Dalai Lama says 'institution of Dalai Lama' no more politically relevant

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today said the "institution of Dalai Lama" is no longer politically relevant and it was up to the people of Tibet to decide whether the age-old tradition should continue or not.

He said the Chinese government was more concerned about this institution than him for political reasons.

Dalai Lama is a title given to spiritual leaders of Tibetan people. This title is given to those who are considered among the most important monks of the Gelug school, the newest school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Addressing an event at the Goa Institute of Management, the 14th Dalai Lama said, "As early as in 1969, I had formally made a statement whether this very institution of Dalai Lama should continue or not, it is up to the Tibetan people to decide."
Replying to students' queries after an hour-long address, he said, "I have no concerns. Nowadays, Chinese government is more concerned about the Dalai Lama institution than me. The Chinese government is concerned because of political reasons,"
When asked about his own selection to the chair, Lama recalled, "According to my mother, the very day when the search party set by the Tibetan government reached my place... That very day our family was completely ignorant."