The Dalai Lama’s 86th birthday was celebrated by Tibetans and admirers all over the world.

Several world leaders including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken greeted the Dalai Lama on his birthday.  Significantly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Dalai Lama over telephone and greeted him.

Further, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh attended the celebrations in Dharamshala and Minister of State of External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi attended the event in Delhi to mark his birthday. 

It is reported that the Chinese Foreign Minister objected to Modi greeting the Dalai Lama and Indian officials participating in the celebrations.   

Dalai Lama

It is good that Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar responded that the Dalai Lama was an honourable guest of India, and the birthday messages were part of India’s consistent policy to treat and respect the Dalai Lama as an honoured guest , who has the freedom to conduct religious and spiritual activities.

Many Indians are of the view that India greeting the Dalai Lama is an internal matter in India and China has no business to object.

China's vicious mindset towards the Dalai Lama is not surprising since most people in the world do not expect any better conduct from the present leadership in Beijing.

China has harmed Tibet, massacred innocent Tibetans and is occupying Tibet for the last several decades with a vice-like grip and suppressing freedom of the Tibetans. 

China is doing everything possible to brainwash the Tibetans in Tibet and make them forget Tibetan culture, traditions and value systems.

China and Tibet

China’s criticism of Prime Minister Modi greeting the Dalai Lama shows that it is not succeeding in suppressing the spirit of Tibetans and their love for Tibetan culture and philosophy.

The Dalai Lama is an embodiment of peace , harmony and love for all and he hates none . He does not even hate the leaders in present day China despite all the harm that they have done to Tibet and issuing venomous statements against him.

The Dalai Lama has that his goal is the preservation of Tibetan culture. What concerns him the most is preserving and safeguarding Tibetan culture and language. The Dalai Lama noted that growing numbers of Chinese people are taking interest in Buddhism.

What a sharp difference between the towering standard of the Dalai Lama and the deplorable mindset of the Chinese leaders?

Free Tibet

Obviously, the pre-requisite for preserving Tibetan culture, tradition and language is that Tibet should become an independent country and Tibetans must govern it. With China continuing to be occupier of Tibet, it is not possible to realize the Dalai Lama’s goal of preserving Tibetan culture and language.

It is sad that the aggressor (read China) appears to have the last laugh, which it should not be.

The conscience of India is deeply disturbed to see the present plight of Tibetans and the Dalai Lama not being in a position to go back to the holy land of Tibet. Many Indians believe that India has really not opposed the occupation of Tibet by China in any meaningful way so far.

Now, there is overwhelming realization amongst Indians that the mindset of the leadership of China is destructive and that Beijing has to be opposed.

The conscience of Indians will be satisfied only when Tibet is freed and the Dalai Lama regains his rightful place in Tibet and achieves his goal of protecting Tibet’s tradition and culture.

Many Indians hope that Prime Minister Modi's greeting the Dalai Lama is a step that should be followed by more pro-active ways to help Tibet regain its freedom.

(The writer is a Trustee, NGO Nandini Voice for the Deprived, Chennai. Views are personal. He can be contacted at nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com)