The Dalai Lama’s advanced age and health issues have raised concerns among Tibetan exiles about the future of their movement and leadership. China’s intention to control the selection of his successor adds to these concerns, highlighting the political and cultural uncertainties faced by Tibetans both in exile and in Tibet. The Dalai Lama, whose real name is Tenzin Gyatso, has been a central figure in the Tibetan struggle for autonomy and cultural preservation since assuming his role as the 14th Dalai Lama in 1950.