By Swati Maheshwari
Dharamsala, July 10 – Thousands of Tibetans, many of them monks, and foreign tourists got together this week to mark the Dalai Lama’s 70th birthday with a day of prayers in Dharamsala.
But amidst all the celebrations, there is growing concern on the future of the Tibetan struggle and who takes over from one of the most popular Dalai Lamas in decades, who has put his cause firmly on the international map.
Tibetan cause
Scenes of celebrations outside the Dalai Lama’s residence in McLeodganj reaffirmed a well-known fact – the love and faith that this Dalai Lama inspires in Tibetans across the world.
Ever since he escaped Tibet at the age of 15 after a failed uprising against Chinese occupation of Tibet, the Dalai Lama has been the face of the Tibetan cause, keeping it alive and increasing its international visibility.
But prayers for his long life are laced with concern of what after him.
It’s a concern the Dalai Lama himself shares. He has in the past admitted his death will be a setback for the Tibetan struggle.
On being asked if the Tibet issue would be resolved in his lifetime, the Dalai Lama said, “I hope so.”
Negotiating table
However, there are those who say this optimism is not supported by facts.
The Chinese restarted meetings with the Dalai Lama’s envoys in 2002 and since then, there have been four such meetings.
While the Tibetan government in exile says a sustained dialogue is a positive development, they admit that they are still far from getting the Chinese to the negotiating table.
“Right now, we are at the stage of exchange of views. We are focussing on confidence building measures,” said Thubten Samphel, Secretary, Department of Information and International Relations.
Middle approach
The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), an NGO, disagrees with the Dalai Lama’s middle approach of demanding autonomy for Tibet within the People’s Republic of China, instead of a more radical agenda of complete independence.
It is openly skeptical about the outcome of these talks.
“We are not against discussions or negotiations. Even if TYC is given a chance, we would talk to China. But what are the essential things we are talking about. Are we talking about anything at all or are we just going there, meeting people and coming back?” said Sherab W Chophel, Secretary International Relation, TYC.
While the Dalai Lama has tried to establish democratic institutions that would guide the movement in his absence, there are real concerns about the leadership crisis that his absence could plunge the movement in.
“Whenever there has been a vacuum of his holiness, the Dalai Lama between one reincarnation to the next, there has always been chaos and confusion. China has not given us any positive response and still we are hopeful,” said Tenzin Tsundue, Friends of Tibet, NGO.
China’s clout
For geo-economic reasons, the last few years have seen India improve its relations with China.
And with China’s growing economic clout in the world, there are few who are willing to antagonise the country.
Even the issue of Tibet being given any kind of autonomy doesn’t seem anywhere close to a resolution.
In an atmosphere like this, the Dalai Lama’s absence will prove to be a truly testing time for a community struggling to keep alive hopes of seeing their nation free.
