Dharamshala celebrates Nobel Peace Prize day with fanfare
Sunday, 10 December 2006, 5:00 p.m.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing the ceremony. (Photos: Sangay Key) |
Dharamshala: Despite a chilly December day here in the northern hill station of Dharamshala, the Tibetans today celebrated the 17th anniversary of conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama with great joy and pleasure.
The official ceremony was held at the Main Temple with great fanfare. The Tibetan friends here, and those who have come from Russia, and Russian Republic of Kalmykia also participated in the celebration.
Telo Rinpoche presenting the award to His Holiness. |
The chief guest at the event was Vijay Singh Mankotia, former minister of Himachal Pradesh. He asked the Tibetans to keep their hopes alive because he said he believes that the Tibetans could one day return to their motherland with the blessings of His Holiness.
Mr. Mankotia said, “We can’t think of India and Dharamshala without His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We would be shattered if His Holiness leaves Dharamshala. Yet we sincerely pray and hope that the dream of a free Tibet comes true and His Holiness and his people could return to Tibet”.
His Holiness and the Kalmky President |
Speaking through a translator, Kalmyk President, Kirsan Illumjhinov said the people of Kalmykia and the people around the world have great respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and look upon him as an apostle of peace. He is the epitome of the leaders and politicians today.
Mr. Kirsan has come all the way from his country to present the White Lotus, highest civilian honour, to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“Kalmyk people chose His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be the recipient of this award because of his contribution to the spiritual revival and prosperity of the republic”, he said.
He said that the Tibetan and Kalmyk people share a very old spiritual relationship and in this critical time for the Tibetan people we will lend our help for their cause. Kalmykia has built many Buddhist temples since revival of the religion after the communist rule. It also has the largest Buddhist temple in Europe.
From left to right: Kalmyk President, His Holiness, Vijay Singh Mankotia, and Telo Rinpoche. |
His Holiness thanked the people of Kalmyk for the award. In his address His Holiness said Kalmyks encountered many problems under the communist rule. But they faced them with bravery and have worked hard for the revival of Buddhism in their region soon after they achieved their freedom.
“Tibet, the roof of the world, is also called a zone of peace because Tibet is a peaceful country with traditions based on the teachings and non-violent principles of the Buddha. The Tibet’s issue is not only a political issue. It is related with the preservation of the teachings of the Buddha. Therefore it will help the whole world if they could preserve the ethical values of Tibet”, His Holiness said.
His Holiness holds the award as he poses for a photo with the Kalmyk president |
Commenting on the Nobel Peace Prize, His Holiness said the Lord Buddha and great persons like Mahatma Gandhi deserve the peace prize.
“I only follow their principles”, His Holiness added.
“It is our Indian friends who taught us to follow the principles of non-violence. India holds the non-violent principle for many years. But India should not export everything so that it will not be left with anything”, His Holiness said in jest.
Kalon Tripa, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche in the Kashag’s statement said, “For thousands of years Tibetans have preserved, on the roof of the world, the rich culture and tradition of India, rooted in the unique teachings of ancient Indian learning centres such as Nalanda, Vikramshila and Taxila. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan in exile community have had the opportunity to hand over this unique culture and tradition to its real owner, that is India, at a time when they are systematically being destroyed inside Tibet.
Kalmyk artists presenting their dance. |
The Kashag, therefore, hopes and appeals to Indians, in particular to those living in the Himalayan regions bordering Tibet, to show their utmost care and interest to preserve them. Doing so would go a long way in protecting the basic cultural rights of the Tibetan people.”
Asking the Chinese leaders to show their will to solve the issue of Tibet, the speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, T. T. Karma Chophel said, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama has already expressed his wish to visit Tibet and China on pilgrimage, and if he can be invited to do so without any pre-conditions, it will not only provide wonderful opportunity for a meeting between him and the
Chinese leadership but it would also boost the eventual resolution of the Tibetan issue amicably. This will also pave the way for the millions of Tibetans and Chinese to see and hear His Holiness and thereby promoting the unity and the stability of the country.”
Also present at the official function were Kichikov Igor, chairman of Parliament of Kalmyk Republic, Telo Rinpoche, head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia, Kalmyk MPs and officials, president of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society, and the officials of the Tibetan Administration.
After the official ceremony, the Tibetan, Indian and Kalmyk artists performed songs and dances. In the afternoon the cultural programme of the 12th Himalayan Festival was conducted.