Kunga Samten Dewatshang, a trader born in Lithang in 1914, is perhaps the most influential layperson in Tibetan history hailing from Eastern Tibet. He relocated to Lhasa with his family immediately preceding the Communist victory in 1949. Chief founder and leader of the Chushi Gangdrug, a guerilla organization that opposed Chinese aggression and later assumed the role of the Dalai Lama’s secret service during his escape to India. He was chiefly responsible for the successful flight of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Norbulingka in 1959, but was consequentially forced to flee to India. Kunga’s account closes in May 1985 while his family is living at Bomdila. He wrote with the hope that his tale would inspire those living in freedom to appreciate their blessing, and also sought to perpetuate Tibetan ingenuity and passion in defending their motherland against the Chinese.