They still eager to see their homeland

They still eager to see their homeland

DHARMSHALA--Though living in asylum in India for over half a century, most of the Tibetans are still eager to see their homeland. For Lobsang Sangay, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, returning to a home he has never seen is his dream.'This is our dream, aspiration and struggle,' Sangay told . The 43-year-old took over the reins of the government-in-exile in August 2011 from the 74-year-old monk and scholar Samdhong Rinpoche, who held the post for 10 years but was overshadowed by the Dalai Lama. With the Dalai Lama stepping down from diplomacy and politics, the Prime Minister's post has acquired added stature. 'After the spiritual leader handed over the reins of the government to the elected leadership, everybody was apprehensive about the Tibetan movement being carried forward without the Dalai Lama at the helm. 'But now, we are proud to say that with his blessing, the Tibetan movement is as strong as it ever was,' he said. Acknowledging the hard work of the elders, he said the foundation of the Tibetan movement created by them remains very strong. 'It has sent a clear message to the Chinese who were wrongly thinking that the movement will die a slow death after the Dalai Lama. For a peaceful resolution of the Tibetan issue, Sangay is treading the Dalai Lama's middle path policy that seeks genuine autonomy within China. 'Democracy and non-violence are two key principles we will never compromise,' he said. But he also believes in dialogue. 'We are willing to negotiate with China anytime, anywhere.'