Dalai Lama conferred with inaugural Gandhi Mandela peace prize
DHARAMSALA, 19 Nov: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama highlighted the importance of the sense of oneness of seven billion human beings as he accepted the Gandhi-Mandela Award today at Tsuglag-Khang, the main temple here in Mcleod Ganj.
The octogenarian Tibetan leader thanked the Gandhi Mandal Foundation for the award and spoke on the significance of compassion, unity and the sense of oneness of seven billion human beings in his address.
The Dalai Lama further spoke on the significance of compassion, non-violence and dialogue for world peace and to address problems or differences.
The octogenarian Tibetan leader added that the principles of non-violence and compassion are deeply ingrained in the age-old and rich Indian culture.
The Tibetan Spiritual leader was awarded the maiden Gandhi Mandela Award 2019, a highly prestigious International award by Himachal Pradesh’s Governor Rajendra Arlekar for promoting Gandhian and Nelson Mandela’s values, community service and social development (in Asia & African countries).
The Governor said that it is a great honour for him to felicitate the Tibetan spirituals leader and declared him the most deserving recipient of the award.
While a jury consisting of five Chief Justices from three countries selected the Tibetan Nobel Laureate as the recipient of the award in 2020 for his outstanding contribution to the area of world peace and harmony, the award could not be given to him then due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Dalai Lama is truly an inspiration for society and has carried forward the principles the Gandhi and Mandela,” the award citation read.
The Gandhi Mandal Foundation, the organiser of the award is registered under the Govt. of India Trust Act. The Foundation promotes individual freedom civil liberties and human rights across the globe.
While the foundation’s headquarter is in Delhi, it has an international presence across the globe in America, Africa, Russia, London, Switzerland, China and Nepal among others.
According to the foundation, “the medal is one of the most expensive Gold Medal made by the INDIA GOVERNMENT MINT, A Unit of Security printing and Minting Cooperation of INdia Limited.”
