Latest news with #Tibetan
The Star
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Star
Political adviser booted over graft and superstition
Chinese authorities have removed a former leader of Tibet from office over alleged crimes including taking bribes and engaging in 'superstitious activities', the country's top anti-corruption bodies said. Qizhala – who was governor of the western region from 2017 to 2021 – was dismissed over 'serious violations of discipline', said a statement by the anti-graft bodies yesterday, a common euphemism for corruption. He had most recently served as a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's main political advisory body. Beijing's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Supervisory Commission said Qizhala 'betrayed' his original mission by accepting bribes and misusing public funds to host illegal banquets. He also colluded with business owners to secure favourable contracts and engaged in 'superstitious activities' over a long period, they said. His family were also accused of using his official position for personal gain. Ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members are banned from participating in 'superstitious activities' – including some religious practices that 'erode' a cadre's loyalties. United Nations experts have raised alarm at Chinese government policies allegedly aimed at assimilating Tibetan people culturally, religiously and linguistically. Last week, a court in Beijing handed a suspended death sentence to Wu Yingjie, the head of the CCP in the region from 2016 to 2021, for taking bribes worth almost US$50mil. Wu was expelled from the party in December, also over 'serious violations of discipline.' — AFP
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
China, India and the conflict over Buddhism
As headlines trumpet Chinese naval expansion across the Indo-Pacific and India's strategic countermoves in this regard, there is a quieter, higher-altitude contest already reshaping Asia's future. The real geopolitical frontier between India and China lies not in the oceans but in the Himalayas. And at its heart is not oil, trade, or weapons but faith. What looks like a spiritual tradition rooted in non-violence and mysticism has become, in the 21st century, a geopolitical chessboard. Monasteries that once served as centres of meditation and monastic education now sit at the frontlines of national power games. The reincarnation of lamas has become a matter not just of religion but also of sovereignty. And in regions such as Ladakh, Tawang, and even remote Bhutan, Buddhist culture is increasingly shaped not only by the sacred but also by strategy. China's campaign has escalated Both India and China understand that influence over Himalayan Buddhism is influence over identity, and in borderlands where lines on a map are fuzzy, identity is everything. For China, this means turning Buddhism into a tool of statecraft. Since the 1950s, Beijing has worked to dominate Tibetan religious life: it exiled or marginalised independent lamas, co-opted institutions, and, most crucially, claimed the sole right to approve reincarnations. In 2007, the Chinese government formally asserted that any 'Living Buddha' must be sanctioned by the state. The message was clear: spiritual legitimacy flows from political authority. This campaign has escalated in recent years. China now maintains a database of officially recognised reincarnate lamas, monitors monastery activities across Tibet, and has launched an ambitious Buddhist diplomacy campaign across the Himalayas. Sacred sites are being repurposed as instruments of soft power. Roads lead to shrines built with Beijing's help. Conference invitations are extended to Himalayan monks who return home with subtle shifts in loyalty. Meanwhile, India has largely played catch-up. Hosting the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan exile government since 1959 gave India moral clout but little strategic advantage — until recently. Only in the last decade has New Delhi begun to engage seriously with Buddhism as a tool of influence, promoting its heritage as the Buddha's birthplace and funding regional pilgrimage circuits. Yet, these efforts remain fragmented when compared to China's centralised vision. As one scholar puts it, India practises Buddhist diplomacy: China practises Buddhist statecraft. Nowhere is the tension more visible than in the looming succession of the 14th Dalai Lama. The spiritual leader who turned 90 in July, has signalled that he intends to reincarnate outside Chinese territory — most likely in India. Beijing, predictably, has vowed to appoint its own Dalai Lama, using the centuries-old 'Golden Urn' method. The result will almost certainly be two rival Dalai Lamas: one recognised by the Tibetan exile community and much of the global Buddhist diaspora, and one endorsed by Beijing and installed in Lhasa under heavy guard. This schism would not just split Tibetan Buddhism. It would force Buddhist communities across the Himalayan rim — in Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nepal, and Bhutan — to pick sides. In doing so, it could reshape the geopolitical allegiances of entire regions. If the spiritual figure they revere sits in India, loyalty may deepen toward New Delhi. If he is seated in Lhasa, with Chinese backing and resources, the gravitational pull could shift east. Already, signs of this tug-of-war are visible. In Arunachal Pradesh, China asserts its claim to Tawang, birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama — not only through military posturing but also through spurious cultural logic. 