Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, July 31: Indian lawmaker Tapir Gao on Wednesday reiterated his appeal to the central government to confer the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, on His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Speaking during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, the Member of Parliament (MP) from Arunachal Pradesh hailed the Tibetan spiritual leader as a “global symbol of peace, non-violence, and compassion.”
This marks the second time Gao has raised the demand in Parliament, having first done so during the winter session on December 16 last year. At that time, he also called on New Delhi to firmly oppose China’s interference in the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation and to safeguard Tibet’s religious and cultural traditions.
“India is the land of non-violence. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the messenger of non-violence and compassion,” Gao said. “The Government of India should recognise his contributions to humanity by awarding him the Bharat Ratna.” Highlighting the Dalai Lama’s global stature and spiritual legacy, he noted that the 14th Dalai Lama, who turned 90, has made extraordinary contributions not only to Buddhism but to the entire world. “Today, the Dalai Lama is not just a religious figure but a symbol of peace across the world,” he said.
Following his speech in Parliament, Gao reiterated his message on social media. “Today during Matters of Public Importance in Parliament, I urged the Govt of India to confer the Bharat Ratna on H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama ji,” he wrote, warning that Chinese interference in the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation process threatens the spiritual tradition and integrity of Tibetan Buddhism. “Only the Tibetan spiritual tradition holds the right to recognise the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, as the process is rooted in the Nalanda Buddhist tradition of Tibet,” he added.
Gao is also the co-convener of the All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT), a cross-party coalition that advocates for Tibetan causes in India. The forum, supported by around 80 Indian MPs, had earlier endorsed the call to award the Bharat Ratna to the Nobel Laureate, following the 90th birthday celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on July 6. The forum has also urged the Indian Parliament to invite the Dalai Lama to address a joint session of both Houses.
Earlier in March, the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition had passed a similar resolution, lauding the Dalai Lama’s contribution to preserving Himalayan Buddhist traditions and his lifelong commitment to nonviolence and peace. The Council urged the Indian government to confer the Bharat Ratna in time for his milestone birthday.
The demand has garnered long-standing support from several prominent Indian leaders, including former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who have emphasized that such an honour would reflect India’s appreciation of the Dalai Lama’s unwavering advocacy for truth, compassion, and nonviolence.
