Why did the Dalai Lama refrain from naming a successor? Is it linked to 1995 abduction of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima?
The eagerly awaited statement, delivered just days before the ailing Nobel Peace Prize laureate's 90th birthday, quashed speculation, started by the Dalai Lama himself, that he might be the final spiritual leader of Tibet, bringing an end to a centuries-old tradition.
Speaking during a week of celebrations in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala to mark his birthday, the Dalai Lama said a non-profit institution he has set up will have sole authority to identify his reincarnation, countering China's insistence that it will choose his successor.
As per experts, the Dalai Lama's decision to forgo naming a successor may be linked to the abduction of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.
In May 1995, six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was named by the 14th Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama, a role second only to the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy.
However, three days after the announcement, on May 17, 1995, the boy was allegedly kidnapped by Chinese authorities and his family taken into custody. They have remained missing ever since. Weeks later, China installed its own Panchen Lama, Gyaincain Norbu.
Even today, the Tibetan exile community continues to recognise Gedhun as the legitimate Panchen Lama, while the Chinese government backs its own chosen successor.
In the last 30 years, China has shared only limited details about Gedhun, like in 2007 and again in 2020, when officials claimed he had completed college and is employed. However, no photographs, videos, or public sightings have ever verified such claims.
They also stated that 'the family wished to maintain a private life'.
Several human rights activists noted that the Chinese government should be pressured to secure the freedom of Gendun Choki Nyima and his family.
In May of this year, US Secretary Marco Rubio voiced a similar concern.
Shortly after the Dalai Lama's Wednesday announcement, China's Foreign Ministry once again said that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must be approved by the central government in Beijing. Spokesperson Mao Ning reasoned that Tibetan Buddhism is a religion with Chinese characteristics and that the reincarnation process must follow traditional methods, including drawing lots from a golden urn.
Mao Ning cited an 18th-century Qing dynasty tradition in which a golden urn was used to draw lots in order to identify the reincarnations of prominent Buddhist leaders.
"The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama and other great Buddhist figures must be chosen by drawing lots from a golden urn, and approved by the central government," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
22 minutes ago
- NDTV
Explained: How Farm Goods Are Holding Up US-India Trade Deal
US and India trade negotiators were pushing on Wednesday to finalise a tariff-reducing deal ahead of President Donald Trump's July 9 negotiating deadline, but disagreements over US dairy and agriculture remained unresolved. Why are farm goods imports sensitive in India? Agriculture and its allied areas contribute just 16% to India's $3.9 trillion economy, but sustain nearly half of the country's 1.4 billion population. As farmers remain the most powerful voting bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government was forced into a rare retreat four years ago when it tried to push through controversial farm laws. The prospect of cheaper imports from the United States threatens to drive down local prices, handing the opposition a fresh opportunity to attack the government. New Delhi has traditionally kept agriculture out of Free Trade Agreements with other nations. Granting market access to the US could force India to extend similar concessions to other trading partners. How do Indian and US farms compare? The average Indian farm comprises just 1.08 hectares, compared to 187 hectares in the United States. In dairy, the average herd size in India is two to three animals per farmer, compared to hundreds in the United States. This difference makes it difficult for small Indian farmers to compete with their US counterparts. Farming in India remains largely unmechanised because small, fragmented land holdings leave little room for large machinery. In many regions, farmers rely on techniques passed down through generations, a sharp contrast to US farms, where cutting-edge equipment and AI-driven technologies have raised productivity. Which products is US lobbying for? Why is India resisting? The United States is pressing India to open its markets to a wide range of American products, including dairy, poultry, corn, soybeans, rice, wheat, ethanol, citrus fruits, almonds, pecans, apples, grapes, canned peaches, chocolates, cookies, and frozen French fries. While India is willing to grant greater access to US dry fruits and apples, it is holding back on allowing imports of corn, soybeans, wheat, and dairy products. India does not allow genetically modified (GM) food crops, while most US corn and soybean production is GM-based. Dairy remains a sensitive issue in India, where cultural and dietary preferences strongly influence food choices. Indian consumers are particularly concerned that cattle in the US are often fed with animal by-products, a practice that conflicts with Indian food habits. Why does India oppose US ethanol for bleeding with gasoline? A key aim of India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program is to cut dependence on energy imports by blending domestically-produced ethanol with gasoline. Significant investments by domestic companies mean that India is now close to achieving its ambitious target of blending 20% ethanol. Importing ethanol would undermine those companies. The EBP also helps manage surpluses of rice, sugarcane, and corn by diverting them to ethanol production. Allowing imports of US ethanol would be a serious setback for India's emerging distillery sector.
