In commemoration of his 90th birthday this week, the Dalai Lama has drawn hundreds of followers to northern India, coinciding with speculation over his successor. A video message and an official statement from the Dalai Lama's office are expected soon, although their content remains undisclosed. The Dalai Lama, having fled to India in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet, has remained a symbolic leader for those resisting Beijing's control over Tibet.
The festivities for this milestone include a three-day 15th Tibetan Religious Conference starting Wednesday, with celebrations having begun Monday, which corresponded to the Tibetan lunar calendar. Among the attendees are over 7,000 guests, including Indian officials and supporters like Richard Gere.
While addressing followers earlier, the Dalai Lama hinted at a framework for discussions about the continuation of the Dalai Lama lineage, although he refrained from offering a detailed plan. In past remarks, he suggested possibilities for his successor, including a female successor or even the discontinuance of the position. However, he recently indicated that if there is considerable support from the Tibetan diaspora for the institution’s continuity, his office will indeed select a successor, stressing that this person should be born outside China—a statement that has provoked ire from Beijing.
Doubts linger regarding the clarity of the Dalai Lama's upcoming revelations. Leaders of the Tibetan government-in-exile, like MP Youdon Aukatsang, acknowledge the significance of the Dalai Lama’s position for unity within the Tibetan movement. They express concerns over the potential void his absence may create, while suggesting that multiple figures may need to step up to fill his influential role.
Experts predict that if a successor is named, China may counter with its own appointed Dalai Lama, claiming authority to determine the reincarnation of the spiritual leader. This anticipated move is widely expected to be met with rejection by the Tibetan populace both in exile and within Tibet, as they believe a Dalai Lama chosen by the Chinese Communist Party would lack legitimacy.
The next Dalai Lama will be chosen based on the belief in the reincarnation of the old, with previous tradition dictating that signs during a search would guide the selection process. The current Dalai Lama, whose spiritual journey began at the age of two when he was recognized as the reincarnation of his predecessor, fled to India following a violent crackdown on Tibetan uprisings. Though he relinquished his political authority in 2011, he remains a beloved spiritual figure within Tibetan Buddhism.
As the Dalai Lama's birthday celebrations unfold, stories of hope for a free Tibet circulate among members of the Tibetan community. Many, like 84-year-old Lobsang Choedon, who fled Tibet during turmoil, retain deep connections to their homeland, demonstrating a resilient spirit despite decades of exile.
