(TibetanReview.net, Oct30, 2015) – Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is to present the first edition of the Kalam Seva Ratna awards in Chennai in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Nov 9. The awards, to be presented in a range of categories, have been instituted in memory of a former President of India with whom the Dalai Lama was especially close. The state’s Chief Minister Ms Jayalalithaa has been invited to attend the ceremony.
The awards have been instituted by the Abdul Kalam Vision India Movement to recognise outstanding contribution of individuals/organisations to tree plantation, de-addiction, reviving waterbodies, providing safe drinking water and creating green campuses, villages and cities.
The movement decided to invite the Dalai Lama as he and former President APJ Abdul Kalam shared the same ideology of peace and prosperity, reported The Hindu, Oct 29, citing V Ponraj, who was advisor to Kalam for over a decade. Kalam always considered the Tibetan leader as a symbol of peace, he was cited as saying.
Both the leaders had a long association in encouraging the youth to work towards an enlightened society.
A jury comprising eminent academicians, former bureaucrats and others will finalise the winners. The report cited Ponraj as saying at least one million entries from individuals or organisations had been received for the different categories of awards.
Although advised complete rest for several weeks by doctors in the USA during a routine medical checkup in late September, and cancelling all his overseas tours in pursuance thereof, the Dalai Lama is sticking to his religious teaching schedules in south India later this year.