Lhagyari Trichen Namgyal Gyatso, 17TH THRONEHOLDER. Joined attack on Chinese Army hospital during uprising. He was arrested along with his younger brothers Lodro Gyatso and Kelzang Norbu on March 31, 1959, and spent the next twenty years in prison.

During the Cultural Revolution the Lhagyari were targeted as landed gentry and for support they had given to the Chushi Gangdruk (chu bzhi sgang drug) anti-Chinese militia. The estates were confiscated, and Namgyel Gyatso’s mother died during a struggle session.