Rinzin Paljor
Rupon, aka Rupon Gura

2nd in command to Jumpa. Jokhang defender. Became famous for his bombardment of PLA positions around Barkhor with a howitzer and mortars. His men and volunteers hauled the guns and mortars around while he sighted and fired them. Escaped. Died at Darjeeling in 1960.
[BHU and others]

Nyemo Bhonshod Bhusang
Police Medical Officer

Jokhang defender. Escaped. Later trained at Camp Hale. Dropped in Markham. Fought to the last bullet. Captured. Imprisoned 18 years. Died 2010.
[JN interview]

Kalsang Chomphel
police sergeant, bugler

About 40 years old. Jokhang defender. Killed in action.
[BHU]

Sonam Wangdu
Police sergeant

Jokhang defender. Command one mortar unit, escaped. Died at Mussoorie.
[BHU]

Tsegya Bhagdro
Police private

Former artilleryman. Served under Rupon Gura and fired at PSB HQ.
[BHU]

Pema Gyalpo
Police Sargent

Jokhang defender. Killed in action.
[BHU]

Sonam Wangchuk
Police Sargent

Jokhang defender. Killed in action.
[BHU]

Tsering
Police private

Jokhang defender.
[BHU]

Private Kalsang
Police Bugler, private

Jokhang defender.
[BHU]

Private Tsering
Police private

Jokhang defender.
[BHU]

Nyemo Gyatso
Volunteer

Jokhang Defender. Member of the National Assembly. Master carpenter for the Tibetan government and the guild-master of the Carpenters and Stone-mason Guild. Captured.
[BHU]

Langdun Gyatso
Carpenter, Volunteer

Jokhang defender. Escaped. Gave statement to exile govt.
[See “Eyewitness Accounts”]

Thonsur Lobsang Tenzin
Volunteer

Jokhang defender. Arrested. 19 years in prison.
[JN Interview]

Tsatultsang Tsendrol, Nima Gyaltsen
Volunteer

Jokhang defender. Served the Tibetan government as a tsendron official. Arrested. Died in prison.
[Thonsur]

Thonpa Jampa Khedrup

Distributed rifles to members of his household. Personally fired on the Chinese from his ancestral home, Labrang Nyingba, opposite PSB HQ (Gong'anju) in Barkhor. Killed in action. Descendent of Thonmi Sambhota, father of the Tibetan alphabet and written language.
[SKP, BHU, NW etc.]

Gazhi Sey, Dradul Wangyal

Makpa of Doring family. Beaten to death by Chinese at Doring House (in Barkhor) after shooting PLA officer arresting Ganden Tri Rinpoche. Studied at the English School at Gyangtse (1922-24).
[SKP]

Lhalu Lhacham Sonam Dekyi

Wife of Lhalu Tsewang Dorje. When Tibetan soldiers used the roof of the Lhalu house to fire on the Chinese, she also manned a Bren gun and fired on advancing PLA troops. NW says she learnt to shoot a Bren gun when she was with her husband in Chamdo. She was later arrested and underwent thamzing (struggle session). She was beaten and tortured. Earlier she was a noted Lhasa beauty and the first Tibetan woman to openly ride a motorbike in the city. In her case a black BSA.

Jhangzatsang Chonze’s nephew
[no name]

Organized a group of volunteer Banakshol neighborhood residents and attacked the Chinese defending the Lhasa Daily Office building. The fighters managed to kill all the Chinese in the building but many of the attackers were killed and injured.
[NW]

Tsering Lhagyal
Police sergeant

Killed with his men defending Ramoche. BHU, NW. Killed over 35 Chinese and Colonel, at Zumbhue Chinese Police HQ. Used Bren guns and mortars.
[TUCCR]

Sonam Wangdu
Police sergeant

Killed in action at Ramoche.
[BHU]

Chaksam Lodroe
Police private, gunner

Killed in action at Ramoche.
[BHU]

Pema Norbu
Police sergeant

Fired mortars at Chinese position at Zumpue.
[BHU]

Kalsang Lhundup
Drapchi Gyakpon

Shelled Chinese camp at Drawothang. From Drapchi regiment camp.
[BHU, NW]

Lhagyari Trichen Namgyal Gyatso
17th Throneholder

Joined attack on Chinese Army hospital. Later captured. Imprisoned 19 years.
[NW]

Ashang Lobsang Jhampa
Monk volunteer

Defended Ramoche. Captured. Later escaped.
[TUCCR]

Tashi Palden
Monk volunteer

Defended Ramoche. Captured. Imprisoned and sent to forced labor at Nachen Hydro Plant. Later escaped.

