Why death of Dalai Lama's brother Gyalo Thondup is the ‘end of an era' for Tibetan exiles
death of Gyalo Thondup , elder brother to the
14th Dalai Lama and a prominent figure among exiled Tibetans, marks the 'the end of an era' for attempted negotiations between Dharamsala and Beijing, according to observers.
Advertisement
Thondup's death also comes at a sensitive time for Tibet, with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama expected to announce how his successor should be chosen when he reaches the age of 90 this July.
Thondup had long led negotiations with Beijing. Although those talks were suspended decades ago, his loss had deprived Tibetan exiles of an elder with first-hand experience of dealing with Beijing, the analysts said.
Thondup , one of six siblings of the Dalai Lama, died aged 97 on Saturday, in the Himalayan hill town of Kalimpong in eastern India.
A young Thondup left Tibet to settle in India in 1952 – the year after the People's Liberation Army seized Lhasa in what Beijing has termed a 'peaceful liberation'.
Advertisement
He quickly became instrumental in raising international support for the 'Tibetan cause', which in his early years meant total independence – but was later changed to indicate a high degree of autonomy under Beijing's governance.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
HKFP
13 hours ago
- HKFP
Prayers for the Dalai Lama in the heart of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia
Incantations ring out at Mongolia's largest monastery as worshippers pray alongside pictures of the Dalai Lama, whose 90th birthday on Sunday has raised fresh questions about the future of the 600-year-old Tibetan spiritual institution. Buddhism has been Mongolia's dominant religion for centuries, and the country's last king, Bogd Khan, was born in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. The Gandantegchinlen Monastery has long been the heart of the faith in Mongolia, where more than half the population identifies as Buddhist. The Dalai Lama insisted this week that his office 'exclusively' would name his successor, even as China said it would do so. Worshipper Jamyandorj Baljinnyam credited him with bringing about a renaissance in the faith. 'Before the Dalai Lama, Buddhism wasn't well known in many parts of the world,' he told AFP. 'Thanks to his influence, everyone now accepts that Buddhism is not only a religion but also a comprehensive scientific philosophy,' he said. 'He brought us all together. I even know worshippers from Africa.' China's government insisted this week that the next Dalai Lama must be appointed with its approval, in a process carried out by drawing lots from a golden urn under a method introduced by a Qing dynasty emperor in the 18th century. That urn is held by Beijing and the Dalai Lama has already warned that, when used dishonestly, it lacks 'any spiritual quality'. Buddhist institutions wield significant political influence in Mongolia, which is sandwiched between Russia and China, and many there were reluctant to speak openly about the succession given its sensitivities. Ruth Gamble, a historian of Tibet at Australia's La Trobe University, said Mongolian Buddhists could find themselves trapped in a geopolitical clash with a uniquely spiritual bent. 'I think we're going to end up with two Dalai Lamas, or two people understood by different groups to be Dalai Lamas,' she told AFP. 'Who will the other Buddhist, Tibetan Buddhist, or Vajrayana Buddhist countries like Bhutan and Mongolia — which side of this debate will they go on?' In the Gandantegchinlen Monastery, where visitors spin golden Tibetan prayer wheels on which mantras are written, worshipper Baasanbat Ulzii said she prayed to the Dalai Lama's portrait every night. 'It makes everything feel complete,' she told AFP. 'He's turning 90 years old, which is such a long time,' she added. 'I truly hope the next Dalai Lama continues his legacy, uniting all Buddhist communities under one roof and spreading goodness through his will.'
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
China tells India to stop using Tibet to interfere in Beijing's affairs
The Chinese foreign ministry made the call on Friday, a day after a senior Indian minister said that only the Dalai Lama and the trust he set up had the authority to identify his successor as the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism The comment is in opposition to China's long-held position that the succession should be in line with tradition and Chinese law. 'We hope India can fully recognise the high sensitivity of issues related to Tibet, and clearly see the anti-China and separatist nature of the 14th Dalai Lama,' ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. 'India should honour its commitments on Tibet-related matters, exercise caution in word and deed, stop using Tibet-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs, and avoid undermining the improvement and development of China-India relations.' 01:30 Dalai Lama says his successor may be found in India Dalai Lama says his successor may be found in India The comments were in response to a rare statement on the succession from Kiren Rijiju, India's minister of parliamentary and minority affairs.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Beijing says Dalai Lama's succession plan breaks tradition, tensions set to rise
Beijing said the succession of the Dalai Lama should be in accordance with tradition and Chinese law, in a swift rejection of a plan announced by the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. The comment was made hours later after the 14th Dalai Lama said his office – the Gaden Phodrang Trust – held the sole authority to recognise the next Dalai Lama. On Wednesday, four days ahead of his 90th birthday, he posted a statement to X discussing the future of the Tibetan spiritual leadership, particularly his succession plans. He said that his reincarnation should be decided by Tibetans and Buddhists, echoing his 2011 statement that only this trust, in consultation with Buddhist leaders and protectors, could identify the next Dalai Lama. 'I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,' he said in the statement on Wednesday. Hours later, Beijing swiftly rejected his succession plan and maintained that the successor would be selected in accordance with tradition and Chinese law. 'The Dalai Lama's reincarnation must follow the principles of domestic recognition, the 'golden urn' process, and approval by the central government, in line with religious traditions and laws,' Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a press conference on Wednesday.
