In remarks that are likely to ignite a controversy, exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Wednesday claimed India would not have been partitioned if Mahatma Gandhi's desire to have Mohammad Ali Jinnah become India's first prime minister was fulfiled.
The Dalai Lama was addressing an event at the Goa Institute of Management in Sankhalim, about 40km from Panaji. Defending his claim, the Dalai Lama said the “self-centred” attitude of Jawaharlal Nehru saw him become India's first prime minister instead of Jinnah.
Responding to a question, the Dalai Lama said, “Now look at India. I think Mahatma Gandhiji was very much willing to give the prime ministership to Jinnah. But Pandit Nehru refused," he said.
“Mahatma Gandhiji's thinking, if it had materialised, then India, Pakistan would have been united," the Dalai Lama said.
However, the Dalai Lama said he knew Nehru to be a very experienced and wise person, but “sometimes mistake also happens”.
Interestingly, the decision of Nehru to give refuge to the Dalai Lama and nearly 80,000 followers from Tibet in March 1959 angered China's Communist leaders and was one of several factors that contributed to a decline in Sino-India relations, which eventually culminated in the war of 1962.
Nehru had sent a message to the Dalai Lama upon his arrival in India and met him in Mussoorie, where the fleeing leader was formally granted asylum and the Tibetan government in exile formed.
The loss in the 1962 war is considered one of the lowest points in the tenure of Nehru as prime minister.
(With PTI inputs)