News18
30 minutes ago
- News18
India's Most Wanted Criminals Flee To This Country And Extradition Is Nearly Impossible
Last Updated: Indian fugitives like Lawrence Bishnoi's shooter Jaiprakash and Manoj Sahni are escaping to Nepal due to the open border and ineffective extradition treaty, making it a safe haven From underworld hitmen like Lawrence Bishnoi's shooter Jaiprakash and Joga Don to political mafia scions like Asad Ahmed and grizzly criminals like Manoj Sahni alias 'Tomato Killer", what binds them all is not just a shared criminal legacy, but a common escape route – Nepal. Over the past year, Indian intelligence and state police forces have observed a concerning trend. Increasingly, high-profile Indian fugitives have been crossing over into Nepal to evade arrest, and in many cases, to continue operating their syndicates. The open 1,751-kilometre border between India and Nepal, spanning five states, has long been a conduit for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. But lately, it's being exploited as a corridor to criminal sanctuary. For India's wanted men, Nepal offers both convenience and protection. The border can be crossed without a passport or visa, allowing criminals to melt into Nepalese towns posing as businessmen, traders, or investors. 'We cannot carry arms into Nepal, nor can we put them under technical surveillance once they're across," a senior police officer admitted, highlighting an issue with cross-border enforcement. Nepal has particularly become a refuge for gangsters from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, states that share a porous boundary with the neighbouring country. Many wanted individuals simply disappear into Nepalese cities like Birgunj, Janakpur, or even Kathmandu, where they assume new identities, obtain local SIM cards, and reestablish their networks. From logistics to lodging, there's an underground ecosystem in Nepal that supports these men, said officials working with the border intelligence network. Securing an extradition involves a labyrinth of paperwork, including an Interpol Red Corner Notice, followed by diplomatic clearance and local court permissions in Nepal. The bureaucratic drag, often taking months or years, means police forces rarely pursue this route unless the case is of national significance. 'Getting someone back from Nepal can be as difficult as bringing someone back from Pakistan," a retired CBI official remarked. However, he added that, unlike with Pakistan, there's no geopolitical pressure involved with Nepal. Once in Nepal, these fugitives don't just lay low; they reboot. Many start businesses, buy property, or set up fronts through local collaborators. These ventures often double as channels for laundering money or coordinating crimes back in India. Local criminal networks in Nepal also play a crucial role in harbouring these fugitives. From arranging fake documents to legal cover, they offer a support system robust enough to challenge law enforcement. These fugitives find shelter, employment, even legal advice through these networks, said a senior official in the Nepal Police, speaking on condition of anonymity. The fact that they haven't committed crimes here makes it hard for us to intervene unless there's a very strong request from the Indian side, he added. In recent years, diplomatic ties between India and Nepal have cooled, especially after disputes over border maps, political alignment, and Chinese influence in Kathmandu. This frost has had a cascading effect on operational cooperation, including law enforcement. There was a time when Nepalese authorities swiftly handed over criminals like Dawood Ibrahim's aides or Maoist insurgents, often informally. Now, even informal handovers have dwindled, making extradition a rarity rather than a rule. India-Nepal Border Stretching 1,751 km, the India-Nepal border spans five states: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim. Uttar Pradesh alone shares 651 km, making it the most vulnerable stretch. Despite 12 main check posts and additional inter-district barriers, movement remains largely unchecked for pedestrians and private vehicles. Even the Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at Sunauli and Rupaidiha, meant to modernise and secure border transit, are no match for smugglers and fugitives using unofficial paths or bribing their way through. With the rise in cross-border criminal activity, there is growing demand for India and Nepal to revisit their extradition treaty and strengthen mutual cooperation. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : fugitive india nepal border nepal Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 03, 2025, 20:33 IST News india India's Most Wanted Criminals Flee To This Country And Extradition Is Nearly Impossible
Hindustan Times
37 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Choosing the next Dalai Lama
Jul 03, 2025 08:34 PM IST Choosing the next Dalai Lama Beijing will be aware that its choice is unlikely to be endorsed by Tibetans or carry the moral and spiritual weight that the seat commands. (AFP) Fourteen years after the Dalai Lama said he would decide on the issue of his succession by the time of his 90th birthday in 2025, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists has made it clear that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue after his death and that a trust founded by him will be the only authority to recognise his reincarnation. The announcement drew a predictable response from China, which sees the lama revered by millions around the world as a 'separatist', with Beijing claiming that the Dalai Lama's successor will be selected by choosing a name from a 'golden urn' and that the chosen person will have to be endorsed by the Chinese government. The problem here is that leading Buddhist scholars and historians have debunked the 'golden urn' mechanism, introduced by China's rulers in the late 18th century. China itself had no role in the search or recognition of the 14th Dalai Lama, who has lived in Dharamshala since fleeing Tibet in the face of a military crackdown in 1959. China's efforts are aimed at strengthening Beijing's grip on Tibet and its population of about 3.6 million, and to project itself as a global leader in Buddhism. Despite a range of repressive measures, including suppression of Tibetan Buddhist practices, forced enrolment of children as young as six in boarding schools to assimilate Tibetans into the mainstream and an all-pervasive surveillance machinery, the Dalai Lama continues to have a massive following. It is widely expected that China will name its own Dalai Lama, a precedent having been set by Beijing selecting its own Panchen Lama in 1995 and the disappearance of the Dalai Lama's choice. But Beijing will be aware that its choice is unlikely to be endorsed by Tibetans or carry the moral and spiritual weight that the seat commands. Given that India is home to the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan government-in-exile and a large Tibetan diaspora, this matter has the potential to become a flashpoint between New Delhi and Beijing. Chinese officials have said they expect India not to 'interfere' in the selection of the next Dalai Lama. India would like to avoid friction but cannot and should not stay silent. Buddhism has a significant presence in the strategic border regions of Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Sikkim. And both morality and statecraft demand that India support the Dalai Lama and make its stand explicit. Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! -Login Now!
