protests erupted in the capital, Lhasa,
against the continued presence of the
Chinese in the country. The rebellion
failed, and led to a brutal crackdown
on independence movements. Forced
to flee, the Dalai Lama established
the Tibetan government in exile, the
Central Tibetan Administration, in
Dharamsala, northern India, where
he has been based since.
The Dalai Lama has campaigned
extensively for the freedom and
democratisation of Tibet. His 1963
“Charter of Tibetans in Exile” outlined
guidelines for an administration. In
1992, this administration released
guidelines for a free Tibet, with
the aim of electing a constitutional
assembly. Lobsang Tenzin was electedThe spiritual leader of Tibet, His
Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin
Gyatso, was born on July 6, 1935. He
was recognised as the reincarnation of
the previous Dalai Lama at the age of
two. The Dalai Lamas are believed to
be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara
or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of
Compassion and the patron saint of
Tibet. Bodhisattvas are inspired by
a desire to attain Buddhahood with
the purpose of being reborn in the
world to help humanity. His monastic
education culminated in a Geshe
Lharampa degree – the highest
doctorate in Buddhist philosophy.
In 1950, China invaded Tibet, and
the Dalai Lama assumed political
power. After nine years of oppression,as Chairman of the Cabinet in 2001 –
a milestone for Tibet, as the people
elected their political leader.
In 2011, the Dalai Lama requested
that he retire from his temporal
authority, announcing that he was
ending the tradition by which Dalai
Lamas had gained and wielded
authority in Tibet. He resumed the
status of the first four Dalai Lamas,
concerning himself with spiritual
affairs. He was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1989 for his commitment
to seeking reconciliation between Tibet
and China, despite brutal violations.
His attempts to restore peace
and human rights set negotiations in
motion, but the proposal was rejected
by the Chinese government. agicon
The Dalai Lama
TibeT’s spiriTual leader and purveyor of peace
“The world belongs to
humanity, not this leader,
that leader, kings or
religious leaders”
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai LamaIMAGE © SHUTTERSTOCK