In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, the Dalai Lama sounded a note of caution for New Delhi, saying Tibetans were the “first line of defence” for India all along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) but this situation may completely change with the huge influx of Han Chinese all set to alter Tibet’s demographic profile.

While he has taken note of the UPA government’s recent circular asking Cabinet Ministers to stay away from the functions he attends, the Dalai Lama urged New Delhi to take up the case of “meaningful autonomy” with Beijing as “it is ultimately a matter of safety of the 4,000-km long border from Arunachal Pradesh to Ladakh.”

On his succession, the Dalai Lama said a “female Dalai Lama can be very effective” in serving the Buddhist religion and there have been instances of female lamas in the last seven hundred years of Tibetan history. Making clear that his successor, boy or girl, would be chosen from outside Tibet, he appeared amenable to the idea of choosing his successor “before his death” as per Tibetan tradition.

“Way back on March 10, 1969, I had said that it was time for the Tibetan people to decide whether to continue with the institution of Dalai Lama... In 1992, I was willing to hand over legal authority for certain degrees of freedom in Tibet... Since 2001, I am in a semi-retirement position with all political authority now vested in the government-in-exile... I am now looking forward to complete retirement,” the Dalai Lama said.

He said it was for the Tibetan people to decide on the method for his succession. This included the following: Like the Pope is appointed by the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church on the principles of seniority or a reincarnation being recognised before his death or the traditional manner.

But given the earlier controversy over the succession of the Panchen Lama and Beijing’s recent diktat that makes it mandatory for all reincarnate lamas to be officially recognised by the Chinese government, the Dalai Lama fears Beijing will complicate his succession. “Just like the Panchen Lama succession, the Chinese will also choose an official Dalai Lama... so there will be two Dalai Lamas, one chosen and other official... similar to two Panchen Lamas... But the real Dalai Lama will have a Tibetan heart and my people will not accept the official Dalai Lama,” he said.

Responding to a question that Beijing always believes Tibet was part of China, the Dalai Lama said there was need for legal experts and historians to study the relationship between the Chinese emperor and the Tibetan religious leadership in the past before coming to such a conclusion.

“The Chinese first called the cultural revolution a great achievement.. then said there was some achievement and some destruction and now finally admit that there was total destruction during that period... You cannot change history on the basis of political necessity... the Chinese create certain positions, no matter whether they are based on reality or not,” he said.

Giving details of his government’s dialogue with the Chinese government, the Dalai Lama said Beijing’s position had hardened in the last round, the sixth, in which they made it clear there was “no Tibet issue” and the “only issue was Dalai Lama.”

He said except for a brief period of hope in the late 1970s when Hua Guofeng was at the helm of affairs in Beijing, the Chinese position over Tibetan autonomy had hardened during the six rounds of dialogue. “In the 3rd meeting, the Chinese gave some 30 points against us, which we responded to in the next round... in the 5th round (February 2006), they accused the Dalai Lama of seeking independence for Tibet... this was followed by my intensive criticism and suppression in Tibet... and in the last round, nothing was discussed,” the Dalai Lama said.

While he maintains that the Tibetan spirit for freedom will remain indomitable, he fears that time is running out for a just resolution of the Tibetan issue with the huge influx of the Han Chinese from the mainland with official support.

According to him, the Han Chinese make 200,000 out of Lhasa’s total population of 300,000 and the figures are constantly rising. “If Tibet becomes a land of Han Chinese, then even autonomy will be meaningless,” the Dalai Lama said.