His Holiness the Dalai Lama launched the year-long “Thank You India” campaign at Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Dharamshala, on March 31. The event marked the beginning of the 60th year since His Holiness stepped onto 
Indian soil after his flight from Tibet in 1959, and the events planned for the year also celebrate the
Tibetan culture and spirit that thrives on Indian soil.
Despite the Indian Government’s planned boycot of the event [see our article A Political Game?], the Tibetan community was delighted to welcome a host of Indian guests at the celebration in Tsuglakhan which included Mahesh Sharma, Indian Minister of State for Culture and Tourism; Ram Madhav, National General Secretary of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); Naren Chandra Das, the retired Havaldar of the 5 Assam Rifles who welcomed His Holiness when he arrived in India in 1959; Shanta Kumar, a member of the BJP and a former third Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, he is also a former Union Minister in the Government of India and Convener of All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT); Kishan Kapoor, Food, Civil supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister from the state of Himachal Pradesh and the member of the legislative assembly from Dharamshala assembly constituency of India and Shri RK Khrimey, National Convener, Core Group for Tibetan Cause and BJP member.
Mahesh Sharma said “When it’s an issue of relations between India and Tibet, there is no need for a thank you. This is an emotional moment, the word refugee is painful you are our friends and guests in India. Tibetans have integrated Indian culture as flower and fragrance, thus the word thank you does not hold a meaning. We are committed to protecting and supporting the Tibetan culture. Prime Minister Modi is taking Indian culture and traditional message of peace to the world and Tibetan culture is part of it […] We support the Dalai Lama’s struggle for returning to his country.”
Ram Madhav said that The Dalai Lama is not a refugee but a family member and thanked Jawaharlal Nehru [India’s Prime Minister in 1959] for providing asylum to the Dalai Lama in the country.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that when he came to India he though the two countries had the relationship of guru and shishya and that spirit continues to today. His Holiness honourd Naren Chandra Das, the only surviving member of the party who was there to welcome His Holiness on his arrival in India in 1959.
Shanta Kumar said, “You [the Dalai Lama] graced us and made this land pious and made it pilgrimage […] May God change China’s heart to change it’s approach to the Dalai Lama”.
Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, President of the Tibetan government-in-exile, who organised the event, said “Our relations with India dates back to hundreds of years not just the past 60 years. India is our guru and Tibet a disciple. It’s our duty to pay obeisance and touch the guru’s feet”.
The speeches and presentations were followed by a performance from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts which included the song written for the event, Thank You India.
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