A Poignant Birthday for the Panchen Lama

By Wendhe Choetsoe / May 4, 2015;

A picture of the young Panchen Lama taken before his dissapearrance

The missing Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, turned 26 on April 27 and his birthday was celebrated by Tibetans and supporters. This year also marks 20 years since his enforced disappearance.

The Panchen Lama is considered one of the highest religious heads of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism, next only to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. On May 14, 1995, His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognised Gendun Choekyi Nyima as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. Three days later, the six-year-old boy from Nagchu in Tibet was abducted along with his parents by the Chinese authorities. Despite repeated appeals by a number of human rights bodies, including the United Nations to China, he continues to be detained. China’s only reaction was the appointment of Gyaltsen Norbu who they claim is the true Panchen Lama. He is commonly referred to as Panchen Zuma or the False Panchen by Tibetans.

At his 26th birthday celebration in exile India
Photo: SFT

In Dharamshala Tibetans and supporters celebrated the birthday of Gedun Choekyi Nyima while making appeals for his immediate release. An event held at Tibetan Children’s Village Day school featured a monk who wore a mask with a picture of the young Panchen Lama. He cut cake after being released from behind the bars, which was described as a future vision for Tibetans. Schoolchildren then took part in a Momo eating competition [Momo is a Tibetan delicacy] and Tug-o-War. “By celebrating the Panchen Lama’s birthday, we want to show the Chinese government that they do not have the right to control the reincarnation of Tibetan Lamas,” said the Asia Director of Students for a Free Tibet, Dorjee Tseten.

Appealing for the release of the Panchen Lama, the Central Tibetan Administration announced that on this, the 20th year of his disappearance, they will observe May 17 as International Solidarity Day with Tibet. They have set up the Solidarity with Tibet campaigning group to raise international awareness about the current situation.

The day was also commemorated in Moscow, Russia in an event attended by Telo Tulku Rinpoche, the honorary representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Russia and Mongolia.