Trimon Norbu Wangyal was the second son of the eminent Tsi-pa Shakabpa Tenzin Norgye, a distinguished bureaucrat who oversaw the training of cadets that entered government service. A scion of the Shakabpa family, Norbu Wangyal was adopted into the Trimön family. He took the family name upon inheriting the estates of his wife's father at Chetang, near
Lhasa although he lived for many years at Sechung House.
Career In 1912, Trimön, despite no formal military training, was assigned to a post as Assistant Commanders-in-Chief of the Tibetan army during the Chinese conflict at
Lhasa. In June of that year, he was conferred the title of Theji. He was one of the victims of
Lungshar's plot which failed in the summer of 1934. After the
13th Dalai Lama's demise in 1933, in the summer of 1935 - Trimön was amongst eminent officials who set out with the Kashag to find the reincarnated
14th Dalai Lama. The search sent them across Tibet as well as visiting the customary
Lhamo La-tso several times, a lake where it is said to offer clues to the whereabouts of the next Dalai Lama.
Resignation During this time he grew increasingly affected by the government in Tibet, and following the search for the new Dalai Lama ordered his nephew,
Tsepon Shakabpa while staying at
Tiklo Monastery to draft his resignation. That from his position to the high council stating that "he had advanced in age, and wish to resign, devoting the remainder of his life to religious pursuits." The Regent, the Fifth
Reting Rinpoche attempted to get Trimön to change his mind, and believed he should be promoted to
lönchen, as he had desired. He stated he would also resign from the cabinet if Trimön quit. Trimön returned to Lhasa in October 1935, and despite Reting's words he resigned officially shortly before the
Tibetan New Year in January 1936. Reting did not resign as he had promised, and did not reply straight away. But after the
Losar celebrations, Reting responded to Trimön, formally thanking him for his distinguished service to Tibet. He was granted the estate
Kaship Nubling. At this time, concerns increasingly grew in regards to Trimön's mental state, and his behavior became increasingly eccentric. He was perceived to display occasional fits of
insanity. He was seen at the market in Lhasa wearing a white
Shamthab (a lower dress worn by ascetic lamas) and playing music and dancing. He was reported to have pounded heavily on the doors of the
Jokhang temple hollering at the monks to open it. He responded strangely to Reting's offer of Kaship Nubling, and tried to garner support to be reinstated. There is much evidence to suggest that Trimön did not genuinely want to resign from the government, but had become distressed with his position and the situation. Trimön resigned on the grounds that he would still be consulted to offer advice on important affairs. He remained suspicious of the Chinese until his death in 1945, as Reting's regime grew increasingly weak after his departure. ==References==