Dalai Lama charts succession plan

IT’s a heartening reassurance for Tibetans and the international community — the centuries-old institution of the Dalai Lama will continue. The 14th Dalai Lama, one of the world’s most popular religious figures, has spelt out a succession plan that won’t be music to China’s ears. The Nobel Peace Prize winner, who will turn 90 on Sunday, has stated that the Gaden Phodrang Trust — the non-profit organisation established by him to sustain the venerable institution — has the sole authority to recognise his reincarnation in consultation with Tibetan Buddhist heads. Beijing, however, is insistent that it will approve the reincarnation.

The Dalai Lama’s move is aimed at deterring China from interfering in the exercise to choose his successor. According to the age-old Tibetan tradition, the search for a new incumbent begins after the present one dies. However, this procedure might be tweaked to thwart China’s plans of imposing its own choice as the next Dalai Lama whenever a void is created.

Beijing won’t find it easy to wrest the initiative in the face of global sentiment and US pressure. According to the Dharamsala-based Tibetan government-in-exile, the Donald Trump administration has decided to lift aid cuts for Tibetans in exile and provide $7 million in financing projects related to sectors such as health and education. Last year, then President Biden had signed into law a Bill which enhanced US support for Tibet and promoted dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama to peacefully resolve the festering dispute. India is a key stakeholder as it has been the Dalai Lama’s home ever since he fled Tibet in 1959. However, New Delhi has often shied away from confronting Beijing over the Tibetan demand for “genuine autonomy”. The Dalai Lama’s firm stand on his successor offers India an opportunity to flex its diplomatic muscle against China — like it did by rejecting the SCO conclave’s communique that made no mention of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Editorials