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Journalism of Courage
After no little speculation, when the inevitable finally happens, it happens without the element of surprise. But that doesn8217;t necessarily diminish its portent. The Dalai Lama has announced a 8220;semi-retirement8221;, leaving the determination of the future course of action for the Tibetan movement in the hands of the 8220;elected government8221; under 8220;Prime Minister8221; Samdhong Rinpoche. This development doesn8217;t perhaps surprise although the Tibetan spiritual leader had reiterated at the Dharamsala meet last month that it was his moral responsibility to lead the Tibetan people till his death. He, of course, is 73 and ailing, and it isn8217;t for nothing that he has called the next couple of decades a time of 8220;great danger8221; for Tibet. A test of Tibet8217;s will and his own, perhaps?
But at the Dharamsala meet, much to New Delhi and the West8217;s relief, the Dalai Lama had also reiterated his commitment to the 8220;middle path8221;, with its innate 8220;wait and watch8221;, non-violent strategy that has largely defined the Tibetan movement. This 8220;middle path8221;, a mark not just of the Dalai Lama8217;s philosophy but also of his pragmatism, is of salience to India in that it has spared New Delhi a lot of diplomatic and political headache vis-agrave;-vis Beijing. The Dalai Lama8217;s thoughtfulness allowed Tibetans to keep the issue of their human and cultural rights in international focus and yet not draw the Indians, Chinese and Tibetans into a tripartite tussle.
