Dingja
lding bya
Dorji Gyaltsen
rdo rje rgyal mtshan
Dingcha, Ding-cha Kusho
Born 1896 Served in Government 1913
Dingja. Personal name Dorji Gyaltsen. Born 1896. One of the three brothers who take their territorial titles from the estates of Dingja, Lholing and Dele Rabden. Was originally selected as one of the four boys to be educated in England but the proposal was dropped on his appointment as Keeper of the Wardrobe of the late Dalai Lama. Appointed Western Dzong-pšn of Gyantse in March, 1917, and Dak-Chi (Postmaster-General) in August, 1919, but continued to hold the office of Dzong-pšn in addition. Married the sister of the present Tsarong Shape (now Dzasa) by whom he has three daughters. Speaks Hindustani quite fluently, a few words of Chinese and a little English. Was appointed De-pšn in the Tibetan Army in 1923. Received gunnery training at Quetta and Shillong in 1923-24. Was degraded to the 7th rank in 1925, because he was suspected of intrigue against the Tibetan Government. Is very intellegent, jovial, sociable and promises to be a great man in the country. Since the death of the Dalai Lama he has frequently been consulted by the Kashang with whom he has considerable influence. Was Mi-pšn (City Magistrate) in Lhasa and Chi-Dzong (Dzong-pšn) of Shigatse. In 1932 he was deputed to receive a consignment of munitions by the Government of India for the Tibetan Government and went as far as Gangtok for this purpose. He was [1938] a 5th rank official and the Shigatse Dzong-pšn, which is the highest post among the Dzongs of Tibet. Appointed Guide to Mr. Gould, Political Officer in Sikkim, during his journey from Gyantse to Lhasa and back in 1940. He is known a 4th rank official, and was made Collector of Salt and Tea Taxes in Lhasa in 1941. Appointed Investigating Officer of Tashi Lhunpo Yapshi's property. Promoted to the rank of Theiji in July, 1952. Left Lhasa for Peking in August, 1962, as the Lay-leader of the Tibetan Respect Paying Mission to China. Mr. Williamson found him extremly friendly and very pro-British. He was a stout and cheerfull person and popular with all classes of Tibetans.
Page references from Who's Who in Tibet
1920 (page 7) 1933 (page 13) 1938 (page 20) 1942 (page 7) 1945 (page 15) 1949 (page 32)
This entry is from "Who Was Who in Tibet?" Copyright Frank Drauschke, Facts & Files, Berlin
