Speak Out

I believe that His Holiness had something planned for us Tibetans when he took this decision of retiring from his political responsibilities because I know in my heart that he will never do something that will harm the Tibetan cause. We Tibetans have till now put all the responsibilities on him,it is time now we people do something on our own. It is good that here on the Tibetans will learn to be more responsible.

Ngawang Dorjee,SGGS Khalsa College

His Holiness has worked for Tibet and Tibetans since he was 16 years old and today he is 75. Let us take for ourselves,if it was for our parents,would we ask or force them to work even at such age? He has done enough for us and for our cause. And His Holiness himself has clearly stated that he will continue to work for Tibet’s freedom struggle even after his resignation.

Gelek Jamyang,Govt College

I am totally against His Holiness’s decision to step down from his political head of Tibet. HH has been one of the uniting factors of the Tibetans till now. And also it does not stay right in our history too because none of the previous Dalai Lamas has done so. We cannot afford to make mistakes by some other leaders who will take on Dalai Lama’s powers at this critical stage of our struggle for freedom. We might find an another good leader to fill his shoes but no body will make as good leader as he is.

Tashi Tsering,PGGC Sector -11

At many instances,our history points to chaos and unrest in Tibet when under the absence of the Dalai Lama. We all know that China has been waiting for the Dalai Lama’s demise,who has been keeping the Tibetan cause alive for all these years. It is a sad day for us all Tibetans but we cannot force him from not taking the decision. Maybe he is trying to send through a message to the Chinese government that even if our is an exiled government,we still practice democracy.

Tenzin Sithar,Panjab University

I am totally with the HH ‘s decision. In fact I think he should have taken the decision long ago,because many a times he has been denied visas to go abroad to meet the world leaders for his ‘political leader of Tibet’ tag. I think he can now go every where easily with the same cause but with a different tag as the world spiritual leader. Until now China has been alleging that “Tibet is an issue of the Dalai Lama” but now this will change the perspective.

Yeshe Lhamo,PGI Nursing College

We cannot resist the change that has come our way. There is both negative and positive side to it. His Holiness stepping down from his political role will be a wake-up call for the fellow Tibetans. One day when he passes away,we have to go on with the struggle with our own,so while under his presence we can learn to be on ourselves. But on the other hand HH is irreplaceable,there can never be a leader like him.

Tenzin Dawa,Member of Students for Free Tibet,Chandigarh

When the Tibetan parliament unanimously declined HH’s appeal to retire,I was a bit relieved. Although I completely agree with HH and his far-sighted decision,it is a foreign feeling to not have him tied into the Tibetan government. Because as a Tibetan I have internalized the idea of HH being intimately tied into everything that is Tibet. But he has said that he is not running away from the responsibilities,he will be advising and offering guidance to the Tibetan government even after retiring.

Jamyang Yeshe Gyatso,DAV School,Sector 15

Our government has not succeeded much as in our struggle for Tibet for the last five decades even under the guidance of the Dalai Lama. Then how can we expect it to improve in his absence? I feel this would inevitably lead to fights amongst our people for power,seats and corruptions in the government. But I believe HH must have foreseen something and has taken the decision for good. I am confident that he would not have resigned otherwise.