The Tibetan government-in-exile stands on the cusp of change, with its first democratically-elected Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister), Lobsang Sangay, being sworn in as the political head on Monday in Dharamsala. On the relatively young shoulders of the Darjeeling-born, Harvard academic rest the hopes of
the Tibetan people. Dr Sangay, in order to fulfil the aspirations of his people, will also need to work that much harder to have governments and world leaders open their doors to him — something that the Dalai Lama managed with ease given the stature that he enjoys.
As Mohan Guruswamy, director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, remarks: “Dr Sangay’s taking over marks an important transition for the Tibetan movement in exile. For the political head will effectively become the head of the Tibetan movement. Lobsang Sangay won’t be the religious head but he will effectively be the secular head of the Tibetan freedom movement.”
Mr Guruswamy makes another point. He notes that Dr Sangay “will have to shoulder a much larger responsibility in the near, foreseeable future” when a younger person succeeds the Dalai Lama. Stating that Dr Sangay will “need to provide a powerful leadership”, he says that he will, at the same time, need to convey the message that he’s sensitive to the Tibetan cause.
Dr Sangay, in his inaugural speech on Monday, declared that he’ll continue to pursue the “middle way policy” and seek “genuine autonomy for Tibet within the People’s Republic of China” and is willing to “negotiate with the Chinese government anytime, anywhere”.
As Mr Guruswamy notes, Dr Sangay “will have to do business with them and China needs to realise that its current state of ascendancy may not always be so”.
Just 42, Dr Sangay, like many Tibetans of his generation, has never been to Tibet.
Given his relative youth, the young leader is also expected to deal with the expectations of the younger generation of Tibetans as well. It’s a generation that’s increasingly restive about freedom for a homeland they have only heard about from their parents. Dr Sangay, who’s already said that he will continue to tread the path of ahimsa (non-violence), will, at the same time, have to highlight in no small measure the continuing repression and oppression of his brethren in Tibet in order to rally international support for the Tibetan cause.
Tibetan activist and writer Tenzin Tsundue, who has often provided acutely embarrassing moments for Chinese leadership visiting India through his protests, says, “It’s for the first time in Tibetan history that we have an elected political head. Also, as the political head, he will have to shoulder complete responsibility for the success or the failure of his administration.”
Mr Tsundue, who in 2005 during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Bengaluru stood on a balcony at the Indian Institute of Science and unfurled a banner that read “Free Tibet” while shouting, “Wen Jiabao, you cannot silence us”, also notes that Dr Sangay, with his youth as well as modern education, is seen by young Tibetans who take pride in seeing “one of us” elected PM. At the same time, the younger Tibetans will also be closely watching “how Dr Sangay will be carrying forth the movement for the independence of Tibet”, he says.