Dalai Lama at 90: A life of faith and resistance

The Hindu

20 hours ago

On July 6, the 14th Dalai Lama—Tenzin Gyatso—turns 90. But this is no ordinary birthday. It marks nine decades of a spiritual journey intertwined with one of the world's most enduring political struggles: Tibet's fight for autonomy.
Born Lhamo Thondup in 1935, he was recognised as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama at the tender age of two. He was formally enthroned by age five. By the time he was 15, the Dalai became the spiritual and political leader of the peaceful Himalayan country.
However, the winds of change in China were about to cause a major upheaval in Tibet. Even though Tibet enjoyed a 'de facto' independent period in the early 1900s, the Republicans and the Communists retained a claim over Tibet being part of China.
When the Communists came to power with Mao Zedong's leadership in 1949, the regime sought to secure the formal 'reunification' of Tibet with China. After Tibet refused to do so, the Chinese invaded Tibet's eastern province in October 1950. They secured a 17-point 'Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet' in 1951. But tensions simmered.
By 1959, Tibetans rose up in Lhasa. The uprising was crushed. Fearing for his life, the Dalai Lama fled across the Himalayas into India, along with 80,000 followers. Since then, Dharamshala has been the home to the Dalai, and the Tibetan government-in-exile.
The Dalai Lama advocated for the Tibetan cause internationally. He sought, though unsuccessfully, to get the United Nations to intervene in Tibet. He travelled the world, met politicians and presented various proposals to get a 'just solution' for his country and people. His representatives also held talks with Chinese authorities on several occasions to find a solution.
After years of unrest in Tibet, Beijing intensified its political control and repressive measures in the region. China unleashed a new wave of economic modernisation, tourism and construction in Tibet. This enriched the rising middle class but also allowed the non-Tibetan population to increase in the region.
Over the years, the Dalai Lama modified his demands and sought 'genuine autonomy for all Tibetans living in the three traditional provinces of Tibet within the framework of the People's Republic of China.'
For his efforts, the 14th Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
In 2011, he decided to separate the political leadership of the Tibetan movement from the spiritual one. The current government in exile is modelled on an elected parliamentary system with judicial, legislative and executive branches. It primarily attends to the welfare of the Tibetan exile community in India.
Even as the world celebrates his birthday, a question looms ahead: what happens after him? He had previously hinted at the possibility of ending the tradition of reincarnation or selecting a successor from outside Tibet. More recently, he asserted that the succession plan will be decided by a trust, not the Chinese government. The statement sparked a response from Beijing, which has said any succession must be 'approved' by the Central Government.
As the Dalai Lama turns 90, the struggle for his people's identity, faith, and political voice is far from over. In exile, he remains the heart of a movement, grounded in compassion but shaped by decades of resistance.
Credits:
Presentation: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian
Camera: Johan Sathya Das
Script: V. Nivedita
Production: V. Nivedita