[1] A native of Lhasa, he received homeschooling and local private school education before being sent to India to study artillery technology.

In 1956 he served in the standing committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region and in the following year he was appointed as a Kalön of the Kashag, the highest office in the province.

[2][4] During the Cultural Revolution, he was accused of "organizing an armed rebellion, maintaining illicit relations with foreign countries, and being against the [Communist] Party and against the proletarian dictatorship.

"[3] He was subsequently dressed in clothing traditionally worn by Tibetan aristocrats and photographed while being publicly denounced and humiliated in a struggle session in August 1966.

His wife was also denounced alongside him, and forced to carry a tray containing various religious instruments while wearing heavy gold and silver pearls.