India, Tibet like guru and shishya, says Dalai Lama on completing 60 years in exile

Tibetans on Saturday started celebrations to mark 60 years of the Dalai Lama’s arrival at Mcleodganj of Himachal Pradesh in India. The event started under “Thank You India”.

Tibetan band performed 'Thank u India' song, 'Bharat ki Jai', 'koti koti' to begin the celebrations.

The Dalai Lama was joined by Union Minister Mahesh Sharma and BJP general secretary Ram Madhav alongside several leaders.

The monk addressed the gathering and said that India and Tibet have had the relationship of teacher and disciple.

"Tibetans have faced problems but have preserved their cultural traditions, we have lived with a lot of self-confidence and holding values of humanity and brotherhood," Dalai Lama said.

Ram Madhav also addressed the gathering, "Thank You India event is to thank Indian civilization, culture and traditions. India always welcomed with open arms and an open heart, life of a refugee is difficult. Indian had always given shelter. Thank you for his Holiness the Dalai Lama," he said.

“We are grateful to Indians for giving us shelter and support during the past 60 years, ever since His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived. Thus, in this event, we have ensured the presence of Naren Chandra Das, the 79-year-old man retired Havaldar of 5 Assam Rifles who had received the Dalai Lama when he entered the Indian soil in 1959," the monk said.

The event has been organised by the Central Tibetan Administration, but the Centre had asked the senior leaders to avoid attending functions organised by Tibetans, mentioning the ‘sensitive’ phase of Indo-China ties.

The venue, which was initially planned to be in Delhi, was shifted to Dharamshala later.