Frontier Diplomacy; Sir Basil Gould’s Granddaughter Attends

Earlier this morning, The Tibet Museum in Dharamshala inaugurated its new temporary exhibition, “Frontier Diplomacy: Britain, Tibet and Sir Basil Gould.” The ceremony was formally opened by Penpa Tsering in the presence of Frances C. Cutler, granddaughter of Sir Basil John Gould.

Adapted from Sir Basil Gould’s book The Jewel in the Lotus: Recollections of an Indian Political Officer, the exhibition presents a compelling account of his mission to Tibet. It traces his tenure from his appointment as successor to Rosy Weir to his participation in the golden enthronement ceremony of Tenzin Gyatso. The exhibition also highlights his presentation to the Kashag of a translated account documenting the discovery and installation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Among the highlights are two rare historical documents that once belonged to Sir Basil Gould, generously donated to the Central Tibetan Administration by his family in 2025. These are displayed alongside traditional Tibetan attire worn by Tsepon Wangchuk Deden Shakabpa. Together, these artefacts provide important historical evidence of Tibet’s de facto independence in its internal governance and external relations during that era.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Jonathan M. Cutler; Karma Choeying; Tsering Dhondup; Namgyal Tsewang; Tenzin Topden; and researchers from the Tibet Policy Institute, among others. Also present were representatives of Tibetan institutions who contributed to recreating Krishna Kanwal’s depiction of Tibet during that period. Kanwal, a pioneer of modern Indian art, accompanied Sir Basil Gould during the British mission to Tibet.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony and a guided tour of the exhibition, guests gathered in the museum hall for an official briefing, emceed by staff member Tenzin Dolma.

In his welcome address, Director Tenzin Topden provided an overview of the exhibition’s concept, structure, and the process of acquiring the featured materials. In his remarks, Secretary Karma Choeying emphasised the Museum’s role in educating global audiences about the Tibetan cause through its diverse initiatives, including temporary and permanent exhibitions, travelling displays, and digital outreach. He noted the exhibition’s dual importance—both as a historical record and as a lens through which to understand the ongoing challenges facing Tibetan identity.

Frances C. Cutler shared personal reflections on her family’s connection to Tibet, recalling how her grandfather’s experiences and writings sparked her lifelong interest in Tibetan culture. She also spoke about discovering the historical documents among her family’s belongings in 2024 and expressed her gratitude in being able to contribute them to The Tibet Museum.

Delivering the keynote address, Penpa Tsering expressed appreciation for the donation and underscored the historical engagements between Tibet and Western nations. He highlighted Tibet’s longstanding international interactions, dating back centuries, as well as its relations with British India. Reflecting on his recent visit to the United Kingdom, he noted ongoing efforts to further document and share Tibet’s historical ties with the wider world.

Addressing younger Tibetans, the Sikyong encouraged the study of historical works such as The Jewel in the Lotus: Recollections of an Indian Political Officer to better understand Tibet’s past and strengthen future advocacy.

Concluding the ceremony, Tibet Museum staff member Tenzin Khetsun delivered the vote of thanks, stating:

“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the grandchildren of Sir Basil Gould for entrusting us with these invaluable letters. We are deeply thankful to Tsering Yangkyi (Office of Tibet, London) and Jordan Quill for their coordination, and to historian Tsering Wangdu Shakya for his invaluable guidance.

Our appreciation also goes to the Gaden Tharpa Choeling Museum for loaning the Tsepon Shakabpa chupa, and to Jigme Deden Shakabpa for generously donating Shakabpa’s boots. We thank the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives for loaning The Jewel in the Lotus and the Tibetan Sentences Book by Sir Basil Gould.

We are grateful to The Tibet Fund and USAID for their financial support, and finally, to the dedicated team of The Tibet Museum, whose tireless efforts have made this exhibition possible.”