It’s not easy picking up the reins from a living saint. As he took the oath of office the new political leader of Tibetans in exile, Lobsang Sangay, looked nervous. Who can blame him, blogs Lindsey Hilsum.
It’s not easy picking up the reins from a living saint. As he took the oath of office in Dharamsala today, the new political leader of Tibetans in exile, Lobsang Sangay, looked nervous. Who can blame him?
A Harvard law graduate, aged 42, he was born in exile, and has never even been to his homeland. He represents the new generation struggling to regain Tibet. But without the legitimacy of being a reincarnated Buddha, how much influence will he have?
The Dalai Lama remains the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, but from now on political leaders of Tibetans in exile will be elected.
“A four century old tradition has now completely ended,” said the Dalai Lama in an interview to be broadcast on Channel 4 News tonight. “This is not just retirement. In the political field from now on, forever, an elected political leadership will take full responsibility.”
At 76, the Dalai Lama, is trying to ensure that he will leave behind a strong political organisation, fighting peacefully for Tibet’s autonomy within China. But already, some frustrated exiles are saying Lobsang Sangay is perpetuating “a failed and inane strategy” by demanding autonomy within China not independence.
They followed the Dalai Lama’s “middle way”, because he was their undisputed leader, but as the political and spiritual sides of the Tibetan movement part company, they’re likely to be more fractious.
Chinese officials, one of whom memorably described the Dalai Lama as “a wolf in monk’s robes, a devil with a human face but the heart of a beast,” are just waiting for him to die, hoping that the Tibetan movement in exile will then fragment further. Lobsang Sanjay has a lot to feel nervous about.
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