By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSALA September 23: Indian fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar’s proposed range of T-shirts and coffee mugs with tagline “The only truth is Dalai” has upset the followers of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai lama.
The Economic Times reported that Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (FURHHDL) has expressed its objection to the fashion photographer last week.
Safir Anand, head of trademarks at Anand & Anand, a Delhi-based IP specialist law firm, representing FURHHDL said that the tag-line and the motives are clearly commercial and meant to capitalise on the popularity of the 14th Dalai Lama.
“We believe that the appropriation of the word Dalai is misleading and disparaging as it further sounds like ‘the lie’,” said Safir Anand.
The representative of the Tibetan spiritual leader in New Delhi, Tenpa Tsering told Phayul that the interpretation might be different but it is misleading the Dalai Lama’s name.
A statement recording its objection has been filed by Anand and Anand representing FURHHDL, said Tenpa.
Dalai Lama meaning ‘Ocean of Wisdom’ is a title given by the Mongolian King Altan Khan to the third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso. Chinese communist party authorities often use ‘Dalai’ instead of Dalai Lama, and it irks the Tibetans and Buddhists.
