Riga Wangyal (2 January 1946 – 10 December 2025)
Tsering Passang | 12 December 2025
The Tibetan Community in Britain is mourning the loss of Mrs. Riga Wangyal la, a much-loved elder whose steady presence, conviction, and quiet strength shaped our community for decades. She passed away peacefully in a London hospital on 10 December 2025. Our thoughts are with her husband, Phuntsog Wangyal la, and with all her family members and relatives at this deeply difficult time.
Born in Tibet in 1946, Riga-la entered the world in a free Buddhist nation — before communist China’s invasion dramatically altered the course of Tibetan history. Though that early period was brief, it anchored her lifelong sense of identity and her unwavering commitment to Tibetan freedom.
Riga-la’s life was defined by service — to her profession, to her people, and to the Tibetan cause. After arriving in the UK and training as a nurse, she devoted her early career to caring for others, including during her years at Holloway Prison for Women, part of HM Prisons Service.
She also lived with a frankness and flair that made her unforgettable. Riga-la enjoyed her pints in local pubs, a cigarette in hand, always ready for lively — and often fierce — debates that stretched late into the evening. She was passionate and principled, especially when the conversation turned to Tibet. This was where her convictions burned brightest.
Her commitment to Tibet was lived, not merely expressed. Despite nearly six decades in the UK, Riga-la never accepted British citizenship. Her refusal was both a personal and political stand for Rangzen — full Tibetan independence from China. For her, identity and principle were inseparable, and she upheld that belief with clarity and courage.
Her devotion to community life was equally deep. Riga-la established and managed the Tibet Shop in London, next to the Tibet Foundation office — a cultural anchor, a gathering place, and a practical resource for Tibetans and friends of Tibet. She later joined the Tibet Foundation itself, serving with characteristic diligence until its closure in 2021. Whether managing the shop or supporting educational and cultural programmes, she brought sincerity, integrity, and an unrelenting sense of purpose.
Her compassion extended far beyond Britain. For several decades, Riga-la supported the education of Tibetan refugee children in Nepal, sponsoring more than a dozen students through funds she raised as part of the Tibetan Women’s Association’s educational scheme. Many of those young people grew into adulthood with opportunities made possible by her quiet generosity and steadfast commitment.
She was also a pioneering force in Tibetan women’s organising in Britain. At the request of Kasur Rinchen Khandro-la, then President of the Central Tibetan Women’s Association(TWA) in Dharamsala, she helped establish the UK chapter of the Tibetan Women’s Association in the mid-1980s. Each year on 12 March, she led commemorations of the Tibetan Women’s Uprising, ensuring that the courage and sacrifices of Tibetan women were honoured on British soil.
Her vision extended to the next generation as well. Soon after founding the UK chapter of TWA, she co-founded the first Tibetan language class for children in London, creating a vital space for young Tibetans to stay rooted in their language, identity, and heritage.
For those of us who knew her as a colleague, friend, or fellow Tibetan, Riga-la was known for her humility, directness, and steadfast dedication. She could be fiery in debate, generous in friendship, and unwavering in principle. Her absence will be felt deeply, but her legacy — woven through decades of service, conviction, and community — endures.
Later this evening, the Tibetan community in London will convene a prayer meeting in her memory.
A formal memorial service will be held at a later date.
Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM) 