Tsarong Dasang Dadul
Commander-in-chief under 13th Dalai Lama

Organized and directed the various Tibetan forces from his HQ at Shol.
[TDN, MJ]

Dzasak Lobsang Tsewang Moenkiling
Potala defender

Chinese propaganda photo. [KD, SKP]

Muja Tsewang Norbu
Shol Rimshi. Potala defender

Former Dapon, hero of the Chamdo invasion. Captured, struggled and tortured. Died of starvation in Laogai in China (1961-62?)
[MJ, TS, TK, SHN]

Lhalu Tsewang Norbu
Potala defender

Former governor-general of Kham. Was struggled in public thamzing in 1959. This was the largest “struggle" event following the Uprising with journalists attending from China and other Communist countries, including the American, Anna Louise Strong.
[SKP]

Khenchung Lodoe Kelsang, aka Lokye-la
Potala defender

Former commander-in-chief. Captured.
[SKP]

Maja Tsewang Gyurme
Potala defender

Escaped.
[JN interview]

Rimshi Sumdowa
Potala defender

Fired mortars at the Chinese from the Potala. After being captured was struggled and badly beaten and tortured.
[TN]

Rimshi Rasa Gyagenpa
Potala defender

Captured. Chinese propaganda photo.
[SKP]

Tashi Khedrup
Dob-Dob of Sera

Fought at Potala. Went to Shol with 400 other monks mostly dob-dob, from monastery to get rifles. Led by Geshe of Pombara Khamtsen. Fought from Potala for three days finally escaped.
[Tashi Khedrup, Adventures of a Tibetan Fighting Monk, ed. Tadeusz Skorupski, comp. Hugh Richardson. Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1998, pp.91-96]

Drapchi Depon, Sambo Tenzin Thondup
Potala defender

Captured, imprisoned.
[autobiography]

Drungkor Phuntsok Wangdu Jangde
Potala defender

Born in Jhayul. Family name Drokhawo. Rank was tsepa which was 5th or 6th rank. Raised and educated in Lhasa. Was member of underground organization Bhod Rawang Langdren Tsokpa. Escaped.
[LTT]

Khenchung Ngawang Kelsang
Potala defender

Captured. Unknown.

Tsechak Khenchung Ngawang Tsepal
Potala defender

[SKP]

Lamen Khenchung Loden Choedrak
Potala defender

[SKP]

Phokpon Khenchung Ngawang
Potala defender

[SKP]

Lachak Khenchung Thupten Tenpa
Potala defender

[SKP]

Thupten Choenyi
Potala defender

[SKP]

La-cha Khenchung Lobsang Tenzin
Potala defender

[SKP]

Shod Chanzo Khenchung Ngawang Tsultrim
Potala defender

[SKP]

Khenchung Lobsang Nyendrak
Potala defender

[SKP]

Rimshi Dodewa
Potala defender

[SKP]

Lachak Mentopa
Potala defender

[SKP]

Dumrawa
Potala defender

[SKP]

Mepon Gokarwa
Potala defender

[SKP]

Kandze Pema Namgyal

Monk from Dhargyal monastery, volunteer defender. Escaped.
[Peter Brown]

Kunchok
Khampa trader and volunteer defender

Dug trenches and erected barricades: Shot in stomach during fighting. Stitched it up. Survived and escaped.
[NB]

Palden Gyatso
Drepung monk

Joined in the first demonstration. Later sent by abbot of Loseling with a contingent of monks to guard north gate of Norbulingka. Palden and five other monks were sent to Zhol where a “fat official” gave them a sheaf of posters and several buckets of paste. They went all around the center of Lhasa putting up the posters. He remembers one that called on the Chinese to leave Tibet and declared Tibet’s independence. After the fighting fled to Drepung. Later arrested and imprisoned for 33 years.
[Palden Gyatso with Tsering Shakya, Fire Under the Snow: True Story of a Tibetan Monk, The Harvill Press, 1997]

Chamdo Aukatsang, Jampa Kalden

Joined in the defense of Norbulingka. Later with other volunteers he took weapons and ammunition from Norbulingka and set up a defense position below Chakpori where they fought with the Chinese for two nights. “Badly outnumbered and outgunned” Jampa and the others tried to escape across the Kyichu but were nearly all killed by Chinese machine-gun fire. Jampa Kalden was wounded and captured. He served in a forced labor camp at the Nachen-drak Hydel plant but escaped to India in 1960.
[Obituary by Youdon Aukatsang]

Chamdo Yaptsang Lobsang Kunchok
Norbulingka defender

Killed in action.
[SKP]

