I am currently researching on the 14th Dalai Lama. Obviously it is very hard to find unbiased texts and books. There are two extreme viewpoints, and from there it is hard to judge. My questions regard the critical points in his life. I read, but without any given source, that he wrote letters of apprecciation to Mao Zedong, but I can't find them, especially not translated. Anyone knows more about these? What was his relation with the 10th Panchen Lama? And which group did influence him in his early years, especially towards confrontation with the communist china? As well as how did shift the critical opinion on him, which was pretty common in the 90s imo, to a "popstar"-like figure in the 00's?(Sorry i should read the rules better :( ) I would just be happy with some recommendations for articles and books you guys think that have at least a scientific approach to them and are useful.
For anyone else interested, the most interesting book i found so far is "A Tibetan Revolutionary: The political life and times of Bapa Phüntso Wangye". He helped the Dalai Lama with translations between Mao Zedong and him. A very great read! Though it is somewhat a scientific biography, so of course biased and subjective, but given with context. Sorry that this is all confusing, I am so confused with this topic. Thousands of esoteric books and websites with lawyers, students etc. for tibet...
The most unbiased work I've read is "Dragon in the Land of Snows" by Tshering Shakya. He IS Tibetan, but his narrative is extremely well researched and detailed as opposed to the typical Tibetan narrative of, "We were a happy country, the Chinese took over, now we are oppressed and depressed." The book begins in the Dalai Lama's youth, mainly focused on the political events rather than his recognition and training. But as he becomes more politically important to the events of the '50s, Shakya's work recognizes the young Lama's incompetencies as opposed to say Kundun by Scorcese.
That said, as u/skyanvil said, you won't find a whole lot of material that is unbiased. "Land of Snows" is a good starting point. Try Shakya's bibliography for other works you can look into. Other than that, definitely look into his own autobiography, as well as Tibetan, Chinese, and Shugden works. The answer is always in the middle and you can cross reference them with one another.
You won't find much unbiased texts on this subject.
I would suggest you continue to read both sides as well as some modern blog posts about DL.
1 interesting source of information would be the Western Shugden society websites.
The Shugden sect was a very popular sect of Tibetan Buddhism that worships an avatar spirit. In this sense, this Sect is actually very different from Tibetan Buddhism, because it holds a non-living spirit as the object of worship.
DL supposedly issued edicts unofficially to ban Shugden sect from the Exile Community. Shugden followers complained that they were persecuted by DL's followers.
Western supporters of Shugden subsequently began to retaliate against DL by publicly airing many "inside dirty" on DL's government, his nepotism, his corruption, etc.