China Has No Right to Lecture on the His Holiness The Dalai Lama

A Note from a former IAS officer Mr M R Sivaraman

It is utterly ridiculous and hypocritical for China to take umbrage at Minister Kiren Rijiju’s statement on the His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s succession.

First, Buddhism was born in India. China adopted it centuries ago, yet under Communist rule only its shadow survives there — monasteries emptied, monks persecuted.

Second, modern Communist China is officially atheist. It has no locus standi to interfere in any religion, least of all to dictate reincarnation.

Third, China’s brutal and unlawful occupation of Tibet does not grant it authority over Tibetan spiritual traditions. Occupation confers no rights over succession.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has lived peacefully in India for over six decades, offering solace to millions across the world. By centuries of custom and tradition, the right to choose his successor rests with him and him alone.

No one — least of all Communist China — has any right to dictate terms to His Holiness on the choice of his successor.

(Mr. M. R. Sivaraman IAS (Retd.) is the Vice-President of Chennai Centre for China Studies and served as the Former Revenue Secretary, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Executive Director representing India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Advisor to the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (UNSC CTC)).