Don’t take retirement, Dalai Lama urged

DHARAMSALA - The Tibetan government-in-exile here Wednesday urged the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama not to go for retirement or even semi-retirement.

“Tibetans, both in Tibet and in exile, have been greatly concerned about your intention to retire completely from governmental roles,” a memorandum submitted to the Dalai Lama here said.

The Dalai Lama recently indicated that he would quit public life and hand over most of his political powers to the prime minister-in-exile.

“You led the Tibetan people to the fine path of democracy… as soon as you stepped foot on Indian soil after escaping into exile, you introduced election to allow the Tibetan people to vote for their own representatives and in 1963 you also promulgated a Tibetan constitution.

“In 1991, you approved the charter of the Tibetans in exile, under which you expanded the parliament-in-exile and made it into a law-making body,” said the memorandum, quoting leaders of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile.

It added: “We beseech and pray with heartfelt devotion that you never ever contemplate going into either semi-retirement or full retirement.”

The Dalai Lama has clarified that his stated retirement from public life does not mean he has forgotten the Tibetan struggle.

“More than 99 percent of Tibetans in and outside Tibet trust me, so I have the moral responsibility to serve them,” the Nobel laureate said.

The Tibetan leader, who fled to India in 1959, heads his government-in-exile based here. It is not recognized by any country.