Dharamsala: Describing himself as
the 'son of Indian soil', Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai
Lama today thanked the country saying he had spent 50 years of
his life here in a peaceful and cordial atmosphere.
"The Tibetan community is highly grateful to India in
particular and all those states in general who are sheltering
Tibetans in-exile", the 74-year-old spiritual leader said
speaking at a function here to mark the 50th anniversary of
his arrival in the hill state.
The Tibetan leader arrived in this town at the age of
24 and all the governments of the state cooperated with his
people in-exile by promoting their language, culture and
religion, he told the gathering at the function named, "Thank
You Himachal" to suit the occasion.
He said that though not a voter himself whenever he
met the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, he referred to him
as his CM.
He said he is spreading the Indian message of "AHINSA"
to the world asking people to learn from the country how to
live in harmony with so many different religions.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who was the chief
guest at the function said the Dalai Lama is the living Buddha
of modern world.
"India and Tibet are bound in a relationship of
humanity considered to be the strongest on earth," he said.
PTI
First Published: Friday, April 30, 2010, 23:43