The Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA) in collaboration with the U.S-based NGO 108 Peace Institute are co-hosting high level panel discussions on the theme of "Tibet's Crossroads: Global Stakeholders and the Succession Imperative". The event is scheduled to be held on 23rd May 2025 from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM (IST) at the Lecture Room II (Basement, Annexe), India International Centre (IIC).
CONCEPT NOTE
This event, takes as its point of departure our Special Paper titled “The Dalai Lama’s Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question”, co-edited by Dr. Jagannath Panda (Stockholm Centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs, ISDP) and Ms. Eerishika Pankaj (Director, Organisation for Research on China and Asia – ORCA) published in May 2023. The publication has garnered international attention for its timely analysis and multidimensional exploration of the strategic stakes surrounding the Dalai Lama’s eventual succession. Against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical contestation, deteriorating Sino-Western relations, and intensifying concerns over cultural and religious freedoms within the PRC, the issue of Tibet re-emerges not merely as a regional flashpoint but as a litmus test of normative global governance. With the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama approaching in July, there is renewed scholarly and policy interest in the long-term trajectory of the Tibet question. The goal is not only to reflect upon the current state of affairs but also to extrapolate future scenarios and policy implications for the region and beyond.
SCHEDULE OF THE EVENT
Panel 1: From Dharamshala to Beijing: The Diplomatic Calculus of the Dalai Lama’s Successor (9:30AM - 11:00AM)
Speakers:
- Dr. Swati Chawla, Associate Professor, O.P Jindal Global University
- Dr. Apa Lhamo, Research Fellow, Centre for China Analysis & Strategy (CCAS)
- Mr. Ratish Mehta, Senior Research Associate, Organisation For Research on China and Asia (ORCA)
Moderator: Eerishika Pankaj, Director Organisation for Research On China and Asia (ORCA)
High-Tea Break: 11:00AM to 11:30 AM
2nd Panel: Beyond the 14th: Strategic Stakes in the Dalai Lama’s Succession Debate (11:30 AM - 1:00 PM)
Speakers:
- Prof. Bali Deepak, Professor, Centre for Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
- Mr. Kalpit Mankikar, China Fellow, Observer Research Foundation (ORF)
- Prof. Nimmi Kurian, Professor, Centre for Policy Research (CPR)
Moderator: Prof. SD Muni, Professor Emeritus, School for International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
To register for the event, email us at [email protected].
Due to limited seats, registration is subject to organizer's approval!