BENGALURU: On April 25 1989, a boy was born in Lhari County, Tibet. He was chosen to be the 11th Panchen Lama, the second highest position in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama. On May 17,1995 three days after this announcement, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was taken into the custody of the People’s Republic of China. He has not been seen since then.
Tibetans all over the world have time and again demanded to know about his whereabouts, however with little result. This year Tibetans in Bengaluru are creating awareness on the matter to mark the boy’s 28th birthday.
Before Gedhun Choekyi Nyima could assume his position, Chinese authorities appointed another Panchen Lama, Gyaincain Norbu, as his replacement. Tibetans across the board dismiss and reject this choice and claim that this is only one of the many way the Chinese want to undermine the Tibetan’s spirutual authority.
Alexander Norman, author of Dalai Lama’s many autobiographies writes, “the other (Panchen Lama) is recognised by China but by no one else".
Tenzin Norzom, a member of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) of Bengaluru, was born and brought up in the city. She says that many people, especially the locals, do not know who the Panchen Lama is. She and the NGO, run by Tibetan college students are therefore making an attempt to create an awareness on the matter and will undertake various activities on Tuesday.
“Every year we celebrate his birthday and cut cake and distribute sweets. This year there will be no formal function. There will be a multimedia presentation on Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. At around 5 in the evening, the members of RTYC will go to Brigade Road and distribute pamphlets and explain to people who he is,” says Norzom.
This strategy was started last year by the members of 2016 RYTC. They were fairly successful in getting the people to get curious about the real Panchen Lama. “There were many who wanted to know more about the Panchen Lama but at the same time there were few who threw away the pamphlets,” adds Norzom.
This year the same programme will be conducted and slogans such as “Where is Panchen Lama?” will be carried.
“As of today there is awareness about the human rights situation of Tibetans, however, we want people to know more. We want people to know that our 11th Panchen Lama was kidnapped by the Chinese and he did not even get to live his childhood or life properly. Even knowing who the Panchen Lama is would be a great help to us Tibetans,” she concludes.