China’s Unethical Efforts To Legitimize Its Nominee ’11th Panchen Lama’ In Tibet – OpEd

It is reported that Baingen Erdini Qoigyijabu who was recognized (appointed ) by Chinese government as the 11th 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 it’s efforts to strengthen it’s 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 it’s military power and adopting ruthless approach to enforce silence in Tibet, China has no ethical or moral right to appoint the 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, andomens 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 it’s 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 north western China. China spent huge resources in organizing this programme 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, the 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 it’s 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 the Chinese government as the eleventh Panchen Lama to serve it’s 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 it’s choice as the 11th Panchen Lama and in the process attempting to legitimize it’s rule in Tibet. Tibetans living around the world feel dismayed at the Chinese government’s efforts to perpetuate it’s 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 it’s original glory and have it’s rightful independence.