'It is Tibetan,' Beijing summarily argues, 'and therefore ours'. In Nepal, Beijing has invested heavily in Buddhist infrastructure, especially around Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace. And in Bhutan, China subtly courts monastic communities even as the kingdom maintains a tight control over religious affairs. Working on internal disagreements What is striking is how even internal Buddhist disagreements are now strategic openings. The Karma Kagyu school — one of Tibetan Buddhism's major lineages — has two rival Karmapas, each claiming rightful leadership. China and India have found ways to align with different sides of the split, transforming a spiritual dispute into a proxy conflict. Similarly, the contentious Dorje Shugden sect, ostracised by the Dalai Lama, has found unexpected empathy from Chinese authorities eager to weaken the exile hierarchy. The battle for Buddhism is not about dogma — it is about who gets to define legitimacy, and in doing so, shape the loyalties of border populations. This is particularly relevant in places such as Ladakh, where the Buddhist identity coexists with a deep nationalist pride that is Indian. India's challenge is to ensure that spiritual allegiance does not drift toward foreign-controlled lineages, especially when those lineages sit across the Line of Actual Control. It is tempting to dismiss all this as secondary — religious pageantry in the face of realpolitik. But that would be a mistake. In the Himalayas, where territory is often inaccessible and infrastructure scarce, soft power is hard power. A monastery that shifts allegiance is a strategic loss. A high lama that pledges loyalty across the border can change the balance of influence in a valley, or even a district. And the stakes are only rising. After the Dalai Lama's time, the question of succession will become a global issue. Countries with significant Buddhist populations, from Mongolia to Sri Lanka, may be asked to take sides. The diplomatic fallout could be severe. For India, hosting the next Dalai Lama will be both an opportunity and a challenge: a chance to cement spiritual influence in the region, but also a trigger for intense Chinese pressure. The stage In this unfolding story, the Himalayas are not a backwater. They are the stage. The monasteries-in-the-clouds, the chanting monks, the adorned prayer wheels; they are not just relics of a bygone age, but instruments of power in a new one. This is where China and India are already competing — not with missiles, but with a spiritual succession crisis. And that is why, even as the world watches for signs of confrontation in the oceanic waters of the Indo-Pacific, the real front may lie higher — among the clouds and the cliffs, in the realm where the spiritual becomes geopolitical. The next great struggle between Asia's two giants could well be fought not with submarines and aircraft carriers, but with threngwas (prayer beads in Tibetan) and reincarnations. Nirupama Rao is a former Foreign Secretary and the author of 'The Fractured Himalaya; India, Tibet, China: 1949 to 1962'She posts on X as @NMenonRao
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
China probes Tibet ex-leader over bribes, 'superstitious activities'
Chinese authorities have removed a former leader of Tibet from office over alleged crimes, including taking bribes and engaging in 'superstitious activities', the country's top anti-corruption bodies said Tuesday (July 22, 2025). Qizhala – who was governor of the western region from 2017 to 2021 – was dismissed over 'serious violations of discipline', a statement said, a common euphemism for corruption. He had most recently served as a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's main political advisory body. Beijing's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Supervisory Commission said Qizhala 'betrayed' his original mission by accepting bribes and misusing public funds to host illegal banquets. He also colluded with business owners to secure favourable contracts and engaged in 'superstitious activities' over a long period, they said. His family were also accused of using his official position for personal gain. Ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members are banned from participating in 'superstitious activities' – including some religious practices that 'erode' a cadre's loyalties. Religion is tightly controlled in Tibet, where Chinese troops in 1959 crushed an uprising in the capital forcing its spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to flee. United Nations experts have raised alarm at Chinese government policies allegedly aimed at assimilating Tibetan people culturally, religiously and linguistically. Last week, a court in Beijing handed a suspended death sentence to Wu Yingjie, the head of the CCP in the region from 2016 to 2021, for taking bribes worth almost $50 million. Mr. Wu was expelled from the party in December, also over 'serious violations of discipline.' President Xi Jinping has overseen a wide-ranging campaign against official graft since coming to power over a decade ago. Critics say it also serves as a way to purge political rivals.
