Lungshar

Lungshar was one of the 'three favourites', close aides cultivated over two decades by the 13th Dalai Lama, who assigned Tibet's modernisation program to him.

[2] Being a noble and thus seen as a greater threat than the other close aides, he was imprisoned and had his eyes gouged out to prevent any further political opposition from his side.

[5] In 1912 the reform-minded Dalai Lama, who considered him one of his most able and trusted officials,[6] sent him to England and several European nations[7] to supervise four Tibetan students at Rugby School[8] and to act as ambassador at large for Tibet.

During his travels in Europe Lungshar learned English, encountered Western democracy,[6] developed an appreciation of England's system of constitutional monarchy and became convinced that Tibet needed major political reform if it were to survive in the modern world.

[9] On his return to Tibet he became the leader of a new progressive group in the Tibetan government and making great efforts to introduce reforms he became one of the most popular and respected officials in Tibet, except with the conservative nobles and the monastics who were not happy to pay taxes to fund an army, amongst other reforms which he tried to implement.

However, as the child fell from a roof and died, the Dalai Lama later withdrew his support of Lungshar's son and agreed to the recognition of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje.