By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSHALA, February 10: Speaking at a public felicitation ceremony held in his honour in the north Indian town of Dharamshala, the South African anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu promised his ‘good friend’ the Dalai Lama that he will see him again in a “free Tibet”.
Addressing the Tibetan spiritual leader as the “holiest person” he has ever met, the South African Nobel Peace Laureate sent a clear message to Beijing that the Dalai Lama is “neither a separationist nor a dangerous person”.
“I want to tell to the Chinese leaders that the Dalai Lama doesn’t have any soldiers or guns,” Archbishop Tutu said speaking to thousands of Tibetans, local Indians and foreigners gathered at the courtyard of Tsug-la Khang, the main temple in the small hill town of Mclead Ganj, the Dalai Lama’s exile home for the last five decades.
“The Dalai Lama and his people even don’t fight for Tibet’s independence but for autonomy which the Chinese constitution permits,” Archbishop Tutu said.
“We beg you and at the same time remind you too that this is a moral universe. There is no way in which injustice, oppression, and evil can ever have the last word.”
In his spirited speech, the South African leader who turned 80 last October said he was celebrating his actual birthday today in the presence of the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan leader had planned to travel to South Africa to attend Archbishop Tutu’s birthday celebrations but had to cancel his trip due to visa delays.
The Dalai Lama who had earlier travelled to the local Kangra Airport to receive his fellow Nobel Laureate, in his welcome address said Archbishop Tutu’s “greatness” was an accumulation of a “lifelong effort to create happiness and well being for others.”
“Archbishop Tutu is not only a spiritual leader but a champion of human rights,” the Dalai Lama said while thanking the South African leader for being the voice for the voiceless, including that of the Tibetans.
Referring to the violent climate of repression and crackdown in Tibet, the Dalai Lama expressed his fear that the “sophisticated and compassionate nature” of Tibetan culture is “really facing a lot of difficulty”.
“So, please remember us in your prayers,” the 76-year old Tibetan spiritual leader requested his senior friend.
Lauding Archbishop Tutu for his reconciliatory efforts following the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, the Dalai Lama remarked: “Your spirit and your reconciliatory efforts will spread wide and remain for at least this century.”
His Holiness presented a stupa and a citation as a memento to Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The citation read: “In recognition of your exemplary contribution to justice, equality, non violence, conflict resolution and reconciliation, I present to you this stupa, a Tibetan Choeten, symbol of wisdom and compassion with my prayers that your good work may continue for many years to come.”
As the felicitation ceremony drew to a close, the crowd broke into an impromptu birthday song. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, looking surprised and elated, waved to the gathering before retiring into the residence of the Dalai Lama for a brief lunch.
Archbishop Tutu, who is currently on a five-day visit to India along with his wife Nomalizo Leah Shenxane, as part of The Elders, to create awareness on an initiative “Girls Not Brides” a global partnership to end child marriage, left Dharamshala later in the day.
