India, China relations like US-North Korea ties, none can dare to fight each other: Dalai Lama

In what is seen as an endorsement of tough and assertive stance taken by the Narendra Modi government during Dalai Lama's recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the 82-Tibetan spiritual leader today compared India-China relations with that between the United States and North Korea and said notwithstanding gestures, either side cannot afford to "fight" each other. 

Delivering a talk after receiving the M L Sondhi International Prize for International Politics for 2016, the Dalai Lama said the Sino-Indian relation is now similar to the one between the United States and North Korea. "One day, either side will be very serious (against each other).....but in reality no body dare to fight," he said. The Chinese side also realises, he said, "India is not a small country" and "it has military power now". 

Therefore, the Tibetan leader said both sides should be ready to make "compromises"  -- an obvious reference to dialogue to end the long pending vexed relations between two Asian giants.
Moreover, the Dalai Lama said, China also realises that if they have conflict with India, "they also have to think about situation inside China".On his recent visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh amidst strong reservation from China, the Dalai Lama said while his visit had clearance from the Indian authorities, "fortunately when I was in Tawang, there was no intrusion...if some Chinese soldiers might have come, then I would have to rush back, but fortunately that has not happened".
During interaction at the session, attended among others by former Union Minister Arun Shourie and former Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh; the Dalai Lama said "more and more Chinese people are appreciative of Tibetan issue" than they were in the past.

"The Chinese have to think about the situation inside Tibet when it comes to conflict with India,” he said, responding to a question. He, however, sidestepped a direct response to a query on China renaming six places of Arunachal, saying places in Tibet have also been renamed, mostly because “they (the Chinese) could not pronounce them properly.”

To a question, he said there is a perceptible "change" and "difference" in the approach of Chinese people towards him (Dalai Lama) and Tibetan issue than the Chinese government. He said there was totalitarian regime in Beijing and the censorship they do with the news and information about the truth of Tibetan movement towards their own people is "morally wrong". But he said it is high time both the Chinese establishment and others realise that "things will change". In this context, he cited the illustration of the Soviet Union and pointed out that totalitarian regime had to collapse there.

Blogger and Lalit Mansingh

"When I meet many retired Chinese officials and other citizens, they show genuine concern....In fact every week I meet some Chinese from mainland China," he said adding, however, the governmental system there is "totalitarian". "I tell Chinese people; 1.4 billion Chinese people have every right to know the reality (of Tibetan history and movement)," he said. "The censorship is morally wrong," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, former diplomat Lalit Mansingh also lauded Central government's stance vis-a-vis the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and said the "stout defence" of the stand is highly appreciable.
Such gestures, he said, were "rare" display of assertiveness by Indian government with regards to China. 

The 82-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader had visited Arunachal Pradesh earlier this month when Beijing registered its protest saying, "It (Dalai Lama's visit) goes against the momentum of the sound growth of bilateral relations and will not benefit India in anyway."  Braving strong reservation from China, the Indian government stood by its ground with the government making it clear that as a secular country India could not stop a spiritual leader's visit to any part including Arunachal Pradesh.
Among others, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said when India has never interfered in Beijing’s affairs and has respected the “One China” policy, China should not interfere in India’s internal affairs or object to the Dalai Lama’s visit. 
“There is no political angle behind his holiness’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. It is completely religious,” he said. Separately, the External Affairs Ministry said no “artificial controversy” should be created about the visit.

The Dalai Lama recalled "immense help" from Indian government during the time of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and said after decades now the "small refugee community" of Tibetans have able to come forward and is able to make "some contributions".
"Now the situation is such, we can make some significant contributions not only in India but also eventually in China," he said.
He termed India-Tibetan relationship has 'Guru-Chela (teacher-disciple) bond' and said "so, logically when chela faces some problems, Guru has some more responsibility and you have done that...thank you".
Speaking on the occasion, former Union Minister and noted writer Arun Shourie said the Tibetan spiritual leader deserved a special award for his ability to make his audience laugh at such demanding situations. 

Mr Shourie further said the Dalai Lama's stance that "blind faith is no right thing" and said not many religion and religious leaders have said this. 
Professor M L Sondhi International Prize is conferred by a trust set up in the memory of Sondhi, who was an eminent diplomat to have served also in the United Nations. He was also a member of the 4th Lok Sabha.

To continue with Institution of Dalai Lama is not important, says Dalai Lama

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today said the issue of legacy is not important as far as the movement for the Tibetan political autonomy is concerned and it is not important whether the institution of Dalai Lama should continue or not.

"Right from 1969 one of my official statements has been that it is not important whether the institute of Dalai Lama should continue...I sincerely believe Buddha's teaching is more important than the Buddha," the Dalai Lama said after receiving the M L Sondhi International Prize for International Politics for 2016.
He also said that "the world is changing fast" and a large number of Chinese citizens are now appreciative of the Tibetan issue.

However, in an interesting remarks, as some one who has fought communism over the years, the 82-year-spiritual leader was appreciative of Marxism as an economic theory.
"Karl Marx theory was wonderful but Lenin spoiled it," he said throwing the entire audience into peels of laughter.
The Dalai Lama said he had once even confronted Michael Gorbachev on this and the erstwhile leader of the Soviet Union had no answer.

The Dalai Lama recalled "immense help" from Indian government during the time of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and said after decades now the "small refugee community" of Tibetans have able to come forward and is able to make "some contributions".

"Now the situation is such, we can make some significant contributions not only in India but also eventually in China," he said.
He termed India-Tibetan relationship has 'Guru-Chela (teacher-disciple) bond' and said "so, logically when chela faces some problems, Guru has some more responsibility and you have done that...thank you".On his recent visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh amidst strong reservation from China, the Dalai Lama said while his visit had clearance from the Indian authorities, "fortunately when I was in Tawang, there was no intrusion...if some Chinese soldiers might have come, then I would have to rush back, but fortunately that has not happened".

ends