S2E35: Dalai Lama at 90: A life of compassion and conflict

2025-07-10

A conversation with Chicago-based Mayank Chhaya, the Dalai Lama’s biographer, on the highs and lows of His Holiness’ remarkable journey through life. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor distils 40 years of experience covering the Asian continent, with expert guests. In this episode, Ravi speaks with Mayank Chhaya, writer, broadcaster and the Dalai Lama’s biographer. Mr Chhaya, a writer and broadcaster, says that at 90, the Dalai Lama has become larger than the Tibetan cause he espouses and represents. He desc...

A conversation with Chicago-based Mayank Chhaya, the Dalai Lama’s biographer, on the highs and lows of His Holiness’ remarkable journey through life.

Synopsis: The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor distils 40 years of experience covering the Asian continent, with expert guests.

In this episode, Ravi speaks with Mayank Chhaya, writer, broadcaster and the Dalai Lama’s biographer.

Mr Chhaya, a writer and broadcaster, says that at 90, the Dalai Lama has become larger than the Tibetan cause he espouses and represents. He describes some remarkable moments in the Dalai Lama’s life, discusses his politics and geopolitics, and what lies ahead with China standing firm that it will choose the next Dalai Lama.

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:00 The flight to safety

6:10 Prayers, pigeons and lightning strikes

9:20 Dalai Lama has grown beyond Tibetan cause

12:00 The geopolitical Dalai Lama

16:50 China has lifted Tibetan living standards

19:50 At some point, there could be two Dalai Lamas

Host: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg)

Read Ravi's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP

Follow Ravi on X: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis