In a press release from the head lama of Thiksay and Disket Monastery in Ladakh, Kushok Thiksay rinpoche urges India to confer India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna on Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A growing demand for the honour by India has been seen from past many years but to no response from the government.
Kushok Thiksay, a former member of the parliament has submitted his recommendation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the Bharat Ratna Award to the Prime Minister and President of India. The senior leader from Ladakh has urged the community from Himalayan region to write to their local representatives to make a formal demand to the government.
The people of Himalayan region with close cultural and spiritual ties to the Buddhist tradition of Tibet have been blessed by many teachings and profound spiritual instructions by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his numerous visits and teachings in Ladakh, Sikkim, Himachal and Arunachal region has strengthened the ancient cultural bonds and revitalised the shared spiritual practices.
Kushok Thiksay explains in the statement that His Holiness is a globally admired icon of peace, wisdom and compassion, celebrated with hundreds of awards and honours. The Himalayan people see him as the ultimate spiritual mentor and guide, popularly referring upon him as The wish fulfilling jewel. He adds that his activities in exile in India has benefitted them immensely.
He concluded by informing that he has recommended India’s highest civilian honor – Bharat Ratna to be accorded to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and have sent out letter to this effect to honourable offices of The President and Prime Minister of India. He further requested all brothers and sisters from the Himalayan Regions to write to their representatives making a formal demand and communication the same to the necessary offices in the Indian government.
Last year, a group of 200 Members of Parliament across party lines from India has filed a signed petition to the government of India to confer the Bharat Ratna award to exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Parliamentary Forum for Tibet has taken the petition to Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been conferred the highest honour of Congressional Gold Medal by United States and the Templeton Prize by United Kingdom in the past, among numerous recognition from different countries. It is now high time that India officially take this bold step of honouring the Nobel peace laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama residing in the country.