b. 1935

After passing a series of rigorous tests, it was determined that young Lhamo Dhondup was the incarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, making him the next in line. In 1959, after the violent invasion of Tibet by neighboring China, the Dalai Lama escaped into India, where he and his fellow refugees were welcomed into the town of Dharamsala, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. From 1959 until the present, Dharamsala has been the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in Exile, though the displaced Tibetans long to return to their sacred and ancient homeland.

Forced into exile. Also travels the globe spreading the message of world peace and compassion, and has written several popular books. The Dalai Lama was also a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, of which the prize money was used to fund many global peace projects and launch the Foundation for Universal Responsibility.