Two-volume modern Tibetan history book launched

A two-volume work on modern Tibetan history, starting from the British arrival in Tashi Lhunpo during the Sixth Panchen Lama’s time (1738-1780) till the recent developments in exile including the establishment of the Mustang guerillas’ operations, was launched on Saturday.

Titled Modern Political History of Tibet and Gyalo Thondup’s Work — Setting the record straight and unveiling the hidden and written in the Tibetan language, the work was written by well-known author Sherab Dhargye.

Containing 82 major topics, the books have extensive coverage on Gyalo Thondup, the oldest brother of the Dalai Lama, and his involvement with the secret services of the major players of the 20th century.

Topics like relations between the 13th Dalai Lama and the 9th Panchen Lama; the British and Manchu invasions of Tibet; the internal political struggles in Lhasa between 1912-1933; numerous intricate events between 1935-1952; the Chinese occupation; the CIA connection from the late 50s to the establishment of the Mustang guerilla operations; and sensitive issues like the Tibetan gold deposit in Sikkim, have been covered.

Each volume is 600-plus pages and is sold for 750 India rupees.

The author Sherab Dhargye was born in 1967 in Amdo. He arrived in India in 1988 to join a monastery in South India, but left the monastic life to pursue his quest for scholarship. He has written many articles and essays, as well as numerous books.

The other books he has authored are a three-volume set called Journey to the West; two volumes of the Great Fourteenth Dalai Lama’s biography, which are included in the official collection of all fourteen Dalai Lamas’ biographies; and two volumes of the biography of Bakula Rinpoche, the Head Lama of Ladakh.

Sherab also translated into Tibetan Gyalo Thondup’s biography The Noodle Maker of Kalimpong, and is presently working on two more book projects.