Tibet occupies a very advantageous geostrategic position: by controlling Tibet, one controls all the region's main waterways, gaining access to its main trade routes. The authorities of the Qing Empire, who had greatly influenced Tibet, promoted the isolationist sentiments of Tibet. Since the 1860s, Tibet has banned the access of foreign nationals, especially European. Violators faced the death penalty. Nevertheless, Russia sent expeditions to Tibet with gifts for the Dalai Lama, but none were successful. As a result, the authorities sent their agents to Tibet under the guise of pilgrims.
Gombozhab Tsybikov was born in 1873 in Urda-Aga, a Trans-Baikal region. He graduated from the Agin parish school and Chita gymnasium. Then, he entered the Faculty of Medicine of Tomsk University. There, he met Peter Badmaev, the godson of diplomat and doctor Alexander III. He persuaded Tsybikov to quit his medicinal studies and enter the Oriental Faculty of St. Petersburg University. At the Eastern Faculty, Tsybikov was supervised by the Mongolian Alexei Pozdev. He was the first to come up with the idea of sending Tsybikov to Tibet under the guise of a pilgrim.
In 1899, Tsybikov graduated from the university, and almost immediately went to Tibet. IRGO provided him with a handheld camera and glass negative plates. To maintain secrecy, Tsybikov hid the camera in the Hurde's prayer drum, which didn't arouse suspicion. He took pictures through the drum's hole, hiding from everyone.
Kalmyk Ovshe Norzunov is a descendant of the noble Kalmyk family Zaisang Bolshederbetovsky ulus of the Stavropol province. His goal was to deliver letters and gifts to the Dalai Lama. During his second trip, Norzunov couldn't get to Tibet, but his third attempt was successful: he received an audience with the Dalai Lama XIII and took pictures of Lhasa.
Both travelers managed to leave Tibet undisclosed. IRGO printed and sent 50 photos to the largest geographical societies around the world. The envelope containing photos was also sent to the editorial office of National Geographic.
And, in January 1905, an issue with 11 photos of Tibet was published. At that time, the little-known National Geographic mainly published text notes, and the issue with a large photographic box brought it great popularity. This transformed the magazine's purpose, leading to enhanced print media - it was after the Tibetan cycle that the magazine spread throu large photos and very minimal text.
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