China’s efforts to legitimize its nominee as the 11th Panchen Lama in Tibet

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It is reported that Baingen Erdini Qoigyijabu who was recognized (appointed) by Chinese government as the 11t h Panchen Lama, started the Kalachakra ritual, which is a holy ritual and important rite for Buddhists for activating dormant enlightenment.

The fact is that Baingen Erdini Qoigyijabu, a 25 year old man now, took over the position of 11th Panchen Lama with the approval and support of the government of China and not with the approval of the Tibetans or the Buddhists. In other words, this gentleman was foisted on the Tibetans by China in its efforts to strengthen its hold over Tibet and give an impression that Chinese government is following the Tibetan traditions.

After taking over Tibet by military intervention and making the Dalai Lama and his followers flee the country and by holding on to the Tibetan territory for over 50 years now by wielding its military power and adopting ruthless approach to enforce silence in Tibet, China has no ethical or moral right to appoint Panchen Lama.

The fact is that China imposed Baingen Erdini Qoigyijabu on Tibet as the 11th Panchen Lama without observing the Tibetan traditional means including a search by the tenth Panchen Lama’s senior staff based on dreams and omens and formal recognition of the result by the Dalai Lama.  Proper procedures were not observed and the Dalai Lama’s consent was not received.

Even after fifty years of aggression in Tibet, Chinese government has not been able to get the acceptance of the Tibetans for its occupation by China.  Therefore, Chinese government has been adopting all sorts of methods to white wash the mind of young present generation of Tibetans and make them forget the past glory of the country and indoctrinate a false idea in their mind that Tibet only belongs to China.  Chinese government has also been trying to create an impression that it values the Tibetan philosophy and respect the Tibetan traditions, which is a blatant false propaganda.

In 2014, Chinese government hosted over 600 international delegates for the 27th general conference  of the world fellowship of Buddhists in northwestern China.  China spent huge resources in organizing this program and made Baingen Erdini Qoigyijabu it’s “nominee 11th Panchen Lama to address the conference.  As expected, Baingen Erdini Qoigyijabu told the gathering that support of the Chinese government for the conference was a proof that freedom for practicing Buddhism exist in China. He went on to say without any sense of pride about Tibetan soil that Buddhism has already integrated into the Chinese culture with the recognition of the Chinese government.

By now, asking Baingen Erdini Qoigyijabu to deliver the tantric Kalachakra instructions, for the first time in 50 years, Chinese government is making yet another attempt to fool the Tibetans that Chinese government approves and support the traditional practices of Tibet. Of course, with its money and muscle power, Chinese government has been able to organize large number of Buddhists to participate in the event.

Historically, world has seen several aggressors who forcibly take over another country and adopt such practices to win over the local population. as Chinese has been doing now in Tibet.

 Even in India, which was under British rule for over 400 years, there were many Indians who accepted the British leadership without reservation and willingly submitted themselves to the orders of the British government. It required a great man Mahatma Gandhi to descend on the scene and create pride in the mind of Indians, which ultimately resulted in the Britishers providing freedom to India and leaving the country.

Like the China doing now in Tibet, Britishers also had identified and pitchforked number of Indians who were more loyal to British government than to the Indian soil and they were rewarded with plump posts by British government.

Similarly, Baingen Erdini Qoigyijabu has been identified and nominated by Chinese government as the eleventh Panchen Lama to serve its needs. Sadly, Baingen Erdini Qoigyijabu has proved that he is more loyal to Chinese government than to Tibetan   soil.

The world, historically, has seen several such people, who look for awards and positions and receive them with glee, unmindful of the damage done to the cause of the nation to which they belong.

Obviously, many Tibetans living in Tibet now would be silently and helplessly fuming about the Chinese government’s efforts to legitimize a person of its choice as the 11th Panchen Lama and in the process attempting to legitimize its rule in Tibet. Tibetans living around the world feel dismayed at the Chinese government’s efforts to perpetuate its rule in Tibet by adopting such gimmicks.

Tibetans living in Tibet and across the world should keep in view that India attained freedom after four hundred years of British rule.  British government’s efforts to integrate India with Britain never succeeded, as it was so unnatural and illegitimate.

Tibetans have to keep their spirit high and hope alive and continue voicing their demand that Tibet should be restored to its original glory and have its rightful independence.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Being in a remote far flung area Tibetans traditionally has been a maverick nation with no socio-cultural or political interaction with any country in the world including China. India has been the only country of the world with whom Tibet has had close association since the early eigth century AD. The Tibetan script is a contribution of India’s Nalanda and Kapilvastu universities. Their grammar is just a replication of ancient Indian grammarian Panini whose Ashtadhyayi rechristened as Ashtadhyay forms the backbone of Tibetan grammar. For the last over 1300 years Tibet and India have been cultural extensions of each other.
    China’s contact with Tibet has come only in the sixteenth century AD when the Chinese forces repulsed a Nepalese aggression of Tibet and chased the aggressors all the way from Lahasa to Sigatse and thence back to the borders of Nepal. Using (or misusing) this opportunity the Chinese kept their slow but steady crawl inching closer and closer to Tibet till they completely usurped control of the roof of the world in 1956. Rest is all history.
    I for one firmly believe that one day the Tibetans shall wrest their motherland back from the aggressors and restore their lost identity that is far more glorious than the Chinese nation.

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