The article doesn't suggest that Bhutan has a future in the leadership of Tibetan Buddhism, but that when/if Tibetan Buddhism gets more fractured because of disputes around lineage, then Bhutan can become globally important in the thought leadership of Buddhism more generally, or maybe more specifically Vajrayana Buddhism.

There are 4 main schools of Vajrayana Buddhism: Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug, and the Dalai Lama is head of just one of them - Gelug. They have independent teaching transmissions and succession lines. There's common misconception about Dalai Lama being a kind of a "pope" for Buddhism at all, or for the Diamond way (that means Vajrayana) Buddhism in particular, which is simply not true.

Having said that, it is of course unfortunate that the issue with two candidates, one of them "manufactured" by the PRC regime, is on the horizon and most likely will happen. Please note this already happened for the Kagyu lineage, where two Karmapa candidates emerged in 90s; interesting that after few decades the Chinese one admitted recently he's not the real one.

Do you have a link to the Karmapa admitting he's not the real deal? I tried to google it but got nothing.

There is this: https://youtu.be/AdI4DMRFkm4

Although here he admits "he is not properly trained as previous Karmapas" that's not exactly the statement i claimed

There was also another one with a stronger statement, somewhere during covid, I need to dig more

I think to be fair what they were meaning is that it may emerge as the primary source of Tibetan Buddhism now Tibet is irreversibly compromised. Yes, I am aware of the different schools and how they squabble.

India as of today plays the Hindu ideas .. and downplays Buddhist followers ( mostly poor and downtrodden following footsteps of BR Ambedkar)

BJP which is ruling party for 3rd consecutive term is staunchly supporting Upper caste ( Brahmins).

TLDR: Buddhist leadership although is prophesised seems unlikely as of today. (However their Vippassana is worth giving a 10 day shot in todays chaotic world https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/locations/directory)

> and downplays Buddhist followers

How does it downplay Buddhist followers?

Buddhism in India grew in opposition to the Hindu caste system instead of spiritual change of thought. The current Indian government is loudly Hindu nationalist and prefers to minimise or even dismiss the diversity of Indian religious practices as well as pretend that the caste system is no longer present.

They and their supporters downplay Buddhist followers by pretending that the lived experiences of these Buddhist (on in general the non-hindu) don't exist.

Do you have a source on how BJP downplays Buddhist followers?

> BJP ... is staunchly supporting Upper caste ( Brahmins).

I'm curious what you mean by this. I've heard a wide range of opinions on BJP from NRIs, but that's one position I haven't been told before. My understanding was that BJP supports caste and village inclusivity in universities and professional fields to such an extent that some people from tier 1 cities even feel left out.