Guwahati: “Respect our Guru, Respect our religion.” This banner was held high Thursday as the Monpas of Tawang, who follow Tibetan Buddhism, marched in support of the Dalai Lama in light of the row surrounding his controversial interaction with a child.
In a video that went viral this week, the Dalai Lama was seen kissing a young school student, who had approached the spiritual leader for a hug. He then stuck out his tongue and was heard saying “suck my tongue”.
The incident is said to have taken place in February, but the video only went viral this week. The Dalai Lama subsequently issued an apology for the “hurt his words may have caused”, with the same statement adding that “His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras”.
While the interaction was deemed wildly inappropriate by scores of social media users, the Dalai Lama’s followers have rallied behind him, blaming the criticism on ignorance about Tibetan customs.
There have also been allegations of China playing a role in making the video viral as part of efforts to discredit the Dalai Lama, who lives in India and is a central figure for the exiled Tibetans who left their Beijing-controlled homeland.
Voices of support have also risen from other followers of Tibetan Buddhism, like members of the Monpa tribe in Arunachal Pradesh.
Speaking to ThePrint from Tawang, Sange Dondu, president of the All Tawang District Student Union (ATDSU), which organised Thursday’s “peace march”, said that the trolling against the Dalai Lama on social media had hurt local sentiments.
“Only a part of the video was made viral. One should see the full video to understand,” he said. “Only those who don’t have full knowledge of our culture and tradition can do this.”
The peace march started from Chamleng, near the Tawang Monastery, and ended at the Buddha Park. The Monpas marched behind a decorated vehicle carrying a portrait of the Dalai Lama, and holding banners. One of them read, “We, the people of Tawang, stand with His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama.”
The rally — attended by shopkeepers from three markets, and villagers from Shyo and Ketchanga, among other areas — was held alongside a march by local Tibetans against China’s bid to rename certain locations in Arunachal.
Beijing claims the whole of Arunachal as “southern Tibet”.
Over a thousand people — including monks from the Tawang and Sera Jey Jamyang Choekorling monasteries, as well as local residents — took part in the gathering.
Also Read: Dalai Lama apologises after video of him asking minor boy to ‘suck his tongue’ goes viral
‘Che Le Sa — a Tibetan custom’
Speaking to ThePrint, Dondu said they smell a conspiracy in the video of the Dalai Lama going viral.
“At our group discussion, many viewed it as a possible attempt by pro-Chinese groups wanting to tarnish the image of the Dalai Lama,” he added.
Lobsang Lhundup, member of the Monyul Buddhist Culture Preservation Society, added, “We are really hurt by the allegations. Our Guru (Dalai Lama) cannot do such a thing. There were so many cameras at the event and hundreds of people including students. An 88-year-old man cannot do this. Our guru has always preached kindness and peace. We cannot accept such claims.”
Lhundup said of the video, “It’s our guru’s way of loving. Whoever comes to meet him, touches foreheads or rubs noses with him. When our dharam gurus meet, the forehead-to-forehead contact is a mark of respect for each other. It’s an emotional gesture.”
On social media, several Tibetans have pointed out that the Dalai Lama’s interaction was in line with the community’s customs.
In a Twitter post, the Tibet Rights Collective — a Delhi-based advocacy group and policy research institute that aims to increase “access to information around the politics, culture & traditions of Tibet” — pointed to a Tibetan phrase called “Che Le Sa”, which they said translates to “Eat My Tongue”.
A photo attached sought to explain it: In Tibetan culture, it said, it was common for grandparents to hold small pieces of candy and food in their mouth and ask children to bite it off mouth-to-mouth.
Once there is nothing left in the mouth, it added, the elders say, “Ok, now eat my tongue”.
The photo then explained the significance of the gesture, and how it was “more common” in the region the Dalai Lama is from.
Know more about the #Tibetan phrase "Che Le Sa" here:
via @Tseyal11 pic.twitter.com/yIXsjXdRZB
— Tibet Rights Collective (@TibetCollective) April 13, 2023
Others, including the news portal Vice, have pointed out that sticking one’s tongue out is a form of greeting in Tibet dating back to the 9th century. A 2014 BBC article listed it among the “unusual greetings from around the world”.
Pointing out that the video went viral weeks after the event took place, Lhundup said he too suspected pro-Chinese groups to be behind it, in an attempt “to deviate people from following the preachings of Dalai Lama”.
Even the Tibetan government-in-exile has issued a statement in the Dalai Lama’s support.
‘Why spread wrong things about him?’
Most Monpas — with a population of approximately 50,000 — live in Arunachal Pradesh, centered in the districts of Tawang and West Kameng.
Lama Nawang Norbu, president of the Tendhon Cultural Preservation Society, said it was wrong to spread “misleading information” against their spiritual leader.
“Dalai Lama ji is our guru — why spread wrong things against him? He has been living in India since 1959 and has always thought for the betterment of humankind,” he added. “What would one get by bringing a bad name to India by spreading such false news?” he said. “We are terribly hurt.”
On China trying to change names of locations in Arunachal Pradesh, Dondu said such attempts were also made in the past, but the Tibetan community in India does not recognise any such claim.
“They (China) have no right to enter our territory or attempt to do things as renaming places. It will not affect us,” he added. “Now, it is no longer a situation like 1962 that China will show their power and we will keep quiet. If required, we will fight together with the Indian Army against the Chinese.”
Dondu said they had earlier protested against Chinese transgressions in their area, and have “since boycotted all Chinese products, which used to be readily available in the old market area at cheaper rates”.
The protest demonstration was also attended by the chairman of the Arunachal government’s Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik (Chos-Rig) Affairs (DoKAA), Jambay Wangdi, and representatives of other organisations including the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society, members of Rangden Tsokchung (Tibetan Freedom Society of Tawang), and Students for Free Tibet (SFT).
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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