Will China choose the next Dalai Lama or will the successor come from the free world?

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama presides over an event celebrating his 90th birthday according to a Tibetan calendar in Dharamshala, India, Monday, June 30, 2025, ahead of his birthday according to the Gregorian calendar on July 6. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia) Source: AP / Ashwini Bhatia/AP

In this podcast by SBS Hindi, we explore the growing confusion over who will be the successor of the Dalai Lama as he approaches his 90th birthday. While China insists the next spiritual leader must be Chinese, the Dalai Lama says his successor could come from the free world—and might even be a woman.

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Published 3 July 2025 1:35pm

By Hannah Kwon, Essam Al-Ghalib

Presented by Nabeel Hasan

Source: SBS

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In this podcast by SBS Hindi, we explore the growing confusion over who will be the successor of the Dalai Lama as he approaches his 90th birthday. While China insists the next spiritual leader must be Chinese, the Dalai Lama says his successor could come from the free world—and might even be a woman.

Find our podcasts here at SBS Hindi Podcast Collection. You can also tune in to SBS Hindi at 5pm on SBS South Asian on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the SBS Audio app or stream from our website.