearing persecution by the PRC. When they reached India, they worked as mountain road construction labourers in Masumari, Bir, Kullu, and Manali. Hundreds of Tibetans who came across into India died in those first few months as they could not bear the heat of summer, and the monsoon caught them in poor health. But the camp lived on and had many shifts along the road. Tsundue was born somewhere along that journey, in a makeshift tent along a roadside. His date of birth is not confirmed, and three different records exist at different offices. He did his schooling in Dharamshala, and later went on to study in universities in Chennai and Mumbai.

His first book of poems Crossing the Border was published pursuing a Masters Degree at Mumbai University. He won the Outlook-Picador Award for Non-Fiction in 2001. His second book, Kora has been translated into French and Malayalam (and was also turned into an award nominated play called "So Many Socks"). His third book, Semshook, a compilation of essays on the Tibetan freedom movement was published in March 2007. His writings have also appeared in on a regular basis in the Indian media and in international publications.

Tsundue has been involved in Tibet's independence movement since his student days. But he caught international media attention in January 2002 when climbed the scaffolding outside the hotel where PRC Premier Zhu Rongji was staying in Mumbai; he displayed a banner with the words ""Free Tibet: China, Get Out" and a Tibetan flag while shouting pro-Tibetan slogans before being arrested by Indian police.

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