Tsewang Norbu Dhoyontsang
Norbulingka defender

A prosperous Lhasa merchant, originally from Kham. After the fighting, his wife Yangchen Dolkar went to the Norbulingka to search for him. There were many dead bodies throughout the area but she could not find her husband. The next day she got word that her husband had been captured and was being sent away. She went to the Norbulingka where hundreds of fighters, many wounded, were being herded into the back of trucks by Chinese soldiers. Tsewang Norbu was in a truck with 20 other men. He took off his Rolex watch and gave it to his wife saying: “You will need it to survive. Do not worry about me I have given my life for my country and for the Buddha Dharma. I am happy.” He died in labor camps in China, most probably of starvation.
[Information given by his stepdaughter Pema Thonden]

Seychung Yeshi Dhargay
Norbulingka and Chakpori defender

Seychung Yeshi Dhargay was a monk official (tsedrung) serving at the Norbulingka. When the fighting started on March 19th 1959 he joined the official Khenchung Tara who led a small group of volunteers from the Norbulingka to support the hundred odd Drapchi soldiers and monks who were defending the Chakpori hill. These defenders were pounded relentlessly by Chinese artillery and mortar fire, and faced two massed infantry attacks.
Seychung recalled firing down from the mountainside with an Enfield rifle at the Chinese, killing at least three PLA soldiers. He ran out of ammunition and was captured. Nearly every other Tibetan at Chakpori was killed and the entire Medical Schools and Temple blasted to rubble.
Seychung was arrested, tortured and sent to a Laogai labor camp for twenty years. He was released in 1980 and now lives in Lhasa. He is a cousin of a former representative of the Dalai Lama in New York, Mr. Phuntsok Thonden.

Gyakpontsang Gompo Chimey
Norbulingka defender

Gyakpontsang Gompo Chimey was the nephew of Sadutsang Lo Gendun and accompanied his uncle in the defense of the Norbulingka. He managed to survive the fighting and escaped with his other uncle Sadutsang Wangdor to India. He is most likely (?) from the Gyakpontsang family of Lingkashé. Please contact us if you have any photograph of, or information on, Gompo Chimey.

Sadutsang Wangdor
Norbulingka defender

Sadutsang Chonze Wangchuk Dorje (Wangdor) was the younger brother of Lo Gendun, and became a monk in his youth. After joining in the defense of the Norbulingka with his brother Lo Gendun on March 1959, he managed to escape to India and presently lives in Nepal.
[The information for the three brief bios have come from A Life Unforeseen: A Memoir of Service to Tibet, by Rinchen Sadutsang, Wisdom Publications, Somerville MA, 2016, p. 219]

Sadutsang Lo Gendun
Norbulingka defender

Sadutsang Lo Gendun was a successful merchant of Lhasa, originally from the Trehor region of Eastern Tibet. The oldest of eight siblings he helped build the Sadutshang family business into one of the largest trading corporations of Tibet. During the Chinese invasion in October 1950, Lo Gendun led an armed band of fifteen Khampa fighters to support the Tibetan army escort guarding the young Dalai Lama and the Kashag on their flight to Dhomo on the Sikkim frontier.
On March 10th 1959 Lo Gendun, his brother Wangdor, a few relatives and servants joined in the defense of the Norbulingka. After the intense Chinese artillery bombardment, infantry attack and takeover of the Norbulingka, Lo Gendun and others attempted to escape from Lhasa. They crossed the Kyichu River at Ramagang but Chinese machine-gun emplacements on the rocky heights south of the river opened fire on the Tibetans killing many, including Lo Gendun.

Khenchung Tara Donga Tharchin
Nangma Gang office

Fought at Norbulingka, then went up to fight at Chakpori. Forced to retreat. Tried to get others from Norbulingka to join him. Finally escaped. Dalai Lama mentions that he was wounded in the fighting. Escaped. Became Dalai Lama’s private secretary.
[DL, TK, SKP, autobiography]

Tara Sonam Tsering
Norbulingka Defender

Joined Khenchung Tara to fight at Chakpori.
[TK]

Tsedrung Gyaltsen Tashi
Norbulingka Defender

Joined Khenchung Tara to fight at Chakpori.
[TK]

Tsedrung Yeshi Dhargay
Norbulingka Defender

Joined Khenchung Tara to fight at Chakpori. Captured. Died in prison.
[Phuntsok Dhonden]

Tsipon Shugupa
Norbulingka defender

Captured imprisoned for 19 years.
[autobiography]

25. Shakabpa Khenchung Kalsang Ngawang
Norbulingka defender

Captured. Died in prison.

Tsedrung Barshee Ngawang Tenkyong
Norbulingka Defender

One of the principal officials who informed the public of the Dalai Lama’s PLA theatrical performance. Helped organize the public representation. Escaped.
[SHK, autobiography]

Kusung Jamyang
Private solider of Guards regiment

Was Guard at Gate, on 10 March.

Later ordered to carry an extra rifle with his sten. He gave DL his rifle as ordered. He received a fragment of sacred charm. Escaped.

Dzasak Jigme Taring
Norbulingka Defender

Stayed throughout the bombardment. Took many photographs of the destruction. Unfortunately lost his two cameras. Later escaped.
[TS]

Thupten Khetsun
Norbulingka defender

Captured, imprisoned.
[Autobiography]

Shawo Lobsang Dhargay
Norbulingka defender

Guarded gates. Met Dzasak Taring, carrying a small bag and two cameras. He also had a carton of cigarettes and handed them out to the men. He was wounded, arrested.
[autobiography]

Former prime-minister Sitsab Lobsang Tashi
Norbulingka defender

Captured at Norbulingka. Imprisoned. Died shortly afterwards.
[SKP]

Tenpa Soepa
Tsedrung, Norbulingka defender

Guarded Yellow Gate. Accompanied HH’s escort to Neu Dzong. Was sent back to Norbulingka by Kundeling to fetch important document. Caught in the artillery shelling and subsequent fighting. Wounded. Captured. Served 20 years in Laogai in China (1933-2011).
[autobiography]

Tsedrung Dhakpa Tendar
Norbulingka defender

Escaped.

Bhodpa Dorje
Norbulingka defender

Killed in action.
[SKP]

Tsechak Khenchung Gyaltsen
Norbulingka defender

Committed suicide.
[SKP]

Tsedrung Lobsang Nyendrak
Norbulingka defender

Committed suicide.
[SKP]

SKP writes that when PLA broke through the Norbulingka walls, these two old friends shot each other with their pistols. SHU repeats story in biography.

Seynang Lobsang Yeshi

After escorting the Dalai Lama to Niu Dzong, he and his militia returned to Lhasa, and attempted to clear the Chinese troops at the Ramagang crossing. Was killed in the firefight.
[DL, GP etc.]

Sandutsang Lo Gendun

Killed while fighting the PLA at the Ramagang crossing.
[SKP]

Sergeant Tashi Tsewang
Son of the famous Rupon Anan Dawa

Died defending Chakpori.
[KD]

Private Kalsang Wangdu
Son or Sergeant Tashi Tsewang

Died defending Chakpori.
[KD]

Corporal Dhonden Karpo

Died defending Chakpori.
[NW]

Katog Rigzin

Died defending Chakpori.
[NW)

Pogey Wangdu

Died defending Chakpori.
[NW]

Private Trasang

Escaped.
[NW]

Volunteer Lobsang

Escaped. According to Lobsang. At the end Sergeant Tsewang ordered volunteers to leave. Requested them to leave their weapons and ammunition. All the surviving soldiers including the wounded prepared to fight to the last man. “We left every sten gun. To the best of my knowledge not one of the men survived.”)
[NB]

Ghomdzoe Dorjeling
Central Ammunition Depot of Tibetan Army

Around one hundred soldiers and volunteers were hauling ammunition up to Chakpori from this depot. Many if not most of them died when a direct hit by a Chinese artillery shell caused a devastating explosion, heard all over Lhasa above the sound of gunfire and shelling.

Galingshar Choela [Name unknown]
Women’s leader

A senior nun from the East Galing nunnery in North Lhasa. Imprisoned. Executed. Photograph from Chinese propaganda poster. Not certain.
[NW]

Kundeling Kusang, aka Pamo Kunsang
Women’s leader

Niece of Tsarong Dasang Dadul married to an official of the Kundeling Gurteng family. Imprisoned, executed.
[TY]

Lhoka Tamdrin Tsomo

Imprisoned and executed.
[NW]

Pekong Penpa Dolma

[TWA]

Tahutsang Dolkar

[TWA]

Demo Chime

[TWA]

Tsokhang Meme

[TWA]

Kukar-shar Kelsang

[TWA]

Rizur Yangchen

[TWA]

Tsonkhang Tsamla

[TWA]

Tsering Dolma

Tall good-looking young Lhasa woman, age 21 joined the demonstration.
[NB p.125]

Sampho Ngodup Wangmo

Joined the women’s demonstration. Remembered there was a second nun who led the Women’s demonstrations. Could not remember her name.
[JN conversation]

Chone Jhepa Alak Jampel

Is said to have written the petitions. Alak’s calligraphy was reputed to be excellent. Alak lived in Kundeling monastery where Kunsang lived with her husband. Alak also did the calligraphy for the posters.
[MJ]