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Next Kalon Tripa: Old wine in a new bottle?

By Chime Tenzing | Tibet Sun

Chime Tenzing in an undated file photo. Photographer unknown

I am not much of a wine enthusiast, but I am familiar with the underlying meaning of the oft-repeated expression “old wine in a new bottle”! Oddly enough, I never had the opportunity to use the expression usefully until this day. It is beginning to make more sense as the discussion on choosing our next Kalon Tripa [the prime minister] is reaching a level of activity it never has before.

This is obviously a precursor for a good move ahead in 2011. In contrast to past indifference and unawareness, the Tibetan exile populace are at least keeping their eyes and ears open to know more about the credible candidates, and are seriously discussing whom to choose and whom not to. From casual chit-chats to solemn debates, their ponderings seem to be invariably revolving around choosing our next top elected leader. The good news is — everybody wishes to elect the “best leader”, who would be capable of manoeuvring their collective aspirations to the desired destination with adequate buoyancy and optimism. The bad news: Very few seem to be quite sure on what to expect from their next Kalon Tripa! There is a detectable confusion between choosing brand new leaders versus experienced leaders (I call them old wine).

Taking a cue from the roles and responsibilities of the Prime Minister of our host country would surely help:

a) The Prime Minister of India leads the functioning and exercise of authority of the Government of India. He or she is invited by the President as leader of the majority party in the Parliament of India to form a government at the federal level (known as Central Government in India) and exercise its powers.

b) In practice, the prime minister nominates the members of the Council of Ministers to the President, and also decides on a core group of Ministers (known as the Cabinet) as in-charge of the important functions and ministries of the Government of India.

c) As the head of the government, the prime minister is responsible for distribution of work of the government to the various ministries. While generally the entire work of the government in divided into these ministries, the prime minister may retain certain portfolios with himself or herself.

d) The prime minister, in consultation with the cabinet, schedules and attends the sessions of the houses of parliament, and is required to answer the questions from the members of parliament as the in-charge of the portfolios he holds or in his or her capacity as the prime minister of India.

e) The prime minister is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Planning Commission of India, and appoints the Deputy Chairman of the Commission, who is responsible for the functioning of the Commission and reports to the prime minister.

f) The prime minister represents the country in various delegations, high-level meetings, and international organisations that require the attendance of the highest government office, and also addresses to the nation on various issues of national or other importance.

g) Also in the exclusive jurisdiction of the prime minister is the disposal of two national funds: the PM’s National Relief Fund and the PM’s National Defence Fund, as appropriate to their objectives.

Interestingly, adding to the new wave of political attentiveness, mushrooming new age groups are involved in spreading political awareness, such as the new Tibetan Political Review. According to the TPR team: “Serving in the highest-elected office of the Tibetan nation requires more than academic qualities divorced from the big picture and on-the-ground realities. It also requires political adeptness, principled idealism, and political vision. The next Kalon Tripa will need all of these qualities to lead the Tibetan people.” Whereas a different school of thought believes in sending young guns to the top echelon of leadership who could not only strengthen, but also revolutionise the way we characterise our leadership.

The major difference in opinion among our electorate is the weight they give to the “experienced” and the “inexperienced”. So, going by the conventional wisdom, the old and the experienced have the advantage of gaining more support and eventually pocketing more vote counts! The history of our leadership says in ample measure that we are always after the “experience factor” more than anything else, and as a result we leave the up-and-coming leaders in the lurch.

Talking specifically about the next Kalon Tripa, first of all we would need to have a clear picture of the powers and everyday duties of the role. Two broad areas where our next Ka-tri would be tried and tested are in “Nangsi and Chisi,” or internal and external affairs. Since we do not have an external affairs minister and a home minister, should our Ka-tri be adept in both the areas?

Some would say our next leader should be a headstrong youth who could churn our political goal depending on the situation, and not always or necessarily U-Mey Lam (middle way approach), regardless of how the Chinese side reacts.

Others prefer to see the new leadership in the light of internal or home affairs. This would mean, among other things, maintaining unity and orderliness among the scattered expatriates in the West and the exile community based in India, Nepal and Bhutan; strengthening and expanding the livelihood of the Tibetans in the refugee settlements and their welfare; bringing out innovative ways to preserve our cultural identity; and improving the educational standards of the Tibetan schools in exile. However, to do this the leader will always have the backup of his Kashag or cabinet ministers, whose responsibilities include supervising each department under their influence.

So what should be the main focus of the Ka-tri — issues pertaining to politics or non-politics or home affairs or external affairs or all together? Or should experience be the only criterion in selecting our next leader? Or is it better to give room for the young go-getters to “learn and lead” us into the next five unforeseen years?

I am not implying anything to daunt and dampen the prevailing spirit of inquiry and discussions that have been taking place everywhere, but in my best hope I am just trying to figure out an answer to that one pesky question, and find ways to piece together two divergent political judgments. I am as much as confused as many of you are, but that does not stop me from wondering aloud who should get my vote, and who should not. Despite the nagging confusion, I am very much looking forward to cast my “precious” vote and make my contribution in bringing out the best leader from the best of the best of the candidates!

So instead of choosing skilled and experienced people, I would rather go for a candidate with new ideas and new promises for change. I feel it’s time that we gave a chance to the new faces so that we can train them for our future leadership bank as well. We have enjoyed enough “secure political period” over the past couple of decades by voting in only the experienced old hands. Despite the discernible shortage of leaders in our community, we have never given enough opportunities to the younger lot to prove their mettle in leading the masses in the right direction. While respecting the experienced and older generation of our leadership, we must also widen our view concurrent with the changes of modern times. So, the experience factor only should not get in the way of choosing our next leader(s).

Having said all that, I have to also say, I do not have any reservation against those who prefer old wine in a new bottle either! So I would only say — be wise in deciding, wiser in electing! After all, we need a leader who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

Copyright © 2010 Chime Tenzing

Published in Tibet Sun