Confer Bharat Rat to Dalai Lama: TSGAP

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, June 12: The Tibet Support Group of Aruchal Pradesh (TSGAP) has requested the Centre to confer ‘Bharat Rat’ the highest civilian award of the country, to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. TSGAP President Gicho Kabak and Secretary Nima Sange made this request when they called on Union DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh at his office in New Delhi recently, a press release informed here on Monday.

They discussed with the union minister on Tibet issue and submitted a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister rendra Modi requesting him to confer the award to the Nobel laureate. They highlighted the life story of the Dalai Lama who took shelter in India after the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959.

“The Dalai Lama when he escaped from Tibet brought back the ancient landa traditiol of Buddhism to India and tirelessly advocating the ancient tradition education system in India. He is constantly reminding Indian about their rich cultural heritage that gave birth to different religions,” the TSGAP pointed out.

“The spiritual leader has been a strong proponent of human values, peace and compassion in India and the world. He believes that India has many things to teach the world but his praise for India hurts Chi a lot. He strongly advocates interfaith understanding that can help in solving religious differences, the root cause of hatred, violence and war. He also advocate that in a country like India where gender inequality are deep in society, equality of gender can be wonderful and give equal rights and privileges for women,” the group said.

The TSGAP added that the Dalai Lama is regarded as a symbol of Tibetan struggle for political autonomy from Beijing and one of India’s greatest ambassadors on the global stage.  He was awarded Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1989 and conferred with more than 150 prestigious awards and honors by various governmental and other organisations of the world. “Awarding Bharat Rat to the Dalai Lama will send strong message to Chi that cannot be ignored. And it would also be an acknowledgement of the values he stands for India and its people,” the TSGAP added.