The 90th Birthday of Dalai Lama
His Holiness Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, the Great 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is one of the most beloved and revered spiritual Gurus of the modern world. An ardent messenger of Gautam Buddha’s teachings, His Holiness is one of greatest humanitarian world leaders whose commitment to non-violence and universal harmony has been the strongest proponent of peace and dialogue in the 21st century. Now, the spiritual head of the Tibetan people, his life events are significant milestones in the history of Tibet. From his enthronement as the spiritual head of Tibet in 1940 when he was five years old, to becoming the temporal head of Tibetan people in 1950 in the wake of communist Chinese aggressions, and then his miraculous exodus to India amidst the largest Tibetan uprising against the Chinese annexation in March 1959, his exiled life in India thereafter, and his visionary mission for giving spiritual and political leadership to Tibetans in their struggle to gain self-determination and freedom of Tibet has drafted a remarkable facade of modern history of the Tibetan people. Under his tutelage, the Tibetan culture and religion has found a new lease of life in India and the free world outside Tibet.
His Holiness has unfailingly engaged the world with his motherland Tibet, and the predicament of six million Tibetans facing the forceful occupation of Tibet by the communist People’s Republic of China since 1950s. Every decision and life event of the 14th Dalai Lama has directed Tibet in a course of history, be it the global significance of his thoughts and teachings, his worldwide followers who supports the Tibetan cause, his progressive religious reforms within the Tibetan Buddhism, the introduction of democracy in Tibetan political structure, his global recognitions like the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, his retirement from the political leadership of Tibet in 2011, and the recently declared framework for his succession amidst his 90th birthday celebration in 2025 marks a significant chronology of events that directed the future of Tibetans as well as the followers of Tibetan Buddhism in India, China, other parts of the world and also the world community at large.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama officially announced his affirmation for the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution on 2nd July 2025, four days ahead of his 90th birthday celebration worldwide. In this much awaited declaration, he addressed the anticipated interference of communist China in the future selection of the reincarnated 15th Dalai Lama by authorizing the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with exclusive rights to identify and select the future Dalai Lama. He thwarted outside interferences by reiterating that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter. His Holiness poured his benevolent blessings and hope for Tibetans, his followers, and the entire humanity with this declaration by putting an end to years of speculations about his decision on his reincarnation and future of the Dalai Lama tradition of Tibet, he had earlier stated that “As far back as 1969, I made clear that concerned people should decide whether the Dalai Lama’s reincarnations should continue in the future.” He had also said “When I am about ninety, I will consult the high Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public, and other concerned people who follow Tibetan Buddhism, to re-evaluate whether or not the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue.”
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the Bodhisattva of compassion is revered as the manifestation of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig by Tibetans and his followers; he epitomises a living legacy of ancient India’s Bodhisattva movement, and as he says Tibetan Buddhism derives from and preserves the authentic Nalanda tradition of India. His affirmation for continuation of the Dalai Lama institution after him is a matter of great happiness for all Indians, because Indian heritage of ancient knowledge, and Sanatana philosophy is inseparably connected with the glorious Nalanda tradition of ancient India. This declaration announcing the continuation of the 600 years old Dalai Lama tradition of Tibet gives hope to Tibetan youths and all supporters of the Tibetan freedom movement because Dalai Lama acts as the most important uniting factor in the Tibetan culture, which is well reflected in the aura and influence of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama amongst all.
The 2nd July, 2025 declaration of His Holiness gives hope to the entire world, the believers, non-believers, and all sentient beings, because the Dalai Lama reincarnates with the vow to guide all sentient beings caught up in the delusional samsara of sufferings and ignorance to the path of Bodhicitta and nirvana. His Holiness had renounced his political leadership way back in 2011, but his decisions purely related to religion and spirituality continues to give a run for the communist Chinese government without fail. This declaration too had a prompt response from the Chinese government which rejected the succession plan declared by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with its dubious claims over the religious matters of Tibet. This demonstrates the forceful and repressive policies of People’s Republic of China on Tibet and Tibetan culture. The world could never forget the abduction of the 6 years old 11th Panchen Lama, Gendun Choki Nyima and his family in 1995 by the communist Chinese government, right after his recognition as the reincarnation of the second highest figure of Tibetan Buddhism by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. A different boy, Gyaincain Norbu was selected as the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet by the communist Chinese government the same year, and the whereabouts of the His Holiness Gedun Choki Nyima is not disclosed till date. The selection of 11th Panchen Lama by the Chinese government was immediately denounced by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1995; the Tibetan community and their world supporters continues to demand the communist Chinese government for information on the whereabouts of Gedun Choki Nyima and his family.
The world knows that communist China is ready to pounce with plans to interfere with the reincarnation of the 15th Dalai Lama with likely dual succession, as was practiced in the case of Panchen Lama in 1995. His Holiness put up a firm challenge for communist Chinese misadventures with his official plan of succession as stated in the declaration. This official plan of succession as provided by His Holiness will be tested for its strength when the time arrives, but the world leaders must make their moves in favour of His Holiness and Tibet while we arrive at that fateful time in history. In the meanwhile, the entire world, and most likely communist China will closely monitor India’s stand on this succession plan of His Holiness.
It is to be remembered that India has always stood by the Tibetans despite the tricky geopolitical Sino-Indian scenario. India has been the epicentre of the peaceful Tibetan struggle for independence outside Tibet for decades, and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is revered by all Indians with utmost faith and love towards him. Indian citizens share an age-old cultural, religious, and regional kinship with the Tibetans; a very beautiful reflection of this bond is visible amongst the people of Assam and Northeast India who are connected with Tibet through the colourful Tsangpo-Siang-Brahmaputra civilization for ages, and people’s forums like ‘Free Tibet -a voice from Assam’ has connected the people of both the countries in a civil society movement of Indian citizens demanding the complete freedom of Tibet. The much-debated issue of India’s Tibet policy needs a greater understanding and sensibility because Indo-Tibetan relationship has always remained beyond politics and border. The Tibetans consider India as their Arya Bhumi, and India can never forget the timeless spiritual bond of ‘Guru-Chela’ shared between Bharat and Tibbat.
I join the world in celebration of the glorious nine decades of His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, with prayers for his long life and return of His Holiness and his people to the land of snow lions.
(The author, Novanita Sharma, is an environment activist and writer from Assam. She is an integral part of Nature’s Beckon, a prominent environment activists’ group of Northeast India, Buddha Chetana Bharat, a forum for progressive growth of Sanatana Buddhist philosophy in Assam, and Free Tibet – a voice from Assam, a people’s forum supporting the peaceful Tibetan freedom movement in Assam.)
You can contact Novanita on : sharmanovanita21@gmail.com