Clear Vision

In 1959, the Government of India provided accommodation for the Dalai Lama and his immediate entourage on the forested slopes above Dharamsala. Since then, the Dalai Lama has lived in a hilltop bungalow, which is spacious but a far cry from the magnificence of the Potala Palace in Lhasa. From here he has symbolised and kept alive the exiles hopes of returning to a democractic Tibet. He has also encouraged them to educate themselves and their children to be of service to their country when they do return, and to develop institutions of parliamentary self-government for themselves and as a model for their homeland.

The process of self-government was accelerated in 1990 when the Parliament was expanded and given independent authority. It was empowered to elect the Kashag (Cabinet) consisting of seven Kalons (Ministers), who were made responsible to the Parliament. Until then, the appointment of Kalons was the exclusive prerogative of the Dalai Lama. This change has given substance to the proceedings of the Parliament, where the Kalons now find themselves defending and explaining the working of the executive before a critical Parliament. The change has had other far-reaching repercussions. The Deputies now discuss and lay down policies on issues which were formerly the preserve of the Dalai Lama and his advisers. They keep a close watch on foreign relations and on the activities of Tibetans abroad.

Though this differs from the Dalai Lama's diplomacy in the 1980s, it is the outcome of his own continuing thrust towards full democratisation. Unlike elsewhere, the democratic process in the community-in-exile is not the outcome of pressure from below. It has been planned and pursued from the beginning by the Dalai Lama himself, even though his people have demurred. On occasions they have even opposed his moves to limit his personal powers because they felt that this would reflect adversely on their total confidence in him as both their spiritual and temporal head. For him however, the process of empowering the people to rule in their own right has become a democratic imperative that extends into the future. He has declared that when the exiles are able to return to Tibet, he will renounce all temporal authority; his powers will than be taken over by an elected President.

Since the vast majority of the six million Tibetans are in Tibet, the Dalai Lama does not wish to create the impression that any particular form of government, or its officials, will be forced on Tibet when the exiles return. He has declared that the Government-in-exile will then be dissolved, and no special positions will be reserved for its officials. A transitional government will supervise the setting-up of a freely-elected Constituent Parliament which will determine the future form of government for free Tibet. The experience of those who had worked for the the Governement-in exile will be available to the new Tibet, but they would not be entitled to special privileges. The Tibetans working in various departments in Tibet under Chinese supervision have been assured that they will continue in service.

Thus, through the long years of exile, the Dalai Lama's sense of direction has been clear and his commitment to democracy and non-violence consistent. Despite prolonged frustration, he has infused the exiles with his own confidence that they will return to Tibet. His has been a remarkable, perhaps unique, achievement. A widely-dispersed community-in-exile coming from a traditional, pre-modern background now runs its affairs openly and democratically.