Dalai Lama At 90: A Battle Of Faith, Freedom And Geopolitics

As the 14th Dalai Lama turned 90 on July 6, the world wasn’t just marking the birthday of a spiritual icon—it was confronting a geopolitical storm stretching from the icy plateaus of Tibet to Washington’s power corridors and China’s shadowy religious schemes. His advancing age raises a pivotal question: Who will control the soul of Tibet—its exiled spiritual legacy or its communist occupier?

The Dalai Lama has firmly shut Beijing out of the succession process, stating, “I am clear that my next incarnation will emerge in a nation that upholds freedom—not under Chinese dominion.”

India, which has hosted the Tibetan government in exile and given refuge to the Dalai Lama since 1959, now stands at a historical inflection point. As Beijing prepares to hijack the reincarnation process to install a compliant “Dalai Lama”, the world must decide whether it will defend faith or appease power.

This is no theological debate. It’s a test of global conscience—pitting China's authoritarian reach against Tibetan religious freedom and India's moral obligation against its geopolitical caution.

Reflecting on my meeting with the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala during my Shimla posting in the mid-1980s, I can attest to his deep commitment to democracy. He voluntarily relinquished his role as the political head of Tibet’s exiled government to pave the way for elected leadership—an act rare among global religious figures.

Washington leads, New Delhi wavers: The United States has taken an unambiguous stand about the Dalai Lama’s successor. The Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) of 2020, passed with bipartisan support in Congress, declares that the decision regarding the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation lies solely with the Tibetan Buddhist community—free from Chinese interference.

The Act warns that any Chinese official meddling in the succession process will face sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, including visa bans and asset freezes. It institutionalises Washington’s stance and urges democratic allies—Europe, Japan, Australia, and Canada—to recognise only the legitimate reincarnation chosen by the Tibetans.

American think tanks, NGOs, and Tibetan advocacy groups are already running global awareness campaigns and counter-disinformation strategies, with diplomatic outreach at the UN and other forums. Washington’s toolkit, ranging from legislation to public diplomacy, is being activated to prevent geopolitical subversion of a sacred tradition.

Beijing’s authoritarian game plan: For the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama is a national security project. Beijing aims to install a compliant successor who will rubber-stamp its occupation of Tibet and defuse the exile movement.

China’s game plan began with the 2007 State Religious Affairs Order No. 5, requiring all Tibetan reincarnations to be state-approved. It has since groomed a cadre of party-loyal monks and invested in religious institutions that parrot its line. It seeks to engineer a sequel to its 1995 abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama, replacing him with a Beijing-endorsed puppet.

To gain international acceptance for its proxy, Beijing will deploy soft power and economic coercion. From using Confucius institutes to delegitimising Dharamshala’s recognition, and from pressuring aid-dependent nations to offering veiled threats, China’s toolkit is vast and ruthless.

India draws the line: In a significant shift, India has recently made it clear that only the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhist traditions have the authority to decide his successor. New Delhi has dismissed China’s objections as interference in religious matters and reaffirmed that the process must follow spiritual customs, not political dictates.

Yet, India walks a tightrope. While hosting over 100,000 Tibetan refugees and revering the Dalai Lama, it has often muted official engagements with him to avoid irking Beijing. This cautious approach has weakened India’s image as a moral force, especially when the spiritual stakes are this high.

Now, with China openly preparing to manipulate the succession, India has a chance to reclaim its ethical leadership. 

A legacy that defies borders: Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, has for over 60 years carried the spiritual aspirations of Tibetans and the moral compass of the free world. Fleeing to India after China’s 1959 crackdown, he has championed non-violence, won the Nobel Peace Prize, and transcended religious and national boundaries.

For the CCP, however, he remains a “separatist monk”. Despite years of character assassination and global propaganda, Beijing has failed to dent his towering spiritual influence.

But with his advancing age, China sees an opportunity to rewrite the future of Tibetan Buddhism. The reincarnation struggle is not about belief; it’s about Beijing manufacturing legitimacy through brute power.

A reincarnation hijacked?: The Dalai Lama’s successor is traditionally identified by senior monks through sacred rituals, dreams, and signs. But China now insists that only the atheist Communist Party has final approval—a contradiction as grotesque as it is politically calculated.

The Dalai Lama has tried to pre-empt this farce. He has floated alternatives: choosing his successor while alive or even ending the tradition altogether. His aim is to deny Beijing the spiritual endorsement it craves.

The world may soon witness the absurdity of an atheist regime declaring the rebirth of a Buddhist leader. It is a spiritual crisis with geopolitical consequences.

A test for the world: The Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday is not merely a celebration; it is a warning. His eventual absence will leave a vacuum Beijing is desperate to exploit. The global community must decide: will it endorse a state-sponsored spiritual imposter or stand with authenticity and tradition?

For China, this is about consolidating sovereignty. For Tibetans, it is a matter of cultural and spiritual survival. For the world, it is a test of whether principles still matter in an era when authoritarianism is wrapped in diplomatic camouflage.

A legacy to defend: The Dalai Lama’s life bridges ancient wisdom and modern struggles. His teachings continue to inspire compassion, democracy, and dignity. But his succession is the ultimate test: can the world preserve faith in the face of force?

India must step up—not just as host, but as the guardian of spiritual truth. The West, too, must go beyond laws and offer resolute and visible support for Tibetan autonomy.

At 90, the Dalai Lama stands as one of the last moral voices in global leadership. His legacy must not be allowed to be rewritten by Beijing’s ink.

The writer is a strategic affairs columnist and senior political analyst based in Shimla.