FOR HIS efforts on world peace, the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama was honored with the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation by the Gandhi Development Trust of South Africa in a function organized at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. While addressing the gathering Dalai Lama said that Mahatma Gandhi imbibed the age old Indian tradition of non-violence and used it to fight for India’s independence. “I too have lived my life following non violence and will continue to live my life according to the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence,” Lama asserted.

 

Lama thanked the Gandhi Development Trust and said this award is special to him because of the significance of the venue (Bodh Gaya) and the 3000 year old Indian tradition of non-violence that Gandhi represents.

 

Ela Gandhi, Chair of the Gandhi Development Trust who awarded Lama had come all the way from South Africa for the ceremony. She said that she is honored to present the award to His Holiness at Bodh Gaya, a sacred place of pilgrimage for Buddhists around the world.

 

She said that Gandhi and His Holiness have continuously worked for world peace. They strive for a peaceful solution to conflicts and continue to be a huge source of inspiration for everybody.

 

She also said that the South African people were deeply saddened for His Holiness not being able to visit South Africa in October last year.

 

The Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation was originally scheduled to be awarded to His Holiness in October last year in South Africa at Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s birthday celebrations.