Jampel Gyatso published the novel Kelzang Metog in Chinese in 1980, followed by a Tibetan version in 1981. A winner of many national awards, the novel details the stories of PLA soldiers who journeyed into Tibet and brought peaceful liberation to the area between 1950 and 1951.

More than 100,000 copies of the novel have been sold. Among novels by Tibetan writers and on Tibetan subjects, Kelzang Metog is second only to Red Poppies (Chen Ai Luo Ding) by A Lai.

"Like the first flower of spring, the novel ushered in a brand new period for modern Tibetan literature," Jampel recalls with pride.