EP-345 | Tibet, India–China Thaw, Brahmaputra Dam, Dalai Lama’s Successor & Nepal | Lobsang Sangay

Lobsang Sangay served as the Tibetan Prime Minister in exile from 2011 to 2021. He was the first person without a monastic background to hold this post. Born in 1968 in a refugee community in Darjeeling, India, he studied law at Delhi University. Later, he went to Harvard University to study international law and democracy, and is now an American citizen.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about how China interferes in the local affairs of South Asian countries, including Nepal. He warns New Delhi to be cautious about its thaw with China, reminding that Beijing follows an expansionist policy. He also shares his thoughts on the future of the Tibetan movement and what India and other nations can do to support it.

Sangay speaks about the question of the Dalai Lama’s successor and what it would mean for Tibet and China. He also explains why China is building the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra and what risks it poses. Finally, he reflects on life in India and abroad, and what Tibetans living in exile continue to hope for.

Link to Episode 131: https://youtu.be/8WXWYRNhBOw

*Audio Timestamps:*

00:00 - Introduction

01:14 - PM Modi's China Visit

03:15 - Tibet's Stance on India-China Relation

07:51 - India's China Trade Balancing Act

10:25 - China's Pressure on India's Activism

13:18 - Tibetans Hurt by India's China Thaw?

17:53 - Is China Threatening Taiwan, Tibet?

20:18 - Why Does Xi Keep Visiting Tibet?

25:05 - Truth Behind Tibet's Chinese Rule

27:55 - What Do Exiled Tibetans Want?

29:48 - 'Voice For The Voiceless' Book

32:24 - Tibetan Buddhism Under Chinese Rules?

39:11 - Young Tibetans and Their Identity?

42:51 - Where Will Next Dalai Lama’s Successor Be Born?

44:17 - Dalai Lama’s Reincarnation Process Explained?

51:52 - Where Is the Real Panchen Lama?

55:21 - China's Fake Dalai Lama Motives

58:17 - Buddhist Nations and Dalai Lama's Future

01:06:25 - Buddhist Festivals vs. China's Push

01:11:42 - US Pushback on China's Narratives

01:20:30 - Why Bollywood's Silence on Tibet Issue?

01:23:15 - Does Lobsang Struggle with Identity?