The Week India – July 14, 2019

38 THE WEEK • JULY 14, 2019

COVER STORY

THE DALAI LAMA

President Lobsang Sangay runs the

Central Tibetan Administration from

Gangchen Kyishong, a 10-minute drive

from the Dalai Lama’s offi ce on the

winding Temple Road in Dharamshala.

The government in exile has seven

departments—religion and culture,

home, fi nance, education, security,

information and international relations,

and health. Run by Kashags (cabinet

ministers), they look after the welfare

of 1.5 lakh Tibetan refugees. The CTA

has its own judiciary, executive and

legislature (parliament in exile) and

holds elections every fi ve years.

In an exclusive interview, Lobsang

told THE WEEK that the envoys of the

Dalai Lama were ready to hold talks

with China any time, anywhere. China,

however, is putting enormous pressure

on Nepal to prevent Tibetans from

crossing over. Excerpts:

Are you concerned about the

decline in the Tibetan population in

India?

The Tibetan population in exile remains

the same at around 1.5 lakh, of which

around 50,000 are living abroad (out-

side India). However, there has been

a decline in the number of Tibetans

coming into exile from Tibet. There

were a few thousands coming till 2008;

now it is a few hundreds.

Are you satisfi ed with the Indian

government’s help? Do you need

any concessions?

No country has done more for Tibetans

than India. For that we will always

remain grateful to India and its people.

The Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy of

2014 is one of many initiatives the

Indian government has taken. Just as

China considers Tibet one of its core

issues, I appeal to the Indian govern-

ment to include Tibet in its core issues,

considering the historical, environ-

mental and geopolitical signifi cance

of Tibet.

What is the CTA’s policy towards

China?

The CTA’s offi cial policy is the Mid-

dle-Way Approach, which aims at

resolving the issue of Tibet through

dialogue. And through this approach,

we are seeking genuine autonomy for

the Tibetan people.

Are you open to talks with the Chi-

nese government?

Of course. The envoys of His Holiness

the Dalai Lama are always willing and

ready to meet with the Chinese repre-

sentatives any time and anywhere.

What role do you see for India in

bringing Tibet and China together?

India can play a constructive role in

resolving the Tibet issue based on the

Middle-Way Approach.

How important is the reincarnation

of the 14th Dalai Lama for the Tibet-

an people?

Chenrezig (the Bodhisattva of Compas-

sion) and Tibet are inseparable. The Dalai

Lamas (believed to be manifestations of

Chenrezig) and the Tibetan people are

inseparable. The Dalai Lamas have unit-

ed the Tibetans, becoming a powerful

symbol.

There are concerns about infi ghting

within the CTA. How do you

see politics impacting your

administration?

We have a democracy and there will

be diff erences of views. That is all.

Since 2007, we have had a 78 per

cent increase in voter registration and

participation. We are also seeing more

electoral participation among the Tibetan

diaspora.

Are you the smallest government in

exile in the world?

There are several governments in exile,

and ours is likely to be the most eff ective

one. We have a literacy rate of 94 per

cent, and the CTA has several depart-

ments that cater to all-round welfare of

the Tibetan community. The CTA has

also been advocating for the Tibet issue

around the world.

Why is your government called the

Central Tibetan Administration and

not government in exile?

We have been trying to accommodate

the Chinese concerns and changed

the name from the Tibetan govern-

ment-in-exile to CTA. The title of the

prime minister of the CTA was changed

to ‘president’ or the Sikyong (in 2012).

■ INTERVIEW

Lobsang Sangay

president, Central Tibetan Administration

Ready to talk to China

BY NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA

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