Recalling Panchen Lama’s disappearance on this day in 1995

On this day in 1995, Gedhun Choeki Nyimi nominated by Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchem Lama was abducted by the Chiniese authorities and held as a political prisoner. ...read more

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Updated on May 17, 2017 03:59 PM IST

Buddhist nuns carry placards during a protest march demanding the release of religious leader Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, who was put under house arrest by the Chinese authorities on this day in 1995. Panchen Lama is the second most important religious leader in Tibetan Buddhism, after the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama was involved in recognizing the Panchen Lama, and in turn the Panchen Lama is also historically part of the process by which each new Dalai Lama is chosen. (Ashwini Bhatia/AP)

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Exiled Tibetans enact a street play of abducting their religious leader Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama by Chinese policemen. The abduction of Panchem Lama is considered by Tibetan Buddhists as part of China’s efforts to destabilise Tibet by introducing political propaganda, controlling its religion and limiting the Dalai Lama’s influence. (Ashwini Bhatia/AP)

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On November 11, 1995, Chinese authorities nominated their own Panchen Lama: Gyaincain Norbu. Tibetans still refer to him as Panchen Zuma or the false Panchen. (AP)

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Exiled Tibetans protest during a protest march demanding the release of their religious leader Gedhun Choekyi Nyima who was the world’s youngest political prisoner, abducted by Chinese authorities. (PTI)

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Gyaincain Norbu, the 6-year-old boy that Beijing installed as the 11th Panchen lama, receives “qiema” a plate with rice traditionally used to express homage. (HT Photo)

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Gyaincain Norbu, the 11th Panchen Lama (CENTRE) who lives in Beijing, rarely visits Tibet. He is also a member of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC) and a senior figure in China’s state run Buddhists Association. (Reuters)

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Exiled Tibetan and Buddhist raise slogans demanding the release of their religious leader Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. In more than 20 years of abduction, Chinese have disclosed very little information about his whereabouts. In 2007, Chinese authorities said that he is an ordinary Tibetan boy who is leading a normal life. (Shyam Sharma/HT Photo)