Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File photo/PTI
By Lobsang Wangyal
McLEOD GANJ, India, 6 July 2021
In a rare action by any Indian leader, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has greeted Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on his birthday.
Modi in a tweet said, “Spoke on phone to His Holiness the @DalaiLama to convey greetings on his 86th birthday. We wish him a long and healthy life.”
New Delhi recognises Tibet as a part of China, and Indian leaders have generally treaded cautiously while dealing with the Dalai Lama to avoid annoying China.
Beijing regards the Dalai Lama as a “splittist” bent on breaking Tibet away from China, and frowns at any world leader engaging with him.
The Dalai Lama has lived in the Himalayan village of McLeod Ganj in Northern India since coming in to exile in 1959. He established the Central Tibetan Administration, which rallies for autonomy through what he calls the Middle-Way approach, rather than seeking independence.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, during the occasion marking the centenary of Communist Party of China last week, warned that foreign forces attempting to bully China “will find themselves on a collision course with a steel wall forged by 1.4 billion people”.
The Dalai Lama addressed his followers through a video message, reiterating his resolve to serve the humanity through karuna (compassion) and ahinsa (non-violence) until his last breath.
“I am just one human being. Many people show their love for me. And many people love my smile. Despite my old age, my face is quite handsome. Many people show me genuine friendship”, said the Dalai Lama in the video.
“Since I became a refugee and now settled in India, I have taken full advantage of India’s freedom and religious harmony. I want to assure you that for the rest of my life I am committed to reviving ancient Indian knowledge”.
He urged his followers to commit themselves to practice karuna and ahinsa in their daily lives.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen also wished the Dalai Lama a happy birthday, tweeting: “Thank you for teaching us the importance of coming together to help one another through this pandemic.”
The Dalai Lama was born on 6 July 1935 in the village of Taktser in traditional Amdo province, what is now called Qinghai province of China.
PM Modi’s gesture is very much appreciated. I would have thought Modi would meet HH many times since he is a semi-sanyasi of sorts. He joined the RSS at the tender age of eight and brought up with Hindu ethos. However, after meeting the Dalai Lama once in 2015 soon after he became PM in 2014, Modi kept a distance from HH.
It was his attempt to please the Chinese of course. Owing to following the Chinese dictate, he saw Xi in Wuhan and later in Mamallapuram in Chennai. It was believed at the time that Modi had a chemistry to improve India-China relations but it all went haywire.
India has high stake in the future reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. All across the Himalayas, from Ladakh to Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh are Buddhist enclaves who are devout followers of the present Dalai Lama. If India doesn’t play a role in the reincarnation issue, this would be seen by the people of the Himalayan region as India’s indifference to their faith. After all, all of them are concerned about Chinese interference and totally unfounded claims.
The recognition will be done by the high lamas in exile but India must throw its weight with the reincarnation recognised by CTA, the Tibetan Government-in-exile. The real reincarnation will be the CTA candidate of course but since it’s been politicised by the CCP, it now needs the support of powerful backers like India, the US and it’s allies to legitimise the reincarnation to the international audience.
This was not at all necessary had the CCP didn’t recklessly makes outrageous claims and intends to install its fake candidate. It’s a desperate and utterly bankrupt CCP who intends to prop up its candidate to use as a proxy to rule Tibet. What an irony that they blamed the Dalai Lama’s rule in Tibet but then they want his reincarnation!!!