Succession stakes on the roof of the world

My article Succession stakes on the roof of the world appeared in The New Indian Express

No wonder that during the last few weeks, a lot of excitement and expectation could be felt around Dharamsala.

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In May 2011, the Dalai Lama decided to relinquish his secular power and offer it to the people of Tibet, who could thereafter elect their own ‘political’ leader. Today, a Sikyiong or President runs the Tibetan administration from Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, where the Dalai Lama lives since 1959.
On September 24, 2012, the Dalai Lama released a long statement about his succession, he mentioned two options: a traditional reincarnation (leaving written instructions on how to find the reincarnation) or an ‘emanation’, which would mean the transfer of his consciousness and knowledge into a selected young boy (or girl). 
In the same message, the Tibetan leader wrote that he would consult senior lamas: “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, and re-evaluate whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not.” During the last few weeks, a lot of excitement and expectations could be felt around Dharamsala. 
Finally on July 2, as promised in 2011, a statement was released reaffirming that the Institution of the Dalai Lamas will continue. The Tibetan leader also reiterated: “…responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama;” it will be “the sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter." It was a clear message to China.
Earlier this year, the Tibetan leader released a book, Voice for the Voiceless, in which he asserted: “Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world (outside China) so that the traditional mission to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people, will continue.”
It was certainly a shock for Beijing who expects to control the succession process …and the next Dalai Lama.
After July 2 Statement, Beijing was quick to react; The Global Times asserted: “At its core, his [the Dalai Lama’s] intention remains the same -- to deny the traditional religious rituals and historical conventions that have governed the Dalai Lama reincarnation system for centuries, and to manipulate the reincarnation process for his own purposes.”
Of course, it is strange that an atheist State which believes that “Religion is Poison” (as per Mao Zedong’s words) can be so affirmative on such an esoteric issue like reincarnation. 
In recent years, the Dalai Lama’s succession has been widely debated. ‘Reincarnation’ is of course the fascinating topic at a time when everything is ‘scientifically’ decided (and soon by Artificial Intelligence).
However, it entails a 20-year gap (till the Dalai Lama reaches majority) in spiritual governance, a period often used in the past by China to intervene in Tibet’s religious affairs. Many believe that this gap is too risky; Buddhism should adapt to the modern world and a new system of succession should be devised, but ultimately, it remains the choice of the Dalai Lama alone and certainly not of any Marxist government to decide where the Dalai Lama’s soul will migrate.
On June 6, President Xi Jinping summoned had the Panchen Lama, a young monk imposed by Beijing as the second hierarch after the Dalai Lama. Xi requested him to “play an even better role in forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, systemically promoting the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation.”
In plain words, it means the ‘sinization’ of Tibetan Buddhism and eradication of the Indian origin and influence in the spread of Buddhism on the plateau.
The Dalai Lama’s recent statement must have been a relief for the 200 journalists and more importantly the 120 senior lamas representing different schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the Bon faith, assembled in Dharamsala; the latter unanimously welcomed the Dalai Lama’s message; though not providing details, the statement made it clear that it is the sole responsibility for the Dalai Lama’s succession lies with the Tibetan leader’s own Office.