India’s ex-Envoy to China Examines ‘What if 14th Dalai Lama Dies’
The 14th Dalai Lama attends a Prayer by the Tibetan Women's Association. Image credit @DalaiLama
Shrine for 14th Dalai Lama if He Dies May Become Top Destination: Vijay Gokhale
By Raisina Correspondent
New Delhi, January 4: India’s former ambassador to China Vijay Gokhale has dwelt upon the subject of the consequences of the death of 14th Dalai Lama. In a paper for Carnegie India, Gokhale argued that the government may have to agree to the prospects of burying the mortal remains of 14th Dalai Lama if he dies on the Indian soil.
The 14th Dalai Lama is 89 years old. He resides at McLeod Ganj in Himachal Pradesh. Parliament of Tibetans in exile is also situated at McLeod Ganj in Himachal Pradesh.
China observers for years have been debating the aftermath of the death of the 14th Dalai Lama. The spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists has said that there will be no reincarnation after his death. China, in contrast, claims that the 15th Dalai Lama will be born in the Chinese territory.
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“Should India agree to a site or shrine in India for the final resting place of the 14th Dalai Lama’s mortal remains? If the 14th Dalai Lama dies on Indian soil, there may be no other way,” wrote Gokhale in his paper. He is a non-resident fellow at the Carnegie India.
“… the 14th Dalai Lama will be the first Dalai Lama since 1706 to be buried outside the Potala Palace in Lhasa. If the Dalai Lama dies in India, the government may have no choice but to bury his mortal remains here,” added Gokhale. He was India’s foreign secretary also.
“The Indian government can identify potential resting sites for his mortal remains in advance. It should be kept in mind that the resting place of the 14th Dalai Lama’s mortal remains will itself become a sacred pilgrimage site for millions of pilgrims,” added the former diplomat.
He also argued that “careful thought needs to be given to potential locations, access for pilgrims, and social and security issues”. Gokhale also stated that China claims that the Dalai Lama is a Chinese citizen. “Even if he is a rebel, it is also likely that it (China) may demand his body for burial in Lhasa. The Indian government will need to formulate an appropriate policy response to deal with such demands from the PRC, which may involve resorting to legal means,” added the former diplomat.
Thousands of Buddhists flock to McLeod Ganj on a daily basis to seek blessings of the 14th Dalai Lama. In recent months, the US diplomatic community has also reached out to the Tibetan in Exile government in McLeod Ganj.
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