Dingja Personal name: Dorji Gyaltsen.
Born: 1896
One of the three brothers who take their territorial titles from the estates of Dingja, Lholing and Dele Rabden. Photographer: Hugh E. Richardson
He was originally selected as one of the four boys to be educated in England but the proposal was dropped on his appointment as Keeper of the Wardrobe of the DalaiLama. Photo: Dingja dressed in the ceremonial clothes of a Yaso (commander) general.
He was appointed Western Dzong-pon of Gyantse in March, 1917, and Dak-Chi (Postmaster-General) in August, 1919, but continued to hold the office of Dzong-pon in addition. Photo: Dingja and a young monk in the Fort at Gyantse.
Photographed by Arthur Hopkinson
He married the sister of then Tsarong Sha-pe by whom he has three daughters. Speaks Hindi quite fluently, a few words of Chinese and a little English. Was appointed De-pon in the Tibetan Army in 1923. Received gunnery training at Quetta and Shillong in 1923-24.
He was degraded to the 7th rank in 1925, because he was suspected of intrigue against the Tibetan Government. He is considered to be very intelligent, jovial, sociable and promises to be a great man in the country.
Photographed by Harry Staunton
Since the death of the 13th Dalai Lama, he has frequently been consulted by the Kashag with whom he has considerable influence. He was Mi-pon (City Magistrate) in Lhasa and Chi-Dzong (Dzong-po) of Shigatse.
In 1932, he was deputed to receive a consignment of munitions by the Government of India for the Tibetan Government and went as far as Gangtok for this purpose.
In 1938, he was a 5th rank official and the Shigatse Dzong-pon, which is the highest post among the Dzongs of Tibet. He was appointed as a Guide to Mr. Gould, Political Officer in Sikkim, during his journey from Gyantse to Lhasa and back in 1940.
In photo: Three Tibetan officials on the shores of Yamdrok Tso Lake. From left to right: an unidentified official, Dingja and Sonam. They are looking at Basil Gould on the right who is sitting on the ground with a cine camera in his hands.
He is known a 4th rank official, and was made Collector of Salt and Tea Taxes in Lhasa in 1941. He was appointed Investigating Officer of Tashi Lhunpo Yapshi’s property and was promoted to the rank of Theiji in July, 1952.
In photo: Taking tea in the Doring house. Facing the camera from left to right are Dingja (smiling), Doring, and Capt. A.H.O O’Malley, the serving Gyantse medical officer at the time.
Photographed by Harry Staunton
Photo: Officials known as Yaso can be seen in the foreground wearing ceremonial dress. On the right is Dingja Dorje Gyaltsen. They are walking across the grounds at Trapshi Tsisher near Lhasa, a Military ground used for an annual review in the first month of the Tibetan New Year
He left Lhasa for Peking in August, 1962, as the Lay-leader of the Tibetan Respect Paying Mission to China. Mr. Williamson found him extremly friendly and very pro-British. He was a stout and cheerfull person and popular with all classes of Tibetans.