Tsarong

Tsarong
Tsarong Dzasa, 1938
Born	Namgang 1888 Phenpo, Tibet
Died	14 May 1959 Lhasa, Tibet
Nationality	Tibetan
Other names	Namgang
Occupation	Diplomat, military figure, economist, civil engineer

Tsarong Dazang Dramdul (Tibetan: ཚ་རོང་ཟླ་བཟང་དགྲ་འདུལ་, Wylie: tsha-rong zla-bzang dgra-'dul; Chinese: 擦绒·达桑占堆; pinyin: Cāróng Dásāng Zhānduī) commonly known simply as Tsarong or by his title Tsarong Dzasa, born Namgang (1888–1959) was a Tibetan diplomat, military figure, economist, civil engineer and close aide of the 13th Dalai Lama. He was an important figure in the early twentieth century conflict with the Chinese and was active in protecting Tibet militarily as the Commander in Chief of Tibet. Eager to accelerate economic progression and pursue the modernisation 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" Eventually captured by the Chinese in March 1959, dying later in a prison in Lhasa, today Tsarong Dzasa is considered one of the most important figures in 20th-century Tibet.

Namgang Dazang Damdu was born into a peasant family in Phenpo, north of Lhasa in 1888 according to the Tibet Museum (other sources suggest 1885). As a child he demonstrated an unusually high level of intelligence and advanced abilities. In 1900, he was recognised by Khangnyi Jipa, a monk who served as an official of the Norbulingka palace and took on Namgang as his pupil at the age of twelve, considered very young at the time. Within a short amount of time he was employed in the personal service of His Holiness, the 13th Dalai Lama.