The wedding photo of Gyumey Dojer and his widow Ngawang Bawam[Photo/China Tibet Online]

Chinese people believe that a man with power should contribute as much as possible to the common people. Therefore, they admire the officials who care about people's interests. In recent years, for all the cases of power abuse, many local officials who come from the grassroots class but make great achievements in the development of local society are remembered and glorified by the local people.

Gyumey Dorje, a 33-year-old Khampa Tibetan township leader in Dawu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of southwest China's Sichuan Province, is one of the respectable officials of such kind.

Gyumey Dorje was born in Ge Village of Dawu County in Sichuan's Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in May of 1979. He became a township civil servant in Dawu County half a year after graduation from the Tibetan Language School of Sichuan Province in April, 2001. Then he embarked on a cause of building up people's livelihood in Dawu County. After 11 years of hard work as a grassroots leader for the local people, he died of cerebral hemorrhage on May 19, 2012.

However, people in Dawu County still cherish a fresh memory of his voice and appearance until now. They are sad and regretful for the admirable official who died young and left his wife and children buried in grief.

No matter far or near, Tibetans or Hans, local people travelled all the way to the Dawu County to attend his funeral to pay their tribute to the Tibetan official on May 25, 2012. Some of them even walked tens of kilometers on foot just to pay their last respect to the remains. In the villagers' mind, Gyumey Dorje did an excellent job as an administrative chief of Dawu County. He was regarded as a "Bodhisativa" for the local religious believers.

Every Tibetan household lighted up butter lamps that night to pray for him and wish him a long and leisure afterlife.

The family photo without Gyumey Dojer：Daughter Ngawang Sengtso，Widow Ngawang Bawam, Father Padain, Mother Bakyi, Sister, Son Gongkar Chodrak and Grandfather[Photo/China Tibet Online]

Gyumey Dorje was the only son of his parents. As for the Tibetan tradition, the only son should take care of the whole family. But for Gyumey Dorje, it was impossible as he had so many villagers to care about. His father said: "I didn’t complain because he need take charge of the whole county. But I didn't know that he would pass away so abruptly. It is a nightmare for our family and I still wish my son will come back some day."

The wife used to find some pieces of paper in the pocket of her husband, filled with details of matters he wanted to deal with for the local people. But, matters concerning his own family always came off second.

Totse, one of Gyumey Dorje's colleagues, recalled that Gyumey used to climb seven or eight mountains to see a Tibetan herdsman family to discuss the problem of settlement.

"Once I made fun of him and asked him a question," said Totse, "Gyumey, you work unremittingly and tirelessly. Whom are you working for?" He answered sincerely after some meditation: "I work for my people." Totse said: "At that moment, I saw purity and dedication in his clear eyes."

Gyumey Dojer's widow and son [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Children's education was always given priority by Gyumey Dorje. If the herdsman were unwilling to send their children to school, Gyumey would keep lobbying the parents until the children went back to school. Lhadron, a villager under the administration of Gyumey Dorje said: "Gyumey not only persuaded me to support my children's education but also provided financial aid after my children entered the school. He was so kind and helpful for our family."

Gyumey Dorje cared about everything concerning the livelihood of the villagers in his administrative area. He got funds and built highways for the villagers, visited every family to see if there was any problem in crop-planting, and investigated employment situation to increase local people's income. He did everything he could. The elders said: "Gyumey had a sturdy body but a scrupulous heart, and he was concerned with everything for us."

Though Gyumey Dorje has passed away for nearly one year, his name will be always remembered by the people in Tibet.