Dalai Lama turns 82 today

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 5

The Dalai Lama, the icon of the Tibetan struggle for the past more than 50 years since he fled into exile in India, will be 82 tomorrow. The Tibetans-in-exile, Indian and foreign followers of the Dalai Lama and Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), will celebrate the occasion at McLeodganj.

On his birthday last year, the Dalai Lama had assuaged the feelings of his followers regarding his increasing age by stating that he would be hale and hearty for another 20 years. “The doctors tell me that I shall be hale and hearty for another 20 years. So be ready to celebrate my 90th birthday,” he had said.

The Dalai Lama resigned from active politics in 2011 and handed over the reign of the Tibetan government-in-exile to Lobsang Sangay. Since then, the Dalai Lama has remained away from active politics and has not issued any political statement on Tibet. The Dalai Lama still remains the pivotal force behind the Tibetan struggle.