Kelsang Dorjee "Kaydor" Aukatsang is a Tibetan politician and candidate for the Central Tibetan Administration office of Sikyong.[2] Kaydor was a close aide of the previous Sikyong, Dr. Lobsang Sangay, under whom he held various official positions including, the role of North America representative for the Dalai Lama,[3][4] Chief Resilience Officer of the Central Tibetan Administration and the Director of the Social and Resource Development Fund (SARD).[5]
Kaydor Aukatsang | |
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| Born | Kelsang Dorjee Aukatsang 1968 (age 55–56) |
| Nationality | Tibetan |
| Education | St. Augustine's School, Kalimpong St Joseph's Academy, Dehradun |
| Alma mater | St. Stephen's College, Delhi (BA) Tufts University (MA) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Spouse | Lhanze Nelung Aukatsang |
| Parent(s) | Jampa Kalden, former CTA Secretary of the Department of Security[1] |
| Relatives | Youdon Aukatsang |
Early life
editAukatsang was born in Kalimpong in 1968. He was the son of Jampa Kalden Aukatsang, former Secretary of the Department of Security, CTA; and Dickyi Dolkar. Growing up, he attended SFF Tibetan School, Chakrata; St. Augustine's School, Kalimpong; and St Joseph's Academy, Dehradun.[6]
Education
editFrom 1973 to 1975, studied at SFF Tibetan School, Chakrata, India, then, from 1975 to 1986, studied at St. Augustine’s School, Kalimpong, India; and from 1986 to 1988, he studied at St Joseph's Academy, Dehradun, India;[7] In 1991, Aukatsang graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the prestigious St. Stephen's College, Delhi.[8]
From 1996 to 1998, he studied at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, Boston, USA, with a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD), focusing on international business relations and China studies. The course content includes finance, international business strategy and Chinese foreign policy (MALD).[8]
Career
editAukatsang has served a plethora of roles within various communities in the Tibetan diaspora including President of the Capital Area Tibetan Association,[9] as well as President of the Tibetan Association of Northern California and Assistant to the Tibet Secretary-General Lobsang Sangay.[10][11]
Within the CTA, Aukatsang held the roles of Special Advisor to the Sikyong, Representative of the Dalai Lama to North America, and Chief Resilience Officer of the CTA and the Director of the Social and Resource Development Fund (SARD) under incumbent Sikyong Lobsang Sangay’s administration.[12] During his role as SARD officer, he managed to secure substantial grants and financial aids from USA and Canadian government for the CTA's coffers.[13]
He was also previously a member of the Initial Steering Committee for the Global Philanthropy Forum, board member for the Tibet Justice Center, and International Advisory Committee member of The Mountain Institute. There, he participated in the 29th, 30th, 31st and 32nd meetings of the Task Force on Sino-Tibetan Dialogue as a Special Guest. Other positions he has held include Trustee of the Dalai Lama Trust (2013-2019), Honorary Chairman of Tibet House US (2013-2016), International Advisory Committee member of The Mountain Institute (2009-2012), Co-Chair of the Grantmakers Without Borders (2001–2003), Board member of Tibet Justice Center (2003-2004), Member of Initial Steering Committee of Global Philanthropy Forum (2001-2003).[14]
Sikyong campaign
editOn September 2, 2020, Aukatsang announced his candidacy for the office of Sikyong.[15] After the primary election on January 8, Aukatsang has become one of the two leaders in the primary election. The top two candidates will go to the second round of voting in April.[16] On December 4, 2020 , Aukatsang confirmed that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, briefly halting his campaign.[17] His rival Penpa Tsering, who leans on Middle Way policy and conservative section of the society, won the presidential race in May 2021.[18]
Post election activities
editOn 30 August 2021, Kaydor Aukatsang penned an article titled " Crisis of Leadership and Democracy in Peril" He is currently a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council.[19]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "CTA Mourns Passing Away of Former Secretary Jampa Kalden la". Central Tibetan Administration. 26 December 2012.
- ^ "Former NA representative Kaydor Aukatsang joins race for Sikyong 2021". 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Kaydor Aukatsang Appointed New Representative for Office of Tibet, New York". Central Tibetan Administration. 23 May 2013.
- ^ "Liberty Medal | Constitution Center". National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ "Staff – Sard Fund". sardfund.org.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "My journey". www.kaydor4sikyong.org. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ a b "My Sikyong candidate: The alchemy of great vision .:. Tibet Sun". www.tibetsun.com.
- ^ "Board Members". cata.
- ^ "Representative Meets Tibetan Communities in San Francisco and Minnesota". 22 March 2011.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Sikyong aspirant Kaydor Aukatsang tests positive .:. Tibet Sun". www.tibetsun.com.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Sikyong aspirant Kaydor Aukatsang tests positive .:. Tibet Sun".
- ^ "CTA Receives Almost USD 1 Million in Direct Funding from the U.S. Government".
- ^ "My Sikyong candidate: The alchemy of great vision .:. Tibet Sun". www.tibetsun.com.
- ^ Tenchoe, Lobsang (2 September 2020). "Kaydor Aukatsang announces his candidacy for Sikyong 2021".
- ^ "Two Candidates Now Front-Runners in Final Vote for Tibet's Exile Leader". Radio Free Asia.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Sikyong aspirant Kaydor Aukatsang tests positive .:. Tibet Sun". www.tibetsun.com.
- ^ "Penpa Tsering is president-elect of Tibetan government-in-exile". Hindustan Times. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ "Kelsang (Kaydor) Aukatsang". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 29 March 2022.