Recently, I was alerted by someone living in the Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala, (a Gelugpa dominated political and religious area in India), that, on 26th March 2025, a senior female elected Tibetan exile minister, Tharlam Dolma (whose name means Path of Liberation Tārā), was persistently questioned by a Tibetan exile female MP, Konchog Chodon regarding the tradition of celebrating (with great pomp and funding) the 84 year old Gelugpa monk and politician, Samdhong Rinpoche’s birthday in exile schools and communities. Here is the video clip of that interaction (in Tibetan only).
It was surprising but also encouraging news that Tibetan exiles are now bravely publicly questioning and discussing the Gelugpa “one-way street” sectarian religious hegemony (as I wrote about here) that dominated Tibet for three hundred years, pre-1959, and has continued the last sixty years in exile communities, despite it having brought about a zero change of attitude in the Chinese government’s “karmic” policy of being anti-Dalai Lama clique (i.e. Gelugpa).
Some of the comments on the Youtube video have suggested that the “funny lady”, Tharlam Dolma, is crazy/insane. A typical patriarchal response to brave women, who dare to speak truth to power.
If Tibetan schools and society are supposed to be democratic and secular, and also non-sectarian, when it comes to Tibetan Buddhism, why is his birthday still be celebrated? Yet, the birthdays of other far more senior Tibetan Buddhist lineage holders (with a much greater and deeper spiritual and intellectual legacy than Samdhong Rinpoche) such as the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa? Although the 17th Karmapa himself does not care at all if they celebrate his birthday or not, he is well beyond such worldly praises.
Samdhong Rinpoche is no doubt a clear example of the ongoing legacy of Gelug sectarian domination of Tibetan society and culture. After all, Samdhong Rinpoche, the 84 year old politically appointed tulku staunch Gelugpa monk and politician, who is very close to the 14th Dalai Lama, has never once attended any events, teachings of other much more senior and important (in terms of spiritual and intellectual legacy) Tibetan Buddhist lineage masters, or praised or prostrated to them publicly.
Also, considering concerns over Samdhong Rinpoche’s alleged inappropriate conduct with boys in India, according to an Indian government source, and the increasing fatigue of Indians with Gelugpa dominated events and institutions in India, the Tibetan female MP should be congratulated for voicing the concerns of many Tibetans, who are too afraid to speak up.
Not a trivial matter
Some may regard the female MP, Konchog Chodon’s question as a “trivial” thing to discuss, and as being irrelevant to Tibetan exiles and Tibet itself, in fact, it strikes at the very “root” of how and the issue as to why Tibetans are in the situation with the Chinese to begin with.
As I wrote about in The Mongolian-Gelug shadow over Tibet: Six decades of failed US-Gelug policy, the roots of the claim to Chinese political administrative power and ownership came from the Gelugpa-Mongolian government via the 5th Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso who gave the Chinese Qing Dynasty almost total control over Tibet up until the 13th Dalai Lama. This level of Chinese involvement in Tibetan administration never happened during the pre-Mongolian invasion years, when the succession of Karmapas, were courted and feted by Chinese Emperors, and offered similar levels of total power in Tibet, but refused to accept their offer.
Tharlam Dolma: one of first three women appointed as ministers in 2021
For those who are not following (or even interested in) Tibetan exile politics, Tharlam Dolma is a pioneering woman not only in Tibetan exile politics, but also as an prize-winning educator. Dolma was one of three female ministers appointed at exile administration level in 2021 as an effort by Tibetan exile politicians to end the patriarchal, male-dominated politics and increase visibility of women and women’s voices.
Dolma completed her schooling in Gangtok, Bylakuppe, and has served for over 37 years in Tibetan schools in India, including 14 years as teacher and 23 years as principal. In 2013, she received the National Award for Teachers from Indian President Abdul Kalam and also retired the same year.
The fact that Tharlam Dolma delivered her responses to the pertinent questions with some wry humour and feminine grace suggests that she is indeed living up to her Tara name too.
In any case, this recent public discussion is no doubt a symbol that Tibetan women themselves are piercing through the patriarchal religious Gelugpa hegemony with grace, intelligence and wit. As they say, “when you criticise people in power, make sure to make them laugh and smile, otherwise they might kill you!”
Written by Adele Tomlin, 10th April 2024.
What a genuine, brave, altruistic woman. May her efforts bear fruit everywhere!