BODH GAYA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama is awarded the Mahatma Gandhi International Award For Peace And Reconciliation today, by Ela Gandhi, Chair of the Gandhi Development Trust at the Kalachakra venue in Bodh Gaya.

Speaking to the public at the felicitation, His Holiness thanked the Gandhi Development Trust and said this award is special to him because of the significance of the venue (Bodh Gaya) and the 3000 thousand year old Indian tradition of non-violence that Gandhi ji represents.

“Gandhi ji imbibed the age old Indian tradition of non-violence and used it to fight for India’s independence” His Holiness said.

“I too have lived my life following non violence and will continue to live my life according to the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence”, His Holiness asserted.

Ela Gandhi who had come all the way from South Africa for the ceremony, said that she is honored to present the award to His Holiness at Bodh Gaya, a sacred place of pilgrimage for Buddhists around the world.

She said that Gandhi ji and His Holiness has continuously worked for world peace. They strive for a peaceful solution to conflicts and continues to be a huge source of inspiration for everybody.
 
She also said that the South African people were deeply saddened for His Holiness not being able to visit South Africa in October last year.

The Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation was originally scheduled to be awarded to His Holiness in October last year in South Africa at Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s birthday celebrations.