His Holiness The Dalai Lama – Embodiment of peace

By: N.S.Venkataraman

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist Tibetan monk of unparalleled eminence, would be entering his ninetieth year, dedicated to peace, harmony and goodwill for everyone. Ever since he was anointed as Dalai Lama when he was two years old, for several decades now,  his consistent advocacy for peace and goodwill is unique and reveals his extraordinary standards of thought process and values.

When Chinese forces entered Tibet in 1950 and occupied this holy land and in the process killing several protesting Tibetans with brutal force, the world was shocked and sympathised with the plight of Tibetans at the hands of the Chinese aggressor. However, the world’s sympathy was only limited to lip and the world conscience did not assert itself.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama had no alternative other than leaving his motherland land Tibet, and seeking refuge in India, to save himself and his followers from the Chinese army’s brutality.

Then, while the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru allowed the entry of the venerated Tibetan monk and his followers into India,  Jawaharlal Nehru just kept quiet without protesting against Chinese aggression. At that time, a sane voice was heard in India led by the former Indian President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, questioning Jawaharlal Nehru’s silence about Chinese aggression.  But, nothing happened beyond this sane voice.

Later, the former Indian  Prime Minister Vajpayee went one step further and recognised Tibet as part of China, again ignoring the sane voice heard in India about the need to reclaim Tibet for Tibetans from China’s vice-like grip.

Till today, India has done nothing worthwhile to support the cause for Tibet’s freedom, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama continues to live as a refugee in India with the headquarters at Dharamshala.

The present Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, seems to be doing nothing to support the Tibetans’ cause for freedom and seems to be satisfied that the Dalai Lama has been accommodated in India.

The policy approach of Prime Minister Modi to the Tibetan cause became clearly evident when a massive Buddhist conference was organised in  Bodh Gaya in India in the year 2015,  with Prime Minister Modi himself addressing the conference. However, no invitation was extended to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is the most venerated and elderly Buddhist monk living in the world today.  His Holiness the Dalai Lama, living in India at a distance of a few hundred kilometres from the venue of the global Buddhist Meet, had to learn about the proceedings only from the media.

What is even more shocking is that several Buddhist monks who attended the conclave from around the world were not known to have expressed their concern about not inviting His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

All these incidents are due to the anxiety not to displease China, a known aggressor of Tibet.

What is particularly conspicuous is that Sri Lanka, which claims to be a Buddhist country, has not cared to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Sri Lanka. The leadership of the Buddhist movement in Sri Lanka also seem to be silent about inviting and honouring His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Obviously, the Sri Lankan government does not want to displease China by inviting His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

While the US Senate has passed some resolutions recently supporting the Tibetan cause, it remains only a paper text till now.

What is remarkable is that in spite of such attitude exhibited towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his dear country Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama bears ill will towards none. Or against any country, and even bears no ill will towards China.

In the present conflict ridden world where might is considered to be right and aggressors seem to be gaining ground and world peace is viewed as Utopian concept, His Holiness the Dalai Lama stands tall as a highly civilised and noble person, who believes in non violence, harmony and goodwill across regions and amongst the religions and cross section of people.

The life and thought process of His Holiness the Dalai Lama must give hope to everyone who believes that sometime in future the world will become less exploitative and with fairness and goodwill being the order of the day.

Certainly, the world recognition for the stature and importance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama must become much more intense. All peace lovers in the world and civilised people would wish long life for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Venkataraman is a trustee with the “Nandini Voice for the Deprived,” a not-for-profit organisation that aims to highlight the problems of downtrodden and deprived people and supports their cause. To promote probity and ethical values in private and public life and to deliberate on socio-economic issues dispassionately and objectively.

The Views expressed in this article are those of the author and should not be attributed to Tibet Express.