16 Facts About Thupstan Chhewang

Thupstan Chhewang was born on 1 September 1947 and is an Indian politician who was a member of the 14th and 16th Lok Sabha representing the Ladakh constituency in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Thupstan Chhewang was born in Shey to Shey Lonpo Sonam Tsephel, an aristocrat, who chose to serve the poor by imparting education to them, and Princess Norzin Wangmo, great-great-great-granddaughter of Tsepel Tundup Namgyal, the last independent ruler of Ladakh and sister to the 19th Kushok Bakula, aunt to Galdan Thripa Thupstan Nyima, younger sister to Princess Rigzin Wangmo, grand niece to the 18th Bakula and first cousin to Princess Tsering Dolkar of Leh Khangsar.

Thupstan Chhewang completed his primary education until class 5th from his native village and after that Kushok Bakula Rinpochey his uncle, took him with himself to Kashmir for studies.

Thupstan Chhewang is married into the royal family of Ladakh.

Thupstan Chhewang began his career as a political activist in the year 1972, when he along with some other youths organised a protest when Syed Mir Qasim visited Ladakh and was imprisoned for twenty days.

Thupstan Chhewang spearheaded the agitations for inclusion of the Ladakhis as Scheduled Tribes, autonomy for the region demanding the status of Union Territory for Ladakh.

Thupstan Chhewang served as the President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association from 1988 to 1995.

Thupstan Chhewang became the first Chief Executive Councilor of the local autonomous administrative body, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh when elections were held for the first time in 1995.

Thupstan Chhewang again won the 16th General Elections in 2014 on a BJP ticket defeating his nearest rival by a margin of just 36 votes.

Thupstan Chhewang resigned from Lok Sabha in November 2018, and quit Bharatiya Janata Party citing disagreements with the party's leadership.

Thupstan Chhewang is the great-great-great-great-grandson of Tsepel Tondup Namgyal, last independent ruler of Ladakh on his mother's paternal side.

Thupstan Chhewang is related to kings of Zangla on his mother's maternal side since his maternal grandmother, Princess Yeshes Wangmo was the daughter of King of Zangla.

Thupstan Chhewang is the nephew of The 19th Kushok Bakula and great-grandnephew of the 18th Kushok Bakula.

Thupstan Chhewang is the first cousin of Galdan Thripa Thupstan Nyima, head of the Rizong Monastery.

Thupstan Chhewang's wife is the daughter of King Kunzang Namgyal and Queen Diskit Wangmo.

Thupstan Chhewang's wife is his fourth cousin as King Kunzang Namgyal is his mother Princess Norzin Wangmo's third cousin.