Ven. Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende was born on 7th August 1977 in Kham Bathang, Tibet. He studied at a local primary school and later joined Ba Zingon Monastery for Buddhist studies. He escaped into exile in 1992 and joined the Drepung Loseling Monastery in southern India to further his Buddhist studies. He was honored with a Bachelor, Master, Vinaya degree, and Geshe Lharam degree (Ph.D.) in Buddhist philosophy), after his intensive Buddhist studies for almost 20 years.
He was the person in charge of the construction of the monks’ quarters and monastery hall and was elected President of the Regional Tibetan Freedom Movement (BRDL) of Mundgod for two terms. He has also served as the Deputy Secretary of the Local Tibetan Assembly, Mundgod, and has worked as an executive member of the Central Dhokham Chushi Gangdrung for two consecutive terms. Earlier Geshe Phende was elected to the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, during which he has taken active participation in the official visitation, and outreach programs in India and abroad. He also participated in the 7th World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet held in Latvia in 2019 and many other conventions and campaigns. He was a member of the Standing Committee and Public Accounts Committee. He is currently a member of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and a member of the Standing Committee.