Tsarong Dzasa
tsha rong dza sag
Namgang Dazang Damdu
gnam gang zla bzang dgra 'dul
Tsa-rong, Chen-se Nam-gang
Born 1886 Died 1959
Tsarong Dzasa. Personal name Namgang Dazang Damdu. Born about 1885. Of humble origin, he at first occupied a menial position in the household of the late Dalai Lama. Was one of the devoted few, who accompanied the Dalai Lama in his flight to Mongolia in 1903 and rapidly became the Dalai Lama's most trusted servant. He signed the Trade Regulations in Calcutta in April, 1908, on behalf of the Tibetan Government. At the Chaksam Ferry in March, 1910, he went with a party of Tibetan soldiers, kept back a force of Chinese troops who were attempting to prevent the flight of the Dalai Lama to India. Afterwards he followed the Dalai Lama to India and resided with him in Darjeeling. In the autumn of 1911 he was sent by the Dalai Lama to Shigatse and it was largely owing to him that the Chinese Garrison they were compelled to surrender their arms and ammunition. Was appointed Commander-in-Chief early in 1912 and given the title of Dzasa in April of the same year. In July, 1913, he married first: the eldest daughter of the late Tsarong Shap-pe and second: the widow of the Tsarong Shap-pe's son, who had been put to death in 1912 for being pro-Chinese. With the permission of the Dalai Lama the widow of Tsarong Shap-pe caused him to be recognised as heir of Tsarong and he is now [1915] known as Tsarong Shap-pe's. Appointed Shap-pe in 1914 in place of the late Sechung Shap-pe. Visited Gyantse in September, 1915, and met the Poiltical Officer in Sikkim. Visited India on pilgrimage in 1924. Was deprived of the post of Commander-in-Chief in 1925 on his return from India, and in 1929 he was degraded from Shap-pe to the rank of Dzasa. Was again offered the post of Shap-pe but refused to accept it. In July, 1934, prevailed upon as one of the Manager of the Trapchi Factory. Is still very influential and has the support of Drepung Monastery. Speaks a little Russian, Mongolian and Hindustani. He completed the construction of a steel bridge over the Tolung Chu at Trisum, eight miles from Lhasa, in 1937. Clever, wealthy, mechanically and progressively minded but fearful, nowadays, of expressing publicly his considered opinions. He is acquainted with Russian military drill and speaks a little Russian, Mongolian and Hindustani. A man of great energy and sound sense. He has a large following among the lay officials, but on the whole he is not popular with the monks, who regard his advanced views as a danger to their influence. He has an estate near Shigatse and Mr. Williamson describes him as "the most powerful friend of His Majesty's Government in Tibet". He is very friendly to British officials.
Page references from Who's Who in Tibet
1920 (page 11) 1933 (page 24) 1938 (page 73-74) 1942 (page 37) 1945 (page 45-46) 1949 (page 136-137)
This entry is from "Who Was Who in Tibet?" Copyright Frank Drauschke, Facts & Files, Berlin
