Tsarong

Tsarong Dasang Dadul
ཚ་རོང་ཟླ་བཟང་དགྲ་འདུལ་
Tsarong in 1938
Kalön of Tibet
In office
1914–1929
Serving with Khemey Rinchen Wangyal (until 1921), Trimön Norbu Wangyal (until 1934), Ngabo (since 1921), and Lobsang Tenyong (since 1925)
Monarchs13th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai Lama
Commander-in-chief of the Tibetan Army
In office
1913–1925
Personal details
Born
Namgang

1888
Phenpo, Tibet, Great Qing
Died14 May 1959(1959-05-14) (aged 70–71)
Lhasa, Tibet, China
NationalityTibetan
SpousePadma Dolkar (daughter of Tsarong Wangchuk Gyalpo)
OccupationPolitician, general
Military service
AllegianceTibet
Branch/serviceTibetan Army
RankGeneral
Battles/wars1959 Tibetan uprising

Tsarong Dasang Dramdul[a] (1888–1959), commonly known mononymously as Tsarong or by his title Tsarong Dzasa, was a Tibetan politician and general in the Tibetan Army. He was a close aide of the 13th Dalai Lama and played an important role in the early twentieth century politics of Tibet.[1] Eager to accelerate economic progression and pursue the modernization of Tibet, Tsarong believed that the old order in Tibet had to be broken by hierarchical reforms to prepare the way for a more modern society which would be compatible with the outside world. In his efforts to build up Tibet's defense systems and relations with European powers as well as to facilitate trade and strengthen the Tibetan currency, he made a series of diplomatic visits to British India. His diplomatic skills came to see him regarded by the British as being, "the most powerful friend of His Majesty's Government in Tibet."[2]

Tsarong was captured by the People's Liberation Army following the failed March 1959 uprising in Lhasa. He died in prison shortly afterwards, before his scheduled "struggle session" in Lhasa.[3]


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  1. ^ Taklha, Namgyal Lhamo (2001). Born in Lhasa. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion. pp. 10. ISBN 1-55939-102-2.
  2. ^ "Tsarong Dzasa". The Tibet Album, British Photography in Central Tibet (1920–1950), Oxford University. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  3. ^ "Profile: Important People in Tibetan History:Dasang Dadul Tsarong" (PDF). The Tibet Museum. 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2009.