Ladakhis pour out into streets in support of Dalai Lama after controversy

Large numbers of people in Ladakh have come out in support of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, after a controversial video about him went viral recently.

Buddhists have alleged that the video that shows the Dalai Lama in poor light is a doctored video which has been propagated by China. The Dalai Lama has already issued an apology over the video that showed him asking a young devotee to suck his tongue in a playful banter.

On Saturday, the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and the Ladakh Gompa Association (LGA) took out a procession in support of their leader. The two organisations were supported by a large number of local people.

Sonam Wangchuk, Ladakh-based intellectual and innovator, has come out strongly in support of the Dalai Lama. In a video, Wangchuk says: “For people in Ladakh it’s very sad & painful to see this grave cultural misunderstanding about His Holiness Dalai Lama’s playful act. While I can understand the outrage of the Western world, they must understand that cultures & values are different in different worlds”.

Wangchuk says that the Tibetan and Ladakhi people have felt pained and hurt because of the video about their leader.

He says that the Dalai Lama was being playful with the child as he is a playful personality. The innovator and engineer adds that in Ladakh older people play with their tongues because it is a cultural thing and not related to bad behaviour. “In the Vatican, the Pope might do something which would be very normal but out here in Ladakh it would be outrageous but here in Ladakh we start slandering and saying irresponsible things about the Pope and the people in the Western world would be very hurt”.

Putting the controversy into perspective, Wangchuk says that this controversy will harm the cause of peace and also that of Tibet. Wangchuk has requested his followers to spread his video among the people in the Western world so that they understand the Dalai Lama’s actions as a normal thing from a different cultural world.

The people in Ladakh have given another call for solidarity with the Dalai Lama by an appeal to shut down their city on April 17.

Also read: The Latest Chinese conspiracy against the Dalai Lama foiled! Again!