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Dalai Lama, a citizen of world, undeterred by protests
Dharamsala: Globetrotting elderly monk the Dalai Lama, who is revered as a spiritual leader in the Orient and the West, considers himself a citizen of the world. He loves to interact with the public, especially youth, despite encountering protests.
Wearing his trademark maroon robes, the Nobel Peace Laureate explains that the protesters are exercising their freedom of expression.
“Yes, there are people out there shouting at me. They are exercising their freedom of expression,” he explained to his followers in Basel, Switzerland, about the protest by the pro-Shugden group, a breakaway Buddhist group, outside his hotel.
The Dalai Lama returned to India Feb 14 after concluding his two-week-long tour of Denmark, Norway, Switzerland and the US.
Feeling sorry for the demonstrations by pro-Shugden supporters against him in Copenhagen last week, the Dalai Lama said they were misinformed.
“The people manipulating these demonstrators and protesters, who are not fully informed, do so for their own reasons. I feel sorry for them in their ignorance,” he said.
Undeterred by the protests, his aides say the Dalai Lama has made 38 trips just in the last 13 months, to places within India and outside. They said the demonstrations by pro-Shugden supporters are mainly held out of India.
The foreign visits included the US, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, Latvia, the Netherlands and Norway.
Interacting with a group of Danish parliamentarians in Copenhagen Feb 12, a post on his official website quoting the Dalai Lama said: “In 1973, as I was about to set out on my first trip to Europe, BBC correspondent Mark Tully asked me why I was going and I told him that although I was a refugee I considered myself a citizen of the world.”
But the spiritual leader, who chuckles throughout his talks and often slaps visitors on their back, does not mind clarifying to his followers that he has no miraculous or healing power.
“Some may come because they feel the Dalai Lama has some kind of miraculous power. That’s nonsense! Some people may feel the Dalai Lama has some kind of healing power. But if there are some real 100 percent guaranteed healers here, I’d like to show them my knee. It has been
giving me problems!” said a post on his website.
Officials of the Dalai Lama’s office, which is based here, say the spiritual guru visits places only on invitation. These include invitations for various religious, social and cultural events.
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself takes a call on the invitation,” Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama’s office, told IANS.
And he prefers visiting universities and educational institutions to speak on peace, non-violence, environment, promoting human values and Buddhism.
Ever since he fled Tibet in 1959, the Tibetan spiritual leader has travelled to more than 50 countries and met with presidents, prime ministers and crown rulers of major nations, said his aides.
In the past five years, the Dalai Lama’s preferred foreign destinations have included Japan, the US, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and France.
This summer, the Dalai Lama, 79, is all set to take off for Japan and Australia for his teachings and public talks.
Before flying abroad, the spiritual leader will give a short teaching in his abode Dharamsala March 5.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.