Pema Khandu Backs Bharat Ratna for Dalai Lama
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has voiced strong support for awarding the Bharat Ratna—India’s highest civilian honour—to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, hailing his lifelong contributions to India’s ancient Nalanda tradition and the preservation of Tibetan Buddhism.
In an interview with PTI Videos, Khandu said he would soon formally recommend the Tibetan spiritual leader’s name to the central government. “His Holiness has played a very vital role in preserving and promoting the ancient Nalanda tradition, which is from our own country,” Khandu noted, adding that the Dalai Lama’s teachings continue to shape Buddhist communities across the Himalayan region, from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
Referring to the 1959 Chinese invasion of Tibet, Khandu emphasized how the Dalai Lama safeguarded key Buddhist teachings by establishing monastic centres in India, particularly in southern states, which have since become global learning hubs.
Highlighting the Nalanda-Tibetan Buddhist connection, Khandu said, “From the 8th century, Nalanda scholars carried Indian Buddhism to Tibet. Tibetan Buddhism is a synthesis of Nalanda teachings and Tibet’s Bon religion. The Dalai Lama is a living embodiment of that heritage.”
Dismissing China’s claims on selecting the next Dalai Lama, Khandu asserted, “China has no locus standi. Tibetan Buddhism isn’t even practised in mainland China. This is a matter for Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhists, not Beijing.”
He also called the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday celebrations on July 6 in Dharamshala “historic,” attended by global dignitaries and diplomats. Despite age and a recent knee surgery, the Dalai Lama remains “mentally sharp” and continues to inspire millions, Khandu said.
On the matter of succession, Khandu clarified that the Gaden Phodrang Trust would manage the traditional process, stating, “There is no urgency. Religious protocols will be followed. Even the possibility of a female Dalai Lama has been acknowledged.”
Khandu joins a growing national and international campaign calling for the Bharat Ratna for the Nobel Peace laureate, who has lived in exile in India since 1959. If honoured, the Dalai Lama would join Mother Teresa, Abdul Ghaffar Khan, and Nelson Mandela as one of the few foreign-born recipients of the prestigious award.
