The Dalai Lama recalls his 1959 fight to India

While addressing the concluding function of platinum jubilee of The Assam Tribune and golden jubilee of the Dainik Asom of the Tribune group newspapers held in Guwahati, the Dalai Lama recalled his 1959 fight from Tibet to India and said that, there was no option but escape from Tibet to India for Chinese military action.

“Tension mounted only because of safety, but I experienced freedom when I was received warm heartedly by the people and officials of this region. After that, a new chapter began in my life. Coming to India heralded a new life,” the Dalai Lama said.

The Tibetan spiritual leader said that, the major chunk of human problems is self-created as he advocated for inculcating and nurturing human compassion to reduce human sufferings and give global peace a chance.

“Basic human nature is compassion and not anger and by rekindling human compassion one can restore individual happiness which can lead to family happiness and ultimately to world happiness. Existing system of education in India promotes materialism which is an anti-thesis to universal and collective peace, as he advocated for replicating the secular concept of education right from kinder garten to the post graduate level to reawaken the inner peace of an individual for universal peace,” the Dalai Lama said.

The Dalai Lama hailed Indian ethos and values which promote compassion or ‘karuna’, referring to the material development of the European countries said that material development can provide comfort but not peace.

“The Indian system which upholds compassion can contribute compassion and peace to the seven billion people of the world. The last century that is 20th century was a century of violence where more than 200 million people were killed,” the Dalai Lama said.

However, giving a ray of hope the Tibetan spiritual leader said that in the 21st century the youths are more compassionate and he advocated for strong spirit of dialogue to nail down the disagreement.

The Dalai Lama said that if there is any issue of disenchantment one should sit down to talk and hammer out the differences. Through strong spirit of engagement we can create peaceful century.

The Tibetan spiritual leader also said that though science and technology are very important to the overall experience of humankind and material comfort and wellbeing of the mankind too much dependence on science and technology would lead us to lose touch with the aspects of human knowledge and understanding that aspire towards honesty.

The Dalai Lama on Saturday arrived in Guwahati for his 12-day visit to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh despite of opposed by China.

Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit while speaking on the occasion congratulated the entire team of the Assam Tribune and Dainik Asom to achieve the feat and relentlessly serving the society with information and education.

Lauding the services of the Assam Tribune in being the voice of the voiceless, Purohit said that his day starts with the Assam Tribune and he reads the paper  to know the happenings of the state and the country.

He also said that the Assam Tribune is maintaining the highest standard of journalistic ethics which also has had a great role towards India’s independent struggle. He also advised the entire team of the Assam Tribune not to get carried away by temptations.

Speaking on the occasion, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal while welcoming the Dalai Lama to Assam said that the presence of His Holiness has lent a divine touch to the ambience as he sought his blessings on behalf of the people of Assam for the welfare of all sections of the people.

Sonowal also said that to make the society a better place of living, values like honesty, transparency etc should be developed and the presence of His Holiness would help us to nurture these values for a better Assam.

The Assam CM also hailed the role of the Assam Tribune Group of Newspapers for their immense contributions to make an illuminated society.

He also said that since the very beginning The Assam Tribune Group of Newspapers have been playing pivotal role in making the democracy run.

He also paid his tributes to Radha Gobinda Baruah the lion man of Assam who was instrumental in bringing Bihu from the rural landscape to cities.

Earlier, the Dalai Lama released two books, 50 Years of Dainik Asom and L.N. Phukan the first editor of the Assam Tribune.

On the other hand, while Chinese opposed to his visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the Dalai Lama said that, it is a normal oppose.

The Dalai Lama will release an Assamese translation of his first autobiography and to deliver a speech during a programme organised by Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University in Guwahati on Apr 2.

He will also attend an open session in the Namami Brahmaputra festival, biggest ever river festival in India on April 2, which was inaugurated by President of India Pranab Mukherjee on Mar 31.

The Tibetan spiritual leader will also visit to Dibrugarh (Upper Assam), Tawang, Itanagar, Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh during his 12-day visit to North East India.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)