In a major cultural moment, the selection process for the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso has evolved into a key geopolitical matter in the Asia-Pacific region. India has hosted the 14th Dalai Lama and the Tibetan exile community since 1959 when Tibetans revolted, but the upcoming succession of this religious leader will have major implications for the delicate bilateral relationship between India and China.