Last Updated:July 02, 2025, 16:48 IST
Thirty years after his disappearance, questions continue to surround the whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, recognised as the 11th Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama.

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was recognised as the 11th Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama in 1995 | Image: X
A six-year-old boy, recognised in May 1995 as the reincarnation of one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most revered spiritual figures, has remained missing for the past 30 years.
Thirty years after his disappearance, questions continue to surround the whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, recognised as the 11th Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama.
Gedhun was six years old when the Dalai Lama announced him as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism.
Days later, Chinese authorities took Gedhun and his family into custody. He has not been seen since, according to reports.
The Chinese government later named another boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as the Panchen Lama. Norbu has since risen through official religious ranks and recently met with President Xi Jinping.
In that meeting, Norbu pledged loyalty to the Communist Party, stating, “It is precisely because of the Party and the state that we can live such happy lives now."
Despite official Chinese statements that Gedhun is living a normal life and does not wish to be disturbed, international human rights organisations and Tibetan groups have repeatedly raised concerns about his well-being and called for independent access to confirm his status.
Demonstrations and prayer meetings were held earlier this year across Tibetan communities in India, including in Dharamshala, Bylakuppe, and Mysuru, marking the 30th anniversary of Gedhun’s disappearance.
Protesters called on China to release information about his whereabouts.
“The Panchen Lama is alive and safe. That’s all we are asking them to confirm," one protester said.
Human rights organisations continue to describe Gedhun’s disappearance as an enforced one. They argue that China’s actions violate international human rights law and have urged transparency.
The role of the Panchen Lama is especially significant in Tibetan Buddhism, as he is traditionally involved in identifying the next Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama, now 90, has said his successor may be born outside China—a position that could further complicate the succession process amid the unresolved status of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.
Location :China
First Published:News world 11th Panchen Lama: 30 Years On, Questions Remain Over Missing Boy Chosen By Dalai Lama