Final answer:
At 24, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, undertook the role of leading Tibet following the Chinese invasion, facing immense challenges and making critical decisions to preserve Tibetan culture and spearhead resistance against Chinese control. His first administrative act included ratifying the Seventeen Point Agreement under duress, a step that marked the beginning of his efforts to defend Tibet's identity while in exile.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, at the age of 24, had the monumental task of assuming the leadership of Tibet during the tumultuous period following China's invasion. In 1950, he was officially recognized as the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people. His first significant administrative act was to face the aftermath of the Chinese invasion and the subsequent military and political pressure which led to his eventual ratification of the 1951 Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet. While facing these challenges, he began to work towards preserving Tibetan culture and religious practices amidst the hardships brought upon by the Chinese aggression. It was a period marked by efforts to maintain resistance against cultural eradication, and the Dalai Lama's advocacy for peace and tolerance was unwavering. However, with the increasing suppression of Buddhism and the Tibetan resistance, the Dalai Lama had to make the difficult decision to escape to India in 1959, where he established a government in exile. His continued efforts have been directed towards maintaining the identity and traditions of the Tibetan people in exile. These efforts became his ongoing task following his escape, forming the heartbeat of his leadership in the years to come.