Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Dalai Lama on his 91st birthday. The PM described his message of peace and harmony as a guiding force for people across the world and wished him a long and healthy life.
New Delhi [भारत]July 6 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended warm wishes to the 14th Dalai Lama on the occasion of his 91st birthday and praised his enduring dedication to global peace and harmony. The Prime Minister expressed his good wishes in a post on Twitter, highlighting the universal resonance of the Tibetan spiritual leader’s teachings and his deep moral impact on the international stage.
PM Modi said, “Warm birthday wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His message of peace and harmony has been a guiding force for people around the world. His moral and spiritual strength and his commitment to global well-being are admirable. Wishing him a long and healthy life.”
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Special prayers in Shimla
Simultaneously, Tibetan Buddhist monks and residents in exile at Dorje Drak Monastery in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, gathered early in the morning to offer special prayers and participate in religious rituals dedicating their spiritual leader’s long life and universal message.
Early life of Dalai Lama
This worldwide reverence is linked to his early life in Tibet. Born into a small farming family in Taktser on July 6, 1935, his original name was Lhamo Thondup, which literally means “wish-fulfilling goddess,” according to the Dalai Lama’s website. At the age of two, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama and brought to Lhasa in October 1939, after which he was formally installed as the head of state of Tibet on February 22, 1940.
After receiving the name Tenzin Gyatso at the age of six, he officially assumed full temporary leadership of Tibet in a ceremony held at the Norbulingka Palace on November 17, 1950. However, a dramatic turning point in his leadership came in March 1959, when, following the suppression of the Tibetan national rebellion, the spiritual leader was forced into exile in India along with over 80,000 refugees.
6 decades of exile and current situation
More than six decades after their first exile, the anniversary is an enduring symbol of the broader struggle over faith, identity and legitimacy. This remains a complex geopolitical and cultural challenge that Beijing has still failed to solve. Organized systematically every year by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the event remains a major attraction for followers around the world.
Health and ‘Year of Compassion’ campaign
Highlighting his physical absence from the main public stage this year, his office said he had traveled to Delhi in early June to undergo a left knee replacement operation, following his scheduled stay in the Ladakh region during the summer. The celebration also follows on the heels of last year’s initiatives, which were highlighted by CTA’s launch of the “Year of Compassion” campaign. That initiative focused heavily on environmental and cultural conservation through extensive tree planting campaigns and promotion of the Tibetan language, ensuring that their heritage remained active even during their recovery. (ANI)
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