The Dalai Lama, the revered Tibetan spiritual leader, has returned to the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala, India, following a successful knee replacement surgery in New York. The 89-year-old Dalai Lama was greeted by hundreds of followers in colorful attire, waving scarves and flowers, as he arrived at the airport and his residence.
After undergoing surgery on June 28 in New York, the Dalai Lama spent weeks recovering at the Nappi Farmhouse in Syracuse before flying back to India. His medical team, including Dr. David Mayman, chief of the adult reconstruction and joint replacement service at the Hospital for Special Surgery, reported that the Dalai Lama's recovery is progressing well and is expected to continue improving over the next six to 12 months.
Physicians to the Dalai Lama, Dr. Tsetan D Sadutshang and Dr. Tsewang Tamdin, confirmed that the surgical incision had healed without complications, and his physiotherapists expressed satisfaction with the speed of his improvement.
The Dalai Lama has made Dharamshala his home since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. While he relinquished his political powers in 2011, he remains the spiritual leader of the Tibetan community, known for his ability to unite and mobilize Tibetans worldwide.
There are over 100,000 Tibetan refugees living in India, Nepal, and Bhutan, with the majority in India. Many have also resettled in countries like the U.S., Canada, Germany, and Switzerland. China, which accuses the Dalai Lama of advocating for Tibetan independence, has not engaged with his representatives for over a decade.
The Dalai Lama clarifies that his advocacy is for Tibet's autonomy and the preservation of its native Buddhist culture, amidst China's efforts to assimilate minority groups like Tibetans and Uyghurs into mainstream Chinese culture.
