Buddhism and BJP, a succession story

Buddhism and BJP are looking for new bosses - someone who will succeed Tenzin Gyatso and Jagat Prakash Nadda as dalai lama and BJP president, respectively. While BJP has never stated any belief in reincarnation - Nadda and first BJP president Atal Bihari Vajpayee roaming the Earth at the same time makes it tricky - the fact is that like Lhamo Thondup, who went on to become Tenzin Gyatso a.k.a. the 14th dalai lama, the 11th BJP president is also a 'continuation' of helmsmen of the same faith. True, as Tibet's head of state, the dalai lama carries an impressive title: Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, which translates into English as 'Holy lord, gentle glory, compassionate, defender of the faith, ocean of wisdom'. At best, the Union health as well as chemicals and fertilisers minister - not to mention leader of the house in Rajya Sabha - who quadruples as party president, can be addressed as 'sirji'. But both posts are big shoes that will need filling.

Gyatso, whose (current) birthday falls this coming Sunday, has stated that he will be reborn, and that the authority to recognise his future reincarnation is solely Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit body in India registered in 2011, making it 31 years younger than BJP. Nadda's successor will be chosen later this month, before Parliament is reincarnated on July 21.