News18
8 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
China's Construction Of The Motuo Dam On The Brahmaputra River Has Raised Alarms China News
Chinese authorities have begun constructing what will be the world's largest hydropower dam in Tibetan territory, in a project that has sparked concerns from India and Premier Li Qiang presided over a ceremony marking the start of construction on the Yarlung Tsangpo river on Saturday, according to local media. News18 Mobile App -
India.com
11 hours ago
- India.com
Harry Potter Vibes? These Darjeeling Legends Feel Straight Out Of A Fantasy Movie
When the first light of dawn touches the rolling hills of Darjeeling, something ancient stirs. The lush tea gardens glow emerald, the toy train's whistle carries on the crisp air, and if you listen closely, you might hear stories whispered by the wind—tales of yogis, warriors, and even creatures that hide beyond snow-capped peaks. Most visitors flock to Tiger Hill for sunrise or ride the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. But Darjeeling's true magic lies in its myths—those hidden stories woven into every corner of this hill station. Let's step off the beaten path and follow the trails where legends still live. What makes Darjeeling more than just a view of Kanchenjunga? It's not just the height or the scent of first-flush tea. It's the collision of cultures—Tibetan monasteries and colonial bungalows, Hindu temples and Buddhist stupas. It's a place where British-era rail tracks cross ancient mountain passes, where every stone seems to hold a secret. Unlike busy markets or crowded viewpoints, Darjeeling's legends unfold in silence, in moments between train whistles and clinking teacups. Here, the mundane slips away, and the border between history and myth grows thin. 1. Ghoom Monastery – Home of the Snow Lion Perched just above Darjeeling, the Yiga Choeling Gompa is said to guard the pass with the roar of the mythical Snow Lion. Monks whisper that at dawn you can glimpse its shadow dancing on prayer flags. Inside, the giant Maitreya Buddha smiles as if he knows the monastery's oldest secret: centuries ago, a lama tamed a malevolent spirit of the mountains and bound it here forever. 2. Batasia Loop – Where Love Echoes in the Wind This spiral rail track offers panoramic views of Darjeeling town and Kanchenjunga. But locals say it also holds a tragic love story. Two young train drivers, divided by caste, worked here in the 1920s. Forbidden to marry, they vowed their love at midnight beneath the loop's arch. It is said that on clear nights, if you listen closely, you can hear their laughter mingling with the steam whistle. 3. Observatory Hill – The Seat of the Mahakal Above the Mall lies a cluster of shrines dedicated to Shiva as Mahakal, the Lord of Time. This site was once the stronghold of the Lepcha people, who called it 'Dorje Ling' or 'Thunderbolt Commune.' Legend tells of a Lepcha priest who vanquished a demon that shook the very hills with its tantrums. Today, pilgrims light butter lamps in honor of that ancient victory. 4. Lloyd's Botanical Gardens – The Whispering Ferns These manicured gardens were established by the British botanist William Lloyd. What most tourists miss are the stone markers deep among rhododendrons. They commemorate local healers who once foraged rare plants here. An old tale claims that anyone who gathers the ghost orchid at twilight will be granted a single healing wish—if they can find their way back without a guide. 5. Cab Ride to Mirik – The Lake of Tears Mirik Lake, framed by pines and cardamom farms, seems serene. Yet, its name translates to 'mirror of tears.' Centuries ago, a queen wept here for her lost lover, a prince who vanished on a dragon's back. Even now, some say the water shimmers red at dusk, as though soaked by her sorrow. 6. Tinchuley – The Valley of the Invisible Yeti A two-hour drive north lies the hamlet of Tinchuley, where trekking paths wind through bamboo forests. Local guides speak of footprints in the mist—hulking, three-toed tracks that vanish at creek crossings. They say the Yeti is a guardian of the forest, appearing only to those who respect the land. 7. Happy Valley Tea Estate – The Ghost of the Planter This estate dates back to 1854. Workers claim that at moonrise, the ghost of the original British planter strolls the rows of tea bushes, inspecting the leaves. Some say he's still searching for the 'perfect harvest' that was lost when he vanished without a trace during a storm. Why follow Darjeeling's myths instead of just its landmarks? Because these stories give the hills a heartbeat. They remind us that travel is more than photos—it's a conversation with time itself. Each legend you uncover connects you to the people who have called these mountains home for centuries. Practical Tips: How to Discover Darjeeling's Legends Rise before sunrise. Catch the toy train at Darjeeling Railway Station and ride to Ghoom. The early hours are when whispers feel loudest. Talk to locals. Taxi drivers, tea pickers, and monastery caretakers each have a favorite tale. They'll share it best over a cup of masala chai. Pack light layers. Hill weather changes fast. A warm scarf and a flashlight help you explore gardens and shrines as dusk falls. Respect sacred spaces. Remove shoes at temples, heed monks' requests, and walk softly—these places are alive with reverence. The Hidden Economy of Legends: Why This Journey Matters When you explore beyond the Mall Road and Tiger Hill, you support family-run homestays in Beltangadi, roadside stalls in Lebong, and tea estates in Happy Valley. You ease pressure on crowded spots like Chowrasta and give value to villages that preserve these stories. In short, your footsteps ensure that Darjeeling's myths continue to live, whispered by every leaf and stone. So what's holding you back? A winding hillside? That's part of the charm. A forgotten shrine? That's where the magic hides. Darjeeling doesn't just offer tea or mountain views. It invites you into its legends. And while the toy train puffs through emerald hills, somewhere not far off, an old monk chants a blessing over a hidden shrine. A breeze stirs the prayer flags, and a story waits to be heard. Not for a selfie. Not for a for the journey. Final Thought Don't just visit Darjeeling. Wander into its stories. The next time you see the Kanchenjunga glow at dawn, don't just snap a picture—pause, breathe, and listen. Because history doesn't shout. It whispers. And here, in these mist-kissed hills, every whisper is a door to another time.
