Thousands of people gathered in India’s Dharamshala on Sunday to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama – a key milestone in the life of the spiritual leader and Nobel Peace laureate known for his message of compassion and his quest for greater freedoms for Tibet under Beijing’s rule.

Dehradun: On the occasion of the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday on Sunday, the Central Tibetan Administration announced a ‘year of compassion' initiative .

With the announcement of his reincarnation ahead of his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama made it clear that Tibetans will not bow to China. The Dalai Lama’s reincarnation is not just a matter of faith but it is a geopolitical contest that goes far beyond Tibet to the roots of the Communist China’s expansionism and the Dalai Lama is at the vanguard to challenge it.