Dalai Lama’s Last Surviving Escort Guard Invited to ‘Thank You India’ Event

[Rowntree]

I am unsure if Naren Chandra Das is 79 or 76 years since Hindustan Times said 79, while Tibetan Journal reported 76. It would good either news agency investigate and not contradict each others' information in the same news. Nevertheless, it is still very nice to know that Das is invited to the event now will held at the Tsuklakhang Monastery in Gangtok, Sikkim, India. Looks like the CTA is aligning its move towards spiritual direction instead of a political one with the choice for the event as India has reiterated that His Holiness is free to conduct all religious events in India. This will also make it easier for the Indian Minister and Officials to attend if they are allowed to.


Dalai Lama’s Last Surviving Escort Guard Invited to ‘Thank You India’ Event
March 27, 2018 TJ editor
 
The last serving guard from the seven paramilitary troopers who escorted the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama onto Indian soil back in March 1959 following an arduous escape from Lhasa to seek refuge in India after China invaded Tibet is reportedly invited to be a CTA’s ‘Thank You India’ event on March 31.

In 1959 when the Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet, he treaded the hostile Himalayas with a caravan consisting of soldiers and countrymen who dexterously guided the Tibetan spiritual leader to India. One of them was a young soldier belonging to the Assam Rifles, a jawan named Naren Chandra Das who met the Dalai Lama during a recent session in Guwahati, Assam.

“Naren Chandra Das, a 79-year-old retired havildar of 5 Assam Rifles, is likely to be among the invitees to the event being organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) at McLeodganj near Dharamshala on March 31. The event will mark the year-long ‘Thank You India’ campaign.” said the report in Hindustan Times on Tuesday quoting the same suggesting from an unnamed official familiar to the event.

Chandra Das, who had joined the Indian force in 1957, was called in to escort the Dalai Lama out of Tibet just two years later when the Chinese invasion of Tibet took place. Now 76-years-old, Das recalled the time when he was chosen to escort the Tibetan leader. “Guards of Assam Rifles Platoon no. 9 had brought the Dalai Lama from Zuthangbo and handed him over to five of us at Shakti. We brought him to Lungla from where he was escorted on his onward journey to Tawang by another group of guards,” he said when he met the Dalai Lama last year in April in Assam after 58 years.

Asked about whether conversations had transpired during the brief journey, Das said that he was not allowed to talk or interact with the Dalai Lama. Das was presented with a silk shawl and expressed how overwhelmed he was by the Dalai Lama’s embrace last year.

http://www.tibetanjournal.com/dalai-lamas-last-surviving-escort-guard-invited-thank-you-india-event/

[Harold Musetescu]

No update on the two CIA trained Tibetan radio operators who travelled with the Dalai Lama out of Tibet.

Are they still alive or have they passed away?

Sorry, I forgot we are not suppose to mention the CIA's involvement with the 14th Dalai Lama.

[dsnowlion]

Should watch the live stream on the Thank You India event if you have not https://livestream.com/accounts/5587887/events/8132289/player?width=750&height=422&enableInfoAndActivity=true&defaultDrawer=&autoPlay=true&mute=false&t=1522476349457  Just skip all the unnecessary dancing and singing and to the timing when a speaker starts talking.

It is quite hilarious and for some, it can be frustrating watching Lobsang Sangay talk crap. He seems to be taking every opportunity to slam China down and rubbing salt into the wound which will definitely irk China. But you will see no such thing from the Indian ministers speaking during the event!

The Indian ministers did not condemn or mention a single thing negative about China except that the Tibetans would need a lot of "Good Luck" to help them get home! Very skilful speakers, especially the first minister that spoke. They must be cautioned not to irritate China. The whole time, it looked like the Dalai Lama was not happy with Lobsang Sangay and it was more like no choice, have to be there because it was already announced. Everything looks pretty makeshift and Lobsang Sangay looks very self-absorb, he did not escort the Dalai Lama onto the mic stand and did not even get a drink for the Dalai Lama when he coughed. No sign of concern or care, only cared when Dalai Lama entered and existed because no choice.

So after all this Thank You event and money spent, what's next Sagay?