Lungshar

Tsipön Lungshar born Dorje Tsegyal (1880 - 1938) was a noted Tibetan politician who attempted unsuccessfully to become the paramount figure of the Tibetan government in the 1930s, following the death of the 13th Dalai Lama.

He came from an aristocratic family with a history of service to the 5th Dalai Lama; his father was a Major (Rupön) in the Tibetan Army and he was an Accountant of the 6th rank in the Accountant-General's Office at Lhasa during the 13th Dalai Lama leadership. The Dalai Lama sent him to England and several European nations to supervise four Tibetan students and to act as ambassador at large for Tibet. During his stay in England, he developed an appreciation of England's system of constitutional monarchy, and became convinced that Tibet needed political reform if it were to survive in the modern world.

In 1914, at a time when the Dalai Lama was strengthening state institutions including the military, he returned to Tibet and was appointed tsipön, i.e. one of the four heads of the revenue office. He increased revenue for the state, at the expense of many aristocratic and monastic landlords, earning himself enemies among the elite in the process.

In 1929, he became commander in chief of the military, still retaining his post of tsipön as well. He further strengthened and modernized the military, but lost his military post in 1931, after he nearly provoked a war with Nepal. He remained tsipön until the Dalai Lama's death in 1933.

Lungshar was one of several parties vying for control of the government following the Dalai Lama's death. He defeated rival Kumbela by launching a campaign of suspicion that Kumbela had brought about the Dalai Lama's death. Kumbela was exiled, but Lungshar failed to gain ascendency. Lungshar was eventually outmaneuvered by the more conservative minister Trimön. Lungshar was arrested and punished by the removal of his eyeballs. This was considered the most serious punishment short of death. No one alive had ever seen this punishment done, but members of the untouchable ragyaba class, who traditionally performed mutilation punishments, had been told by their parents how it was done.

His son, Lhalu Tsewang Dorje, was also a noted politician.

According to some sources, during the late 1920s, Lungshar promoted the idea that another of his sons was the reborn 16th Karmapa. The Dalai Lama and most of the officials in his government are members of the Gelug sect, while the Karmapa is the leader of the Karma Kagyü sect. These sources state that the Dalai Lama initially supported this claim in opposition to the supporters of the previous Karmapa, who had already recognised Rangjung Rigpe Dorje as the new Karmapa. However, the Dalai Lama later withdrew his support of Lungshar's son and agreed to the recognition of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje.