Lets meet in Ludhiana, His Holiness says to Indian entrepreneurs
Saturday, 9 December 2006, 4:00 p.m.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with members of the ITHA. (Photo: Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama) |
Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama kindly accepted the Ludhiana woolen garment manufacturers’ invitation to visit Ludhiana, Punjab.
A 16-member delegation of the Indo-Tibetan Hosiery Association (ITHS), Ludhiana, led by their president, Naveen Sood, yesterday received an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during which they extended an invitation to His Holiness to visit their city around the month of June and July 2007.
At a press meeting after the audience, Mr Sood told reporters that the reason why they invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama around these months is that the Tibetan sweater sellers across the country come to Ludhiana to procure woolen cloths during this period. Therefore His Holiness’ visit will coincide with it and the Tibetan sweater sellers will also receive an audience of His Holiness.
He said, “They are many entrepreneurs in Ludhiana who could not come here and want to receive the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”.
Describing the meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama as one of the greatest experiences of their lives, Mr. Sood on behalf of his team said, “We all were touched by the Dalai Lama’s love and compassion. The happiness that we experienced after meeting him and receiving his blessings is immeasurable and we will not forget it throughout our life”.
“We seldom find a person like him in today’s century. He has love and concern for all humankind”, he added citing example of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s appeal for the abolition of death penalty to Saddam Hussain.
“He is a great, great, person”, he added.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama also expressed his gratitude towards the city industrialists for their help towards the Tibetan people, Mr. Sood told the media.
The closing remark of His Holiness the Dalai Lama says “Lets meet in Ludhiana”.
Mr. Sood said he wanted to tell the Tibetan sweater sellers through media here that they now have to pay only 4% Value Added Tax (VAT) to the Punjab government. Earlier they were paying 10% VAT. They also made an appeal to the Tibetan sweater sellers to insure their goods because they can claim for goods lost or damaged in transit.
Majority of the Tibetans in India earn their livelihood through sweater selling business during the winter season and in rest of the year they pursue agriculture. The Tibetan sweater sellers get their supply from the Ludhiana woolen manufacturers and they share a special professional relations over past 40 years.
The Ludhiana entrepreneurs are ever ready to help the Tibetan woolen traders like offering their supplies on credit and helping the Tibetan sweater seller when they face mishaps like fire.
ITHA was founded four years ago and it now has around 150 members. It works in close cooperation with the Tibetan sweater sellers.