Celebrating 90, Mourning 75 years

As the Dalai Lama is about to celebrate his 90th birthday, this year also marks the 75 years of Chinese rule over Tibet. This summons reflections of the nation’s past and raises questions about its future.

Sera Monastery, Namtso Lake

​If you have ever watched Twin Peaks, you will remember Agent Cooper’s fascination with a “country on the rooftop of the world,” as Tibet is often called, and his deep empathy expressed towards the fate of its people. Although Agent Cooper is (unfortunately) a fictional character, his devotion reflects a very real problem.

​While discussing human rights issues in China, the fate of the Tibetan people is often highlighted. This year marks the 75th anniversary of Chinese forces crossing the Tibetan border, invading the country. Over the years, the Chinese government has gradually been depriving Tibetans of their autonomy, culture, language and religion. They often aim their policies at the youngest, to separate them from the culture of their ancestors.

​Since 2002, Tibetan has been removed as the advisable taught language in schools, and since 2018, due to the Chinese Communist Party’s official order, it can only be used during Tibetan language classes. Moreover, some estimate that up to 80% of Tibetan children are now enrolled in special boarding schools across China, separated from their parents. 

The Chinese authorities have explained this undertaking as preparation for Tibetan students to live in a country with Mandarin as a dominant language. They also argue that placing children in boarding schools provides those from remote regions with access to proper education. But the Tibetan activists claim that the real purpose of these reforms is “to produce a population that would not be able to practice its language and culture in the future.”

Furthermore, in 2018, the monks were forbidden to teach in schools, breaking one of the most direct links between youth and their religious heritage. This policy aligns with broader ideological directives from the Chinese Communist Party. The Communique on the Current State of the Ideological Sphere (better known as Document No. 9) from 2013 explicitly describes religion as a threat to national sovereignty. As the solution to the problem, the party points to the sinicization of the religions, seeking to subordinate religious practices to state ideology.

Tibetan Buddhism is an integral part of Tibetan culture. The Dalai Lama remains one of the most recognised symbols of the country. Not only as a religious leader, but also as the head of state ruling over Tibet for centuries.

However, since a failed anti-Chinese uprising in 1959, the Dalai Lama has been living in exile in India, where he runs the government-in-exile, advocating for Tibetan independence and wellbeing, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. The dualistic nature of this figure makes him especially inconvenient for the Chinese government. He is frequently called a separatist by the Chinese authorities, and for years, the possession of his pictures has been punished by prison time.

But based in Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama—Tenzin Gyatso—is about to celebrate his 90th birthday. The grand celebration of his life and legacy will begin on the 6th of July and will last for a year. This dignified anniversary might bring new attention to the Tibetan cause, but also raises questions about the succession of the 14th Dalai Lama and the future of Tibetan Buddhism. 

​For years, people have worried about the aftermath of Gyatso’s death. Until now, the Dalai Lama has always been reincarnated in Tibet. But with the region being under occupation, this raises concerns that if reincarnated within China’s borders, Chinese authorities would seize control of the Lama’s succession. This concern is justified, given the scandal concerning the succession of the 10th Panchen Lama (the second lama after the Dalai in Tibetan Buddhism). In 1995 the Dalai Lama appointed Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, then six years old, as the next reincarnation of Panchen Lama. However, the boy disappeared just three days later, being abducted by the Chinese government. To this day, He remains missing, being recognised as the world’s youngest political prisoner. In his place, the Communist Party installed their own Panchen Lama, Gyaincain Norbu, whom they relocated and educated in Beijing. Norbu, however, is rejected by most Tibetans, being seen as a puppet of the Communist Party.

This raises legitimate concerns about the future of the 15th Dalai Lama. If born on Tibetan soil, there is no doubt that the Chinese government will try to intervene in the process, especially given the 2007 decree, which directly asserts control over the reincarnation of Tibetan lamas, including the Dalai Lama. Installed by Beijing, the Dalai Lama would be used to further assimilate Tibetans with Han culture. But, being a political pawn, without spiritual legitimacy, he would be likely to fail.

​The 14th Dalai Lama has addressed these concerns in his 2011 statement on the Issue of His Reincarnation, stating that if reincarnated, he will be reborn in a “free” country, suggesting that the reincarnation will happen outside of China’s borders.

But this statement highlights an even deeper issue concerning the Dalai Lama’s incarnation. In this announcement, he discusses the possibility of not being reborn at all. That is why his 90th birthday carries special significance, as he indicated that around this time, he will make a decision regarding the future of the 15th Dalai Lama.

“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.” —Dalai Lama Statement of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, on the Issue of His Reincarnation

It is highly unlikely for the Tibetan leader to be reborn in Tibet. If so, it is far more probable that the next Dalai Lama will be reincarnated in India, where the majority of the Tibetans in exile currently reside. While this might complicate already shaky relations between India and China, the issue remaining is: to what extent could Tibetans, especially those living in Tibet, feel connected to a Dalai Lama who has never set foot in their homeland?

Yet there is still a possibility that the Dalai Lama will choose not to reincarnate at all. The living Buddha is expected to continue the cycle of reincarnation, but with the current status quo, uncertainty remains around the future of the institution. The end of the Dalai Lama’s line would leave Tibetans without their spiritual leader and symbol of their identity. For decades, Gyatso has been advocating for the freedom of his motherland around the globe, but without the presence of the Dalai Lama, the question remains if Tibetan culture can survive without its leader and sustain the fight for the region and spiritual independence. 

However, to find out what will actually happen after the 14th Dalai Lama’s death, we will have to wait two more decades, as he stated he expects to live 113 years.

​The celebration of Tenzin Gyatso’s 90th birthday feels bittersweet. On the one hand, it honours the life of one of the most influential political figures of the 20th century. On the other hand, it is a moving reminder that over 70 years have passed since Tibetans have been living free in their homeland. 

After decades of annexation, the idea of Tibet’s liberation feels very distant. Situated at an average altitude of 4000 meters, surrounded by the Himalayas, Tibet now seems as unreachable politically as it is geographically. Yet as long as the memory of the lives remains in the people’s hearts, the culture will remain alive. But with China’s assimilation campaign and the unknown future of the Dalai Lama, the question is, for how long can that memory live?