Dharamshala – In a significant show of solidarity and spiritual reverence, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today joined the 90th birthday celebrations of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at Tsuglagkhang, the revered main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala where the spiritual leader resides. While the official Gregorian calendar marks his birthday on July 6, the festive spirit and deep devotion of Tibetan communities and followers across the region were palpable a day early.
The occasion comes amidst renewed international focus on the succession of the Dalai Lama, particularly in light of recent emphatic statements from His Holiness. On July 2, the Dalai Lama unequivocally declared that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a foundation he established, possesses the authority to recognise future reincarnations, effectively precluding any external interference, notably from China. He further reiterated this stance in a statement on Wednesday, referring back to his September 24, 2011 declaration which clearly outlines the process of search and recognition, to be carried out by the Gaden Phodrang Trust in consultation with heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions and Dharma Protectors. “I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” His Holiness affirmed.
Adding to this chorus of self-determination, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, on July 4, asserted that the choice of the Dalai Lama’s successor rests solely with the spiritual leader himself, a sentiment echoed by his global following. Rijiju, expressing his personal devotion, stated, “Anybody in the world who follows the Dalai Lama wants his successor to be chosen by the Dalai Lama himself.” This collective stance from both the spiritual leader and Indian political figures underscores a firm rejection of any external claims to influence the highly sacred and traditional process of identifying the next Dalai Lama.
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