Dalai Lama succession: What is Gaden Phodrang Trust and why it has drawn China's scrutiny

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama will turn 90 on July 6. (AFP photo)

On May 8, when white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel, the world was introduced to Pope Leo XIV. The result of the secret conclave was largely controversy-free, with only one talking point – he is the first American pope in the long history of the papacy. The spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics has been hailed as ushering in a new era for the Vatican.

But thousands of miles away, here in India, another succession war is brewing that may not be as simple as the election of the Pope. For it involves a mighty nation with the largest army in the world, a defiant government in exile, and a spiritual leader who is revered not only by his community but by people around the globe.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who turns 90 on July 6 this year, has announced that his non-profit trust will be the sole authority to identify his reincarnation. This puts the Gaden Phodrang Trust in direct conflict with China, which has insisted on numerous occasions that it has the authority to choose the Dalai Lama’s successor.

What is Gaden Phodrang Trust?

Founded by the Tibetan spiritual leader himself, the Gaden Phodrang Foundation or Trust is tasked with the preservation of Tibetan culture, supporting the Tibetan community, and popularising Buddhist science and religion. The office of the Trust is located in Zurich, Switzerland. Named after the Tibetan government system that was set up by the 5th Dalai Lama in 1642, the Trust has a long battle ahead.

What did China say?

China, which launched a brutal military offensive and annexed Tibet in the 1950s, is angry. In a press conference held in Beijing, China’s foreign ministry rejected the Dalai Lama’s statement and his Trust being the sole authority to choose the next spiritual leader. Beijing said that the Dalai Lama’s succession plan “must comply with Chinese regulations and historical conventions.”

Why it's a delicate situation for India?

In 1959, when the Dalai Lama escaped Chinese brutality and reached Arunachal Pradesh, India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, decided to host the spiritual leader in trouble. Since March 1959, India has been the de facto home of Tibet's government-in-exile and the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala. Though this act has emboldened India's democratic setup, it has often brought the country into direct conflict with China. Over 1 lakh Tibetans have been sheltered in India, who have vociferously backed Tibet's autonomy. New Delhi has, however, supported the Dalai Lama's spiritual activities in India. Earlier in March this year, as many as 46 Indian lawmakers signed a declaration backing the Dalai Lama's right to choose his successor.