Dalai Lama Marks 90th Birthday, Plans Ladakh Visit

The Dalai Lama celebrated his 90th birthday in Dharamshala, where he emphasized compassion, kindness, and inner peace, and received well-wishes from global and Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Modi. His legacy is closely linked to Tibet's history, especially his escape to India in 1959 amid fears of Chinese abduction, which shifted regional geopolitics and established him as a spiritual leader in exile. The institution of the Dalai Lama, rooted in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, is now under renewed scrutiny as China seeks influence over his succession. In response, the Dalai Lama reiterated that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust and Tibetan Buddhist authorities have the right to identify his reincarnation, rejecting Chinese interference. Preparations are underway for his upcoming month-long visit to Ladakh, where he will receive Z+ security and is expected to draw significant public attention. The visit highlights both his enduring spiritual leadership and the continuing dispute over Tibetan religious